i'd explore more... if they are 3 pieces, the 2 outer ones could be used on their own as bookcases some place else. its not clear what 'built in' might mean when its not nested into the existing walls and ceiling. the previous owners chose not to take it with them, perhaps because then they would have had to spot patched the floor or baseboard. you dont need to be tethered to this your lifetime in this house.

if you decide to keep it, you can do the inside a contrasting color

I would wallpaper that wall, or even just around it. There are some great peelable papers that, once applied, will change the whole look of the piece.

Such good ideas! Thank you all! So this thing is really tall!!! I have these high vaulted ceilings and it's huge!! It would be pretty hard to dismantle and move it and it wouldn't fit in any other part of my house because it's so tall! I love the wall papering idea, however with vaulted ceilings, that's a LOT of wallpaper??

Another view of room

whatever you put there will have to be large or look lost.

try changing the back of the cases to a lighter color, there will be less black to look at. if that doesnt work paint a lighter color.

remember, once its light, your tv will be a big black rectangle in it.

Another view

Well, easy enough t measure, but I see no reason why you can’t wallpaper around the piece…you are not going to be moving it…that would cut down or yardage.

I am a hug fan of wallpaper. I use it a lot…Thibaut is one of my favorites.

I’m not against painting the wall black, either. It will reduce the impact of the black on the lighter wall.

I think white would be a good choice.

Have doors made for it and paint it white.

I would keep it and hire someone to paint it the same color as your trim. That his a huge space and a huge vertical wall- if it were gone, you would wonder how to fill that giant space!

Yes I agree!! I would really struggle with that big wall if it were gone!

Wallpaper is wonderful and adds much character and texture to a space but if not in your budget paint wall nice shade of black or dark gray to blend as you really need this piece with your wall height for balance. Adjust the shelf heights for taller items and use the money you save for fabulous statement pieces in your bookshelves. A soft black would look better than a stark black.

If you decide to change the color, please get a Pro to "de-gloss" the finish and spray paint it in place. You won't be happy with a brushed on paint job.

Having that white in theory sounds great, I just wonder how well the paint will ware over time, also it would make the TV stick out a lot more if the entire thing was white. The suggestion to have doors made for it is a good idea as well. I think personally I would just remove it and buy something you truly like, maybe something that comes in white if that's the color you like. I'm sure with some help you could get that out of there.

This is not bultin and IMO get it gone and do something that actually works with much larger TV s . Besta from Ikea would be ahuge improvement.

I’d paint it exactly as you propose.

I know some are proposing not painting the backs, but I think not doing so will continue to make the black hole of energy absorption in the room. And the headboard detail actually makes the piece beg to be painted, and in fact will allow it to maintain character that is sometimes lost with a slab of white, in-detailed wood.

Finally, painting the same as the room’s trim colour is EXACTLY what you want to do. It will allow the piece to blend into the room. Don’t worry, it’s a big enough piece that it will not fade away into a sea of matchy-matchy. And the books or whatever you put on the shelves will give it further detail and colour.

(I usually don’t advocate the HGTV “paint out the wood” mantra, but these black stained pieces are essentially painted already—with stain so dark, the character of the woodgrain is all but gone already.)

With such a high ceiling and windows, I'd keep it - since to me it adds an anchoring sort of feeling. Paint/ chalk paint it a medium neutral.... good 'luck'!

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all your help! I really like this look. Makes me lean toward painting it white.

Really need to to see more photos of your space, furnishings, style and adjacent rooms. If you are not opposed to painting the entire area I think this would help tremendously. The area and space is all related to the TV wall and needs to be addressed. I agree with above statement to sell and purchase something you are happy with. The mirror over fireplace I also would relocate somewhere else. Good luck with with your path as ultimately it is your decision.

I think the white walls everywhere is a good start.

Simple and clean look for the TV wall and your art of choice over FP. Less is more.

So you'd recommend white walls over light gray? Is gray on its way out now?

I would have it painted white of the trim but leave the back the dark colour as a contrast.

Can we see a few more pictures of your actual room? Including furnishings? We need to better understand your style to best advise you.

This is the opposite side of the room from the entertainment center looking into my kitchen.

Not sure what my style is...perhaps transitional? I do like some modern things.

Front door

Fireplace

Thank you for the photos. Is the color of your sofa gray? Texture and contrast is lacking in your beautiful space. What do you actually consider a priority in your LR area for now to understand how to best direct you. Painting the walls and coming to a decision of keeping the entertainment center or painting it will determine next step. Again, unless you love this piece it will cost a pretty penny to have painted to white over black.

Now that i see the wide white moldings around the door i agree go with white just the same as those and put doors over tv.
If you paint yourself make sure you seal if stained, eg, shellac sealer.

Yes the sofa is gray. I was thinking of painting all the walls light gray and the entertainment center white to match trim?

Fantastic that you made a decision.

I guess I'm worried - too much gray to have walls and couch? That won't help with my contrast problem?

It's really not a built-in, it's three pieces that's been installed and screwed to the wall. If you absolutely hate it, take it down. If not, have a pro paint it.

Are you keeping the rug in family room? Counter top material and color as open concept to unify the space. Are you going to be adding any furnishings to the space?

The rug is actually carpet. I don't love the brown color but wasn't going to replace it - at least not for a while since it's in great shape. I'd like to have a rug though! Can I put a rug on top of carpet? As for adding more furnishings, I'd like to add a chair maybe but don't know what to get and I don't want the space to be too crowded or busy.

A sofa table and lamps behind your sofa would look nice and until you can afford to replace your carpet you could layer a rug on top. Good luck with the painting and renovations of your LR. Get cardboard and paint to view different samples of grays in your space.

Ok. Thanks so much for all your help! I really appreciate all the tips!

With all your beautiful white trim you need to paint same color. I painted my oak fireplace with Sherman Williams cabinet paint it turned out great but I would get a pro to paint it so large and you want to do it right I would get some gray and white pillows get some texture in there such a great room

Some paint color ideas #3 is to the far right photo of Revere Pewter BM neutral and with all of your natural light nice start and look how good it looks with your black bookcase. FYI other good grays in the middle

Yes I actually love revere pewter!! My friend has it in her home. I also love agreeable gray. So if I paint the walls gray, should I leave the entertainment center black?

Try it first and see I think you will be surprised how good it looks with the black. Also you are going to paint hallway upstairs, foyer and kitchen as well, right?

Yes- all the connecting rooms I would paint. There's some blue in the kitchen. I was thinking I would leave it there. Yes? No?

Photo of the blue?

Kitchen

I would honestly spend the money and unify the space as it is open concept.

I wonder [new day]... if a complementing chalk paint over large unit might not work ok with kitchen's paint color....? from a paint fan, that hue but bit more muted/dark.... for a living room that's got grand air space....

Are you talking about the blue paint in my kitchen or the fact that the kitchen cupboards are not a stark white. Yes, I've worried about painting the entertainment center white because the kitchen cabinets are off white. Wouldnt match?? Would like to paint kitchen too ideally... ($)...

Less expensive than painting the furniture piece. The painters will be there already painting your other rooms the kitchen add on should be reasonable. Use good paint and get it yourself as it makes a big difference in the finished look and not that much more upgrading to the premium paint per gallon. Get the estimate without the paint cost and get different quotes. Please update with photos when completed and lets next work on decor for you FP mantle, bookshelves and LR. One day at a time and have fun with it.

If you decide to keep it, we recommend painting it white. You can even put wallpaper in the back to add contrast. Here is an image from one of our designs to aid you: