You can paint all of the walls a "Navaho white" or a soft off white shade which will help brighten up the space. If you have the budget you might install recessed can lights throughout the space at about 5 feet apart. Artificial light can help brighten up a room too..........

Sometimes it's hard to understand how people use their space. Or looking at pictures understanding how one image relates to the next. What I can tell you is if you want more light you need to put in windows by the fireplace even if they are very small and very high up.

I agree with prior post regarding adding a mirror. Actually, you may want to add a gallery wall of mirrors, in addition to reflective surfaces in other ways such as lamp bases, accessories, mirrored table tops, etc. Add glass table tops also. Anything you can do to make the light greater and bouncing around will help this. I have the same situation - I have a condo with sliding glass doors on the west side of the building. I get afternoon sun there, which is no where near as bright as morning sun that comes in my kitchen. If I ever buy a place again, I'll be sure to get the morning sun coming into my living room. That's the room I spend the most time in. Instead of ceiling lights (which aren't flattering in the living room), I'd add wall sconces or large table lamps. Make sure you have a good lighting source in each corner. Yes, I would paint the bookcases white. Or (for added interest) I would paint the interior shelves off-white and paint the rest of the bookshelf in a light blue, green, or light beige (which ever one coordinates with your room decor), and make sure to do it in a semigloss finish. That will be an additional tool to help brighten up the space. Add a large mirror or two to the kitchen space as well.

Some suggestions to lighten up the room:

--Paint the rooms a brighter white throughout, including the patio area, which is an extension of the living room in a way.

--Lean a full-length mirror against the wall with the curio cabinet and find another home for that cabinet. These, from Ballard Designs, suggest a window and will pick up light from your patio doors.

--Get a much larger rug that's at least as light as the pretty one you have.

--Place a two-tiered glass coffee table on it.

--Remove the hanging by the glass doors.

--Fill your fireplace with white birch logs or many large white candles in light colored candle bases.

--On the TV wall, move the armoire to another room. Also remove the two dark pillars, the hassocks, etc, which are sucking up light. Instead, place a white storage unit beneath the TV to store whatever you keep in the armoire. This will give that wall a lighter, cleaner look. Ikea has many long, low storage units of this type in different styles.

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You have a beautiful home! I love the cottage feel. I wouldn't change the paint colors - just my opinion. To add light... without changing the overall cottage feel, I would add canned lighting on a dimmer switch. It's not horribly expensive and it makes a huge difference.