Thanks Jill! Does painting the brick ruin it do you know?

I'm not a pro just really into design and watch ALOT of HGTV:)! Has to be cleaned off really good but I don't think you can ruin it just help it! Maybe need a heat resistant paint as well, I would ask.

HI -- Because you live with this space I don't think you realize what a great space you have . I would leave the walls and built-ins as is . I would paint or reface the fireplace . Paint is a preservative but once it's painted , you cannot go back . If you paint do not do a white or white wash . Paint a warn tone color to go with the built-ins ( Clove Dust by Sherwin Williams ) or a bit lighter tone of this . As for the sunroom , maybe have it insulated to have it as part of the house and add a gas fireplace . Then you will not need the sliders or French (maybe) doors so the rooms will flow . Lighten the room with lighter furniture and add some better LED lighting . Also paint the ceiling a light tan or a warmer white to cut the stark contrast against the beams .

Cool room! I'd paint the built-ins. You'll be amazed at the way light paint transforms the room.

I have a similar shaped living room with just the center beam and the ceiling and beam is painted white, the paneling is painted a very pale blue-gray. You would be amazed at how much bigger and bright the room would be. And my fireplace is painted white. A lot of the houses in my subdivision have that style and they look so much better painted.

I know, it is a huge step.. but you are not preserving some museum grade hand-carved woodwork. Paint the ceiling and beams white, paint the paneling and built-ins white or cream or whatever makes you happy.

Just to let you know that the 1970s are the Next Big Thing, and I love your beams!

Have you thought about replacing the bland beige carpet to lighten things up? Maybe layer a brighter color rug on top of the existing carpet if not replacing. And most of your upholstered furniture is dark too, if you can't replace try slipcovers or throws/pillows in brighter colors. Personally I love the magenta of the dollhouse against the dark wood! And I vote for whitewashing or refacing the brick. You could also just lighten up the interior back and sides of the built-ins; I'm no decorator but I think there's non-permanent wallpaper that you can even paint over, then just remove it and no harm to the finish if you want to change it back.

Striking room. Does the dark wood go all the way through the house?

Apple pie- only in this room...dark wood trim here and there in other rooms.

Thanks for info. You can try out the look of white paint by taping some white shelf paper over the built-ins. It'd also be easy to slip the paper behind the adjustable shelves to see if you like the look of a white background for the bookshelves.

This room was designed to emphasize the roof beams and the height of the room by making the fireplace columnar. The dark built-ins are all one swath. The character of the room will be much changed if you paint the built-ins and interrupt the column of the fireplace with a mantle. Painting it all white won't update the room, but it will make it look much blander. I think if you want to paint it to lighten it up, using two colors would be a good idea. You could take the colors from one of your many art pieces, coordinate with the fireplace and carpet.

Wow, nice space! Keep the beams and brighten up the room with paint and change up the décor with colours to contrast and give it some pop.

I think the two glass doors should have curtains covering them.

First paint the ceiling a warm color to accent the .wood.
Secondly do not put the tv over the fireplace. The heat and smoke will ruin it. Plus it will be too high.
Thirdly try to create a tv niche by arranging the book cases to the right to create two seating areas.
Fourthly lose the carpet if possible.
Sliders are in keeping with 70's look. Do vertical blinds for light control.

This room is kind of cool. I would not change anything except the (wall to wall?) carpet.

I am seeing wall to wall in here, terra cotta in the sun room (like this) and a golden parquet in the adjoining rooms.

I may be misinterpreting the photos but I would be much more concerned with possibly replacing the golden parquet floors and achieving more consistent flooring throughout the house, than with any if the other details in this room. Worry about permanent, expensive changes when then Barbie dream house is outgrown!

I would start with the fireplace... Paint the brick or new lighter stone.... Then see how that brightens.... Then consider changing the back wall of the built ins ... Maybe paint or wallpaper just the back of each built in?

I painted my dark beams and trim by the fireplace with "Intellectual Gray" (SW) against the advice of all , it transformed the family room from a hunting lodge into a brighter cleaner space that I love to be in. So sometimes you have to go with your gut. Once that was done the dark mantel and dark ceiling light no longer needed to be replaced as I originally planned.

I think whitewashing or grey washing the fireplace brick might be a cost effective option as well, there are lots of examples on line of people who have done it.

You can look for cheap plastic tablecloths that approximate the depth of color that you are considering and drape them over the built ins and walls to see what changes that might effect over the course of the day as the outdoor lighting changes. I did that with my kitchen counter and cabinets to be sure that the dark counters would work, and it affirmed my choices.

I would create a color plan for the room and attack it in stages. You may find that just one change makes enough difference but then you could complete your plan stepwise if needed.

1) wood trim and walls that are not part of the builtins

2) fireplace

3)builtins

For brightening, paint the brick. Use temporary wallpaper in the shelves, or you can paint custom cut pieces of luan that you can remove and change color when you want. Light the cabinets with LED's, and style them with 1/3 books, 1/3 large decor and 1/3 open space. I'd arrange TV in the cabinetry left of the FP. If your set is too large to sit inside the cabinet, install an articulated arm for TV. It can be swung just outside the cabinets and angled so as not to pick up glare. Insulate the sun room and open it to the other room.Unify the flooring in the two spaces. You have some art, but its not in the right places or at the correct level. Art in dark corners will help brighten. Try the two horse photos in the corner in photo #3, but hang them with 3" between them. The center point of the pair should be 5' above the floor. Move the three figural pieces into a vertical arrangement on the slim wall left of the left set of sliders. Again, the center point of the grouping at 5' above the floor. This will put a column of bright color on that dark wall. Use the fox and landscape in two different places. Can the fox go on the same wall in the sunroom side?

Ooh- I like the idea of lightening the bookshelves with wallpaper on the backs (perhaps painted beadboard wallpaper?) as a first step before considering painting the bookshelves.

I would leave the beams alone but paint the fireplace the walls and built ins in Shoji White Sherwin Williams. It will look fabulous !

You will hate TV over the fireplace don't do it! I would reconfigure one of the built ins on the right to accommodate your TV.

The white ceiling and all the dark wood is very oppressive. Too much contrast. If you want to keep the dark wood in the bookcases, you could plywood on the back wall and paint it saving the original wood work. Another option is to fabric the back part of the bookcases. The other thing is to go with a lighter wood floor. I personally would paint the paneling and leave the beams and wood trim. On the mantel, you can have it faux painting to look like other brick or stone. Or you could sheet from the top half.

Horns are a better choice above the FP than the TV.

photos

Inspiration!!! The dark beams are stunning.