The room needs to be "softened" with layers. Start with a rug under the table, larger accessories in the niches, a dining table that doesn't have a conflicting wood color undertone and a different deeper/darker paint color. The dining room set wood undertone (orange) fights with the wood paneling in the room. The wood panels and floor colors work very well together. Do you have furniture for the room? Large art (painting) on top of the panel will make it recede into the background. Right now the visual weight of the fireplace wall is very "heavy" compared to the flimsy curtains on the window wall. It makes the room feel off-balance.

No furniture or art yet picked out. You think the wood panels & floor works well together? I guess I can't tell with that table that does make it look overkill. Would a strong paint/wallpaper color work? Something deep red? orange?

Deep red or orange will bring out the orange and yellow undertones in the wood. That will make it worse. You need a strong contrasting color, like a deep blue that to balance the color of the wood. A very dark wood traditional table or a fun white or glass modern one could work. The table should also contrast with the wood paneling both in weight and color. Find a large painting and start working the colors from there. Are you thinking of doing a modern spin with your furnishings or staying traditional? New drapery panels should fill out the walls to each side of the windows and extend from ceiling to floor to balance the weight of the fireplace wall.

Do you think the panelling was installed when the house was built? It looks different from the trim. Try some close up photos of a dinner plate size area of trim and panel with the curtains wide open and the lights on.

I would paint the room purple. Blue works also. Choose the actual paint shade after you get the rug and curtains.

it will/can look a lot different with your own furnishings. if you consider swapping out their furniture which matches the walls .... upholstered dining chairs, large rug. it will be completely different.

so, i'd advise leaving it all be for the short term; when you go to a furniture store don't buy medium tone brown furniture.

The wall paneling and wainscot are clearly plywood and a different color than the casing and base. I'm a purist so I would remove it back to the original trim, barring that I would paint it out the wall color.

I'm having a helluva time trying to figure out if this wood paneling is original or not so we are kinda going forward with trying to preserve it as much as possible. Thanks for all your suggestions & tips, this house is gonna be a fun project. Take a look at the all wooden bathroom.

I imagine the kitchen paneling isn't original.

and we gotta keep the phone room all wood just out of kitsch factor

Congratulations on your new home! What year was it built? The plywood paneling in the dining room and bathroom does NOT look original. I would remove it. The headboard in the kitchen and phone room looks like it might be original. Before you paint any of the trim, I would live in the house and do other decorating. Once the Woodward is painted, it is extremely difficult to revert to the original.

I have restored two Victorians and one Edwardian home, and I have really never seen any wood like that surrounding your fireplace. I also have spent a LOT of time with dark shellac in those homes, and really did not encounter a lot of that yellow oak look in the Victorians. My Edwardian does have white oak floors, but most trim and wainscoting are very dark. Just sort of agreeing with those who are saying your paneling is probably not original.

built in 1887. we've only lived in modern urban apt's and always wanted a weird old home so we love this place but kinda have no idea where to start.

Since you have not moved in yet, I suggest you live with it all for a year before making big decisions. Does your home inspection include tests for lead paint? Removing the plywood may expose lead paint that would have to be remediated, so if you are considering removing it, start by testing any visible older paint, say behind an electrical outlet cover.

weirdly enough, we removed a bunch of outlets and couldn't find an ounce of paint in the whole house. its all white plaster. our inspecter seemed to think there wasn't any paint but I'll get somethings checked before or if I remove them. I imagine the plaster may have been painted white over time so its worth a check. I doubt we'd remove it and maybe white it out or doing something crazy like a purple gel stain. we just moved out of our apt with polka dots walls if that gives you an idea on our decorating style.

and we have twins on the way so I assume all these redesigns and work will be on hold while we go crazy over the next 16 months.

Did the inspector test for lead on the white plaster surface? Test kits are less than $10 and take five minutes. if he didn't test, you should make sure it does get done for peace of mind before twins arrive.

If it's not original, it is very early 1900's. From how well it works with the close-up trim details. I believe it is original. Wood tones change over time with sunlight, waxes, oils, dirt, etc. I love the bathroom and the phone nook. Removing it will be expensive. I agree with the person above who suggested living with it for a year before deciding to paint it. The right art, lighting, rugs, fabrics, furnishings, and paint color will go a long way in having the wood recede into the background.