I would use a neutral off white on all of the walls. This will make a huge difference and go well with the brown furniture. Use colors for accents. Do you have pics of the furniture that needs placing?

First thing I'd do would be to pull down those curtains to get some light in. Then tear out the half wall with spindles so there is open access to the dining room and it isn't so dated. To paint the paneling you must: clean with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate,) rinse, let dry, lightly sand, tack off sanding dust, prime with 2 coats KILZ or Zinzer, paint with 2 coats of paint. Watch out that the yellow looking ceiling color doesn't mess with your wall color. It probably needs new paint too. It may be yellow from smokers, or perhaps it is just so on my monitor. I would sell that china hutch and use the $$ to upgrade the builder's boob lights and the fan.

I agree, a shade of white/cream and ALWAYS when painting the walls paint the ceiling--it will look dingy if you don't. It won't be an easy job with the beams..

Are you replacing the carpet?

I would paint the walls and possibly the ceiling Behr's Parchment Paper. It has a tic of warmth and will look nice with the fireplace.

If you are replacing the carpet the color in the photo would also look nice with the fireplace. However, if it's in the budget I'd do wood floors.

Do white window trim and baseboards and the ceiling if you don't want to paint it the same wall color.

Scrape the ceiling before you paint. Painted popcorn is harder to remove, and you are going to want to remove it. Ditch the carpet for wood.

I agree with Sophie. If at all possible I would try and get rid of the popcorn ceiling. It might not be in the budget and if not I understand.

Right now FP seems rather pinkish. Since you're keeping carpet, that's the direction the wall paint needs to take; beige, but in person you know how much pink is in the carpet undertones. If the FP still looks pink after you paint the walls and ceiling, you can probably white wash it. Painting beams to match ceiling may visually lift it a bit. Looks like a standard 8' ceiling now.

Don't clean the walls with TSP. You need to work too hard to rinse it off before painting. Clean the walls with something like Dirtex. Then, one coat of a blocking primer, followed by two coats of paint.

Paint the ceiling, and in this case, I would paint the ceiling beams. Personally, I would remove the ceiling beams, but that would necessitate redoing the whole ceiling.

Everyone will have a different answer on whether to paint/white wash the fireplace. Ask father, what does he think?. To me it would look lovely to stay as is because he is using dark furniture to balance the room out. I say this though with picturing the Parchment Paper painted walls and wood flooring, not the non matching to anything golden brown carpet. After the walls are painted the carpet will really stand out and clash with the fireplace. Then, neither will look good so if the carpet stays you may have to white wash the brick.

Yes your Dad may like the brick.

Similar to a home my mom got. We took out as much as we could (our labor was free). Paneling from then (70's?) was simply tacked on and very easy to remove. The walls were in remarkably good shape underneath and just required patching. The floor under the carpet (theirs was yucky and so was going to be removed anyway) was hardwood. We removed a non-load bearing wall...it was like yours that I THINK I see a pass through on?...We made that a counter height half wall.

Anyway, my main point is that removal (of the paneling) may be easier than prepping what you have.

I agree with Penny on the paneling possibly just tacked on. Try a mini demo on the far wall the hutch is on. If it makes a mess of the wall you only have that end to drywall. I know the thought might be what ever is easier and or less expensive. However, this room will get used a lot by the widow so it should be nice for mental well being.

There may be no drywall behind the panelling, so be careful before smashing or ripping it. You could get yourself into drywalling, taping and floating an entire room and that might not be in the budget. If you want to see whether you have drywall underneath, start by removing outlet and switch plates.

How old is your dad and does he have any mobility issues? If he does or soon could, carpet is much harder with a walker, etc., esp a fairly thick pile to shag length. Replacing flooring is always a hassle and a big expense, but if it may need to go, it is easier to do when the room is empty. Older folks also like the softness and warmth of carpet, so you may want to keep it as long as you can.

I like beams, but on an 8 ft ceiling, painting them would give a bit off a visual lift.

You can remove a light switch cover to see how thick the panelling is.

This is a quicky mockup so pretend that's wood flooring. The windows have a natural fiber blind or ? I took the little wall off going into the dining table. Once a mantel and picture is put up on the fireplace I think as-is adds character.

I also agree about an off-white or white paint, though on my monitor Parchment looks like it has a pink undertone, which puts me off it. A light color will help to counteract all that brown carpet you said he's keeping, which will be very heavy looking with his dark furniture. There's an article I'm linking to about designers' favorite whites that includes some you might like. I'm posting one of the colors below, BM Acadia, and 2 photos of rooms painted that color. 20 Plus Best Designers' White Paint Colors

1- Benjamin Moore Acadia White

Oh I like that BM Acadia white!

You'll have to test a lot of off whites to find one that works with the room. Test them on white poster board with a 2" border of white left around each color. Testing directly on the paneling won't give you an accurate color. I would leave the fireplace unpainted as well as the beams. They work together and will work nicely with his brown leather furniture. Upgrading lights and fan, removing at least the spindles from the half wall and scraping the ceiling, if possible, are all good ideas. Good luck with your project!

Very nice job, but I would still consider whitewashing the fireplace. It's not like paint, it won't make it a solid white color. It just looks so dark in that picture. The room will look even better when window treatments, lamps and pictures on the wall are in place, and perhaps some colorful pillows. It's a much better look overall already.

Looks wonderful. The beams and fireplace fit right in with the leather furniture. Roman shades or wood blinds would help with light control and give the windows a finished look. I bet your father's thrilled!

Congratulations - it's an amazing update!

Looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing the results.

Looks great, I would suggest trading the TV table & coffee table for something a little bigger, more chunky and masculine. But that's just nit picking because all told it's just an amazing transformation.