If you love the cabinets then it would be important to try and keep them although the Neo-Roman faux columns clash with the rest of the contemporary room. Perhaps removing the mantle piece and keeping the shelves would work for you. Do not try and match the new shelving to the old shelving but rather find something complimentary with the right accents. Starting from scratch on the wall would give you licence to really create an impressive design with shelving running all the way up the walls, taking advantage of the ceiling height. Do you like the vintage or industrial look?

Agree with above completely.

sigh...thank you for chatting it up about this. I like a shabby chic look honestly, More texture the better for me. I don't like these cabinets at all. however the whole house has this wood throughout so I can't switch up the wood, right? We are ready to start from scratch. The mantel is what I like. ( BTW, this is not our furniture, it's the current owners, moving out by end of May) The house is an English Tudor and this room is open to the kitchen so it really is a focal entertainment room. Can we do rock over the dated marble and newer cabinets/shelves ( now that I know we can't match wood, thanks:)) I have to stick with traditional but I want to funk-a-fie it.

I don't see why you can't paint this built in. It can act as a piece of furniture if you want it painted instead of matching all the trim, I did a mock up to show you how it would look painted if that's the route you really want to go.

Should be fairly easy to replace the marble, as that's what is bothering you the most. Slate tiles for the hearth and small glass mosaic for the surround. What bothers me most about the picture is the open expanse above the mantle...it's accentuating the ceiling height in a bad way. A large picture or shelving maybe?

Again < I am so thankful for feed back and in put! I have heard that it is impossible to paint oak. it will always so through. No matter once so I didn't think that was an option. Although if it were possible sure refreshing to see it like this, it already seems updates. As much as I like the tv look above the fireplace, my neck would be all jacked up from staring up, it's pretty tall. So with all this, I am still back at square one. :( Help.

Sand them well , the grain may show but I love the white. Maybe stacked stone fire place. Can you put a larger picture or clock above the mantel?

After sanding, be sure to use a good primer before painting the final coat. The primer stops the wood color from bleeding through. You may still see the grain, but it will be white (orcream, or whatever color you choose). I think the texture of painted oak make the the piece interesting.