Add a hearth so its not floating in space. then add a mantel. I would paint the paneling, and then decide if you need to paint the brick. But I think a hearth and mantel will do a lot here.

if you had just moved in i'd say wait. you've lived there 11 years, what do *you* think. not your painter father... but you. you get to pick.

so... flip a coin. thats what i do when i *think* i cant decide on something. because whenever i do, it either comes up the way i secretly wanted it to be, and i say 'see, the coin says to do this'. or it comes up the other way and i say 'no way, i want it to be the other.'

hey, works for me.

paint it. 11 years for you is long enough. Or, just cover the paneling w/drywall.

here are some options. if you paint the brick/paneling, then paint that brass thing black.

if you left the paneling and changed the fp and furniture to something lighter:

if painting, you must prime the wood and the fireplace first. (clean well before using primer)

Black or gray would look good too.

why don't you do something to the right w/shelves or a small cabinet in order to hang your tv on the wall?

I would only paint the paneling

Unless you want to live in cabin like environment, paint the paneling and the brick. Here are some options.

Before and After

I say paint the brick and lighten the furnishings, as in the photo Beth H. posted.

The knotty pine is lovely, but if you don't like it, then cover it so you don't ruin it for the next owner.

Not a Pro.

The brick fireplace is what sticks out in this room to me.

I thought I would paint the brick, but when I saw these inspirational pics. I would keep the knotty pine and reface the fireplace to compliment the pine. I could live with this, but I think eventually the painted brick I would regret.

Contemporary Family Farmhouse · More Info

Brookhaven Manor · More Info

What would you really, really like? Do that. 11 years is long enough to live with someone else's choices in this house.

We have painted knotty pine walls (shade of white) with painted trim (color). We left the closet with the natural knotty pine look. Love the look.

Check with paint store on primer, etc. After a while the knots will show through unless done properly. Ours were painted years ago and have some spots just now starting to show.

I’ve seen knotty pine paneling “glazed” white ... similar to a whitewash effect. It was beautiful. It was done by a professional.

We had knotty pine & brick in our basement & in our den upstairs. We drywalled the basement & left the den alone. I don’t care for painted brick and since two of our four den walls are almost completely obliterated by brick & books, I can live with it. My husband likes the look. Finds it “cozy,”

It would be helpful to see pics of the opposite wall with painted white brick and more of the room. Your mirrors & light gray furniture give impression you are craving light. Suggestion: First, clean the paneling well & paint out or replace the fireplace insert black to match other accessories & make it less prominent. Then, decide if the paneling is too dark or wrong color to work with furniture + rest of the house & same with brick. It seems like remaining decisions, e.g. paint paneling or replace with drywall, paint brick or reface, add mantle, add bookshelves, etc. will depend on your budget.

I have a north side of house family room all in knotty pine, too dark despite a large window (also on the north)!!! and like you I lived with it for a long time (because I actually do like knotty pine). Last year I painted it with BM Simply White and I am so happy that I did! Pretty things on the built in bookshelves stand out/can be seen now, for one thing; the wall art also, and the room is brighter and more cheerful.

In your case, without seeing the rest of the room I agree with Beth H. and njmomma: do something with that dark, dull and dirty fireplace first, then decide if you want to paint the pine paneling.