What about putting glass doors over the AV shelves?

If you paint the trim to match the walls, also paint the interior shelves the same color. I agree that the curtains need to be raised to match the height of the built-in unit. What are your plans for rebuilding the unit in the future? What are the specific things that bother you about it? To me, it looks like you could use a closed cabinet above the TV, since there is too much open space. Best wishes.

Agreed - raise your curtain rods to the same height as the TV alcove. I'm sorry but I do not like you painting out the trim to same as wall colour - I believe you should have made the trim much wider and more substantial. It wasn't that it was white, it was that it was too skimpy to feel proportionately correct. I'd repaint it back to white - enlarge the trim.

Thank you guys so much. So any ideas on how to totally redo it? I'm ready to just pull all that trim off i agree its def. to tall and skimpy. I was worried if I raise the rods it will take away from transients above windows but I I take big trim off it will look more proportioned w/ leaving rods where they are????

I'm thinking take trim down especially at the top and make it wall

If I raise curtain rods over transients will it take away from the transients?

I think curtains will help you a lot. They won't take away from the transients if you bring them all the way up and much wider. Take away some of that dead space between the windows and built-in. I think it will look weird to paint the trim a different color but I do think you should paint the inside of the boxes a dark color.

Hi, you need to raise and widen your curtains. Even if the fireplace / tv was gone.

When I fist saw your picture I tried to figure out WHY the whole setup seems weird. You are missing a mantle. Some contemporary fire places work nicely with no mantle, but Your house is traditional with all the crown moulding, and it looks like the builder just hasn't finished your Fireplace. For an easy fix, I suggest buying a white mantle from a box store like home depot. Mount it so the top is level with the shelf the tv sits on. Get a thin piece of wood, cut it to fit to cover up the cubby holes holding your receiver and DVD player. Obviously it will need to be painted white. You may even be able to make to panel removable so you can keep your components in the cubbies, and have their remotes operate on RF, which does not need line of sight.

Ok I'm going to raise the rods. Now do the white sheers look good? I like clean straight lines and light

Hi, its difficult to tell from the pics, but your sheers will probably look fine as long as they are long enough still. Once raised, they should still graze the floor.

Do I have to have drapes or curtains in living area? I love the way some homes look and feel w/o them

You need to build out your TV niche flush with studs and drywall, then install flat TV flush with the wall. Those niche arrangements are not for a flat TV. Curtain problem is secondary.

Challenging space to decorate. I like very clean lines and no clutter or things exposed. I like different! Any neat ideas??