I think I would paint the walls close to the lightest shade of floor, add large area rug. Remove valances, since this is not a bedroom I would leave the windows with no covering. I think I would put the desk on opposite wall from windows, as the height of desk will block your beautiful windows. Will the bookcase cover the whole wall? What about putting the desk about three feet in front of bookcase?

What's your favorite color? You have browns in the floor and furnishings that will be in there (very neutral)...so you could go in almost any earthtone direction...gray/blue, something in the red family, olive or sage green....many options.
and I like 66marjorie's idea of placing the desk in front of the built-ins. I would put 2 chairs and a small table by the windows instead.

And yes on an area rug to break up the striped pattern floor!

Paint for sure. Latte would work with floor. Area rug yes. In a solid shag cream tones.

New window cover a flat roman shade in color of walls or darker.

Wow, thanks for all the comments! I was definitely going to get rid of the valences, which I don't like. I like all the paint color ideas - might be determined in part by the rug I choose? But help me re. furniture placement - I was going to do couch against the wall opposite windows, the bookshelves along back wall, and desk in front of windows. I think I could do desk in front of book shelves ... but then where would seating go on the other two walls? And would there be a blank wall (by the windows)?

What will this room be used as? A office? I would put in build in on entire back wall you will see right away. Make a cardenza across wall above cabinet leave center open and add a mercury glass mirror, to ceiling add moulding 4-6" I would do wall unit in white. Float in front of wall unit your desk. A glass top with dark crisscross legs. Pier one has it. Behind desk a high back desk chair in color maybe teal. You would be seating facing out in rm. add white panels in a soft woven material on lower part of windows extend rod 5" out. In white. in front of desk not to close. Add 2 low back barrel chairs in a black and white print. Have chairs sitting on cow hide rug Ikea has them. In black & white. Believe me it will have a wow factor. Change walls to a charcoal with the very white wall units and moulding its dramatic. Make moulding same as base boards.

Add stainless fan to ceiling.

I was suggesting adding 2 chairs (wingback?) and small round table with lamp between windows...then keeping your tan couch on the opposite wall where you said you planned to put it, across from windows. If I understood your first post. I'm a ding dong sometimes though..

or you could have the couch facing the wall of built-ins closer to the entry end of the room. Do some floating shelves with artifacts and framed art and mirrors on the left wall. Like a gallery wall. What are your interests?

If you could give us a favorite color that you like...I'm sure plenty of people could give you paint, rug, furniture samples/pics and ideas!

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you could also angle the desk they way they did in this library in the corner where the barstools are now in your pic?

Like pic of library. But alittle dark with a lot of wood. I was saying desk centered to fill room more.

That is an interesting idea - putting the desk on an angle. I am pretty flexible re. paint colors - I like greens, blues, grays. Paint is VERY hard for me so ideas welcome!

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caroline1217..here are a few ideas for paint colors! See if you like any of these. :)

Oh, I love some of those - thank you! This is super helpful!

here's one of my fave grayish blue paint colors...it's called Stone Fence by Behr.

That is good advice. I'm really at a loss with this room - and it is the room you see FIRST when you enter the house (e.g., it is totally open to the foyer).

That is important to keep in mind - you need to make sure it connects to the entrance and not look like it landed in your house!:) The room looks like it is a great space and it is amazing what even a new paint colour can do!