I like it just like that.

Maybe you could paint the cabinets a cream color? And leave some of it the way it is.

I like white woodwork. Our last house had dark ceiling beams. We painted them white, and it made a big difference. That said, I'd be hesitant to paint all of that white. At least not until I had more information. What do the connecting rooms look like? What does the outside of the house look like? What does the rest of this room look like? Is this a high quality wood or less expensive paneling? What style are you going for?

Maybe there are some other changes you can make to reduce the weight of the wood.

Easy changes: Cover the wood backsplash with a tile or solid surface material. Add an area rug(s). Paint the spindles on the banister.

Slightly more involved changes: replace the wood panels on the wall on the right with drywall and leave the wet bar and cabinets in wood. Take out the ceiling area over the wet bar. Actually, there is probably drywall under the paneling to serve as a backer.

Very involved change: Take out the wet bar and, instead of having the door into the wet bar and the second opening, just have one big opening.

I am NOT a decorator by any means, but what I see here is possibility for color. Maybe using the differences in the molding as perimeters, only in the bar, though, cabinets should be uniform (IMO).

I love your wood. I'd keep it all natural.
My son would want to use this room as a theater, performing Shakespeare's balcony scenes from above!

I think you should change the backsplash. Favored clear and noble material. Painted white fences gateway. change the floor tiles for white tiles. Change counter for marble countertops.

I'd choose a dramatic wallpaper and embrace it. It looks very quality.... play with it.

Maybe add different materials- like replace the spindles under the on the railing upstairs to forged metal?

The wood is very impressive. I wouldn't touch it. In fact, I would add more wood by changing to floors to wooden ones.

Like this? http://houzz.com/photos/235848

Please don't paint the wood, it's lovely the way it is even though it is a lot of wood. What is this room used for and are there any other pictures to see the rest of the room?

I agree with carolins, leave the natural wood and change out the floor, it's the tile that is not appropriate with the beautiful woodwork.

Leave the wood walls, but change the flooring to white tile or wood. Gorgeous walls. It does sort of look like a money booth...to pay your way into a theator. I'd take out the "bar" area. Looks too commercial.

Please do not paint any of the wood. Replace the wooden balcony spindles with wrought iron. Add color with good looking bar stools. Place live plants or accessories with color on top of the bar. Take up the tile floor and put in wide plank hardwood! Accessories and glass ware in the cabinets and on the countertop will break up all the wood. It's very pretty,,

See how spectacular these rooms look with wood floors and wood surround!!

From the above suggestions, here are my favorite ideas: replace spindles with iron; remove wooden backsplash; replace bar top with a lighter material. In addition, I would paint the ceiling beams to match the ceiling and remove the bar "topper". Normally I am all for painting woodwork, but this room seems large enough and has enough natural light to support the dark wood. Not sure what your budget is, but it would be great if you could have wooden flooring in this room and adjacent room.

Thank you everyone :) it's great advice! Here are 2 more pictures of the living room.

My vote is also to keep the wood but I do think you should keep the beams as well and paint the ceiling between the beams a nice warm color to accentuate them .

I just remembered what this reminds me of.... Newhart. Sorry, I know it's random.

This is my brother Daryl, and my other brother Daryl.

HI -- This wood work style looks like it is from the late 70's . If you paint it , do it all not just parts . It's not a big deal painting it , just a big job. But don't paint the ceiling beams. That would up date it and give it a lighter more modern look . If you keep the wood then you should paint the drywall a warmer color to reduce the contrast a little . If you paint it , do it in a warm white . Weather you do or you don't depends on what you are going to use the room for . If it is going to be more of a den/library lounge then maybe the wood is best .Maybe think about a wallpaper on the ceiling , like a texture (grass cloth or linen look) with either wood or paint. If you want it to be a more modern/contemporary living room , then paint it. There is no crime painting it -- it doesn't hurt the wood -- paint is a very good protector . So do the room to suit your needs . I have a bigger problem with the floor . Doesn't seem to go. PS: I would change the spindles for some modern simple metal rods -either way.

@mforr, you are a hoot!!!!!

Before you makes major changes, please see how you like it once the softscape is in. With upholstered furniture, pillows, etc., you might not dislike the wood. I vote for giving it every chance you can before you paint.

wow wow wonderful the way it is I woundn't change anything!

Beautiful!

I hate the idea of covering up a beautiful natural material with paint - but I have to agree with you. I think you could make some very dramatic and cost-effective updates just with paint. I personaly like painted wood that's been glazed or distressed slightly - to maintain some of its "natural" character and to cover dirt/scratches that might occur. With this space you've got tons of potential - from a neutral glazed white/cream to even something bolder and more contemporary like black or navy.
I'd also remove the canopy over the bar and change the railing on the second level.

It looks like a room at Spindletop Hall in Lexington, Ky. Now a private club for UK alumni. Filled with soft green chairs and round tables, it has a wonderful cozyness for such a large room.

the wood is beautiful. lighten room with floor color - change to nice light tile and change rails to iron paint ceiling light color and walls open to this room on second floor light color add light furniture and light back splash and the wood will be more a nice accent than overwhelming feature.

Well, the canopy over the bar probably has useful lighting in it, as well as those racks to hang wine glasses. I think the floor is what is most catching people's attention, because it's so at odds with the wood paneling. The floor is more revealing of the fact that this is relatively recent construction, which you can also see from the door trim on the upstairs rooms, and through the doorway into the other first floor area.
I would say either go whole hog for the 19th century English country house look (which just happens to have a wet bar in the reception hall), complete with landscape paintings, scraped parquet flooring, tapestries, pale traditional furniture, etc., or tear it all out. I don't think that painting this will change the basic nature of the room.

