ditto

Thanks for the help!

Slightly better pic

Another view. The tile surround is delft so I done want to get rid of it.

Any ideas?

I can show you how we dealt with a similar design dilemma. Here's the "Before" photo of our wood-paneled fireplace wall:

And here's how it looks now:

Looks great! I am thinking painting the whole thing white is the way to go.

I think you should paint the whole thing white, add a heavier looking mantle, from the picture the current mantle is very thin, also consider a much bigger canvas or mirror above the mantle.

what is above the tile surround I could not tell.

The mantel is already pretty heavy. I took a closer picture

Should I leave the mantle natural wood?

The mantel goes all the way around and butts up to the tile.

If you like the look of natural wood and it goes with the rest of your home, then yes. I might stain it darker though

Thank you so much for the advice!

Don't paint the diagonal boards; it will look even worse. Instead, sheet-rock over the boards, and paint that smooth surface a color you like. The corner boards would need to be popped off and new moldings put over the corners.

The formal mantel and fireplace moldings and delft tile will look much more at home with this treatment.

Leave the mantel and mouldings around fireplace opening un-painted until you've put the room back together and lived with it for a while. Take your time deciding before you commit to painting the mantel and moldings. With all the creamy white you might decide you like it... or not.

Your Benson painting may want a wider frame with all that white too, but those little things will come with time.

It looks like a great room!

Turid -- I guess that's why there's chocolate and vanilla!

I like the paneling as is. I think you should paint the fireplace surround white and replace the painting with a large white mirror first (or large mostly white canvas art). The white mantel will make the Delft tiles stand out and the mirror will brighten it even more.

New 1850's Greek Revival Farmhouse · More Info

The room is so dark I think I can't leave it the dark paneling. I have hated it for years . Wish I could afford stone.

When people are saying that the mantel is small, they aren't talking about the wood all the way around, but the shelf that goes across the top, which appears to be like a half-inch thick. Look how big the support corbels are and upgrade the shelf thickness to match! Here, I mocked it up. (Also cleared off all the clutter and refaced your tile for your, heh.)

you put into words exactly what I was trying to say! thank you, love the mock up you did.

What you mean now! That makes sense!

I see what you mean

This site is great except now I want to do the whole room! Definitely out of budget!

do one thing at a time. don't rush into it, even if you had the budget. You have lived for years as you said with it, so take your time.

acm did you use photoshop to do the mock up?