Paint them white.

I would make the beams dark brown and the mantel as well. Paint the ceiling Dove White and the paneling Oyster.

Take a picture and play with it on homestyler I like dark and with

Dark paint would make it more contemporary white more traditional

Yes paint! Your wood furniture, fireplace and lovely beams will become focal points. I would stick with your wall colour.

If you don't like them, paint. Lighter and darker colors can work with any style. Painting a lighter color will make the room brighter and feel larger.

Leave the beams natural to pick up on the other furnishings. Paint the paneling a light color and the mantle the same.

Hi Rae Perry
A nice room with cottage character!!!!
Maybe......Paint the wood paneling first and the mantel ... ...To see what it looks like with the wooden beams
Or you could even bleach the beams rather then glossing them.

But then if panting the panelling you may have another dilemma!!!!!
Should i bleach the fireplace/ whitewash One dilemma is enough for anyone lol
It's always good to paint before you get all your furniture in place
But maybe paint the paneling and then put (your own)
Furniture in to see how it all looks
What's under the carpet do you know?Is it a wooden floor?
Just asking ...... Not meaning you to take up your carpet .......As you will have lots to do already
Good Luck with it all
Post pictures when done
Good Luck in your new home

Thank you all! There are beautiful hard wood floors under that area carpet actually. It's a lot of wood for one room, and I prefer a cottage look....I hadn't even thought about painting the mantle! Keep the ideas coming!!

Rae perry
Since you like cottage look at some of the pictures on this website for ideas. But I would paint the walls and the beams not sure on the mantel. Couple of nice size pieces sofa,love seat or chairs depending on how much company you have. Nice coffee table reclaimed lumber type

if you paint it might look something like this

I agree 'anne dee' except not painting the brick. Leave the beams and paint the paneling, I mentioned previously. I also like her photo above.

I like the pic anne dee posted. You could even rip out the paneling and put up dry wall to redo the look completely. Open beam are awesome but they don't get noticed with all that wood on the wall. And definitely take out the carpet and have hardwood floors redone! I'd also add a big, white mantle to make it look crisp and updated.

You have a lot of wood. Beams are great leave alone. I would remove wood by fireplace, or dry wall over. paint I like the grays pewter by Benjamin Moore is nice so is Edgewood. So many you would of course paint whole rm and ceiling would be white as well as trim, incl doors.

Is this a TV room? Put build ins in white on bigger wall for TV.

You could put build ins on opposite wall to balance it out. After looking at your doors keep stained do not paint.

@anne dee...... Love the picture you posted
A nice cottage look

I posted as an inspiration pic so Rae Perry could choose the elements she preferred.
. Easy stuff!!

Lots of elements in one picture
Can not wait to see ........how her room evolves
Hope Rae Perry keeps us all posted

Love all the ideas! This is a family room, floors don't need refinishing, and there are built ins already, except they lead in to the eat-in dining area. I don't think we are going to add built-ins on that wall....but a nice idea! I am so u certain how solid white will work....I know I can't go back! Does any one have an opinion on the pickled-paint look for the panelling? I've seen a few images of a pickled white and pickled blue paneled living room and liked it.....but I'm not sure I have the right kind of wood panelling for that??

The ceiling in this picture is sort of what I'm thinking. Thoughts or opinions?

I would not paint the paneling, maybe you could finish it with a darker color. In the future I would change the furniture to make it so that they have a great contrast with the wood walls and beams. I am a carpenter/finisher and that is probably why I almost always say stick with wood as wood!

I totally understand the logic to not painting ( daughter of a carpenter), but what are your thoughts on a pickled wash Parz Designs?

I really like the sample picture you found I would say you're on you're way :)

A pickled white wash could work - what type of wood are the walls? Some woods look good pickled, but some do not pickle well. Overall pickling is cool as it keeps the wood looking like wood, but knocks down the overpowering look it can sometmes have. Here is a picture of a pickled maple cabinet which keeps the look of the wood while knocking down the color which can look awesome! I would say really it really depends on the wood.

I believe they are pine. What about a pickled blue wash?

Here is a picture of pickled pine, as you can see the knots will stick out which would look pretty cool as they do not accept color very well, but I would suggest either of these colors (one if blue and the other is a blue grey). But in the event of pickling I would absolutely leave the beams natural as they will contrast and complement the walls very well. Good Luck!

Love this idea! Thank you so much!

I would paint the paneling off white and leave the beams as they are. Add a beefier mantel, get rid of the brass gas insert or paint it, fill with shabby chic furnishings and stay with simple patterns and colors. It's a nice space!

I 'm thinking that pickling the walls may show too many knots and become very busy. Altho I like that finish.

HI just asking is pickling ..... Like bleaching or white wash (as I mentioned in an above post )
Rae Perry ....... If you did that then didn't like it
Easy to paint over.
But if you painted then decided
You'd like to be pickling lol
Then it's near on impossible to do
PARZ Designs............ Love the blue pickling !!!!!
I think it can be nice to see the knots in wood

But understand about looking to busy
Well maybe depends how many knots you have
In your wood
(I now have visions of Rae Perry counting the knots in the paneling)
And on that note thumbs up to Pickling !!!!!
Good luck and get Pickling

Don't you just love Hozz
I have just typed in pickling and have been looking through
Over 500 or so pictures
Oh well better get back to the housework

Here is a drawing for ideas.
Paint focal wall and secondary color for other walls, wide white moldings, white mantle and wood flooring. Black fireplace frame.
Not to scale. Perspective may be off.

Before and After

I would do the pickling. Love what you picked. If you don't like it then you can just paint over it. Extra work but better safe than sorry!

My parents had the same issue and painted the wood white, left the overhead beams wood colored, did the floors in wood and left the fireplace in the natural brick. The room was beautiful when finished!

I would paint the wood wall panels white and replace the carpet with a med-darker wide planked wood floor, stain the beams and mantel to match the color of the floor. I would also add molding and baseboards. Would give a nice warm yet crisp inviting feel.

Are you able to post a pic of YOUR pieces in the room - they do not need to be arranged, we all will help you out with that - TeeHee!

It's complete! Thank you to everyone who offered ideas and advice! Greatly appreciated!

Looks good. turned out nice.

I love the soft muted tone of the paint color. It looks great. Good job!!

I would personally just have it varnished to preserve the beautiful look of the wood. But if you really want to paint it, any color that you want for your room will do. Just choose the best shade of color that would go well with the room.

Looks good! Great job!

Just beautiful! What color did you paint the wood around fireplace? Did you white wash the brick? I have similar situation now.

It looks light & bright! Very nice!

Thank you! Unfortunately, I don’t know the paneled wall color but it’s in the very soft and light grey family. I used a watered down Annie Sloan chalk paint for the fire place. It was messy but worth it!

Looks beautiful!

what a transformation! thank you for sharing the updated pictures. looks great !!

xoxo eva @ MONARCHSOFAS.COM

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