I had ideas before reading all the comments and am in line with suggestions of leaving the natural wood. Change the backslash at the back bar to a more modern tile. Perhaps of a mix horizontal travertine or marble with glass. There are many combinations available. Change the flooring to a tile. That will match one of the materials in your new backslash. Change the countertop on the bar using a quartz or marble for repition of these materials. Add large art work to the panels in back of the bar to break up the solid panels. These changes will make the weight of the wood appear much softer on the back wall. Change the spindles to cream to match the new flooring or iron depending on the look you want. Add large patterned floor rugs light furniture. Choose a color you like for accents and vary the accents with different shades and textures of this color. Paint ceiling a light color that reflects the floor. Add artwork to the space on a focal wall that will draw the eye up to the ceiling. I think you will see that the wood in your room will now be an accent that will make your room look rich instead of heavy and overpowering. I don't now what the rest of your house looks like but I am guessing from these photos that the rest of the house has a traditional style as well. making this woodwork white may destroy the flow of the rest of the house.

One more thing...change the brick on the fireplace to a stone material as used on the backsplash again you want to keep making those connections of the lighter materials from wall to wall and floor to ceiling.Use full length drapery in the color chosen for accents in a darker shade of the color. This won't compete with the light stonework but will brighten and break up the wood.

If you can't pick just one color then choose a cool color and use the contrasting color for pops to enhance its richness. For instance blue with pops of gold. I would stay away from red and green. That's just me.

If were to keep some of the wood but add a new countertop and add a backsplash, both with a splash of color, It would keep the traditional feel while making it more inviting.

Sell some of those big panels to me! They are exactly what I am looking for in my library. Beautiful wood, by the way; don't touch it! Anybody can have white painted surfaces...that wood is a piece of art by itself.

I agree you should consider living with it for a while. It is beautiful as is - well, changing the spindles would update the room.

I love the wood, but would add a granite counter top with lots of light color and movement. I would add tin to your backsplash and add interest to the panel wall behind the bar. Maybe a mirror or art interest. gorgeous room!

Woo, and the hardware should POP!

Another question .. Should I put dark wood floors in the case I decide to paint the panels in the future or would that make the room too dark. I thought that maybe it would match the dark rod iron on the staircase ( that I'm planing on changing) what do you guys think?

If you paint that I'll kill myself. It's not excessive. I've seen excessive.

How about a soft color carpet? That can easily be changed out later.

Oh don't paint the wood. I would die to have a room like that in my home. Change the floor though. Once furniture is in you can do lots w/ colour that you can change at your whim. The wood is beautiful.

The room is a fabulous space and IMO, the woodwork is in impeccable shape and does not have a 70's flair. The flooring and the brick on the fireplace however are what's dating your room and makes it look dingy. The other issue is that the paint color is from last decade and coupled with all at wood and all those ceramic floors, it really makes the room look tired. One way to freshen it up and take advantage of the woodwork and make your room look grand is to embrace grays and a complement color. I'd replace the floors with long 12x24 gray porcelain tiles. I'd paint the walls (in the gallery and stairwell) in light greige/ taupe. Be careful to pick paint and flooring with the same undertone. Update the bar area tiling in the same color family. If you want you can have the stair railing painted black and the spindles white. The beams can stay dark, or you have have them stained/ washed in a taupe stain. Keep the ceiling white. Now you have a clean crisp shell ready to receive any style decor.

I have to switch off. If OP wants to rip the stuff out please PM me or email me or something.

Would love to see travertine or slate on the floors. depending on your bar top choice. Love changing out the spindles too.

I love the wood. I would do the floors in wood also and add a beautilful area rug and bring in the color with the furniture in rich colors. Maybe take out the bar and top over the bar and make it a open bar. Beautiful room! I really like the photos submitted to you above. Please think about this before you paint all that wood!

The photos Carolins posted of white painted woodwork are excellent example of what yours would look like painted. Natural wood or painted cabinets is a personal preference so don't be afraid to go either way. The biggest problem I see with your room is the floor. The tiles look cold and uninviting. I recommend you replace the floor with either wide plank hardwood floor or large scaled French limestone rustic tiles in an offset pattern (no polished stone). Which ever way you decide to go you will also need to address the wall color. It needs to stand up to the paneling. The white walls look unfinished with the dark paneling. I highly recommend that you consult with and architect or interior designer to help you review this room and all the adjacent room's, architectural details and flooring. The rooms and floors need to flow together harmoniously. The room appears to have been tacked on to the rest of the house as is indicated by the two different flooring tiles. The windows are gorgeous and the room has so much potential. The wrong style and scale of window coverings and furnishings will kill the space. You will save grief and money by consulting with a skilled designer in your region to help you navigate all the choices.

I think your room can easily handle a darker floor. Even if you don't paint the wood. If you don't paint the wood, you'll have a darker room, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It also depends on the furniture you're putting in there. What will this room be? Is it your living room? Do you already have furniture?

I would change the wood back fills with a Tile instead of painting the wood. If its colour you want i would instead change the tile to a plain not pattern style.

I truly hope you'll give strong consideration to keeping the wood. Many would kill to have such a rich architectural feature in their homes. By keeping the walls, ceiling, trim and certain furniture and accessories in lighter tones, you can achieve quite a lovely & relaxing space such as this one: