Do you love the built ins? To me they are overwhelming. Have you thought of removing them?

I'm not sure exactly what your goal is here. To me, the built ins look like a perfect bookend to the kitchen with your dining table bridging the gap. I also like that the TV disappears into the cabinetry now. I probably would not paint it.

What I do notice is an awful lot of stuff right at the ceiling--two fans and a chandelier with crystal drops--that seem a little clutter-y. I might simplify those, even eliminate the fans if you don't need them, to lighten things up a little bit.

I would not paint. They work with the kitchen.

I would not paint them. I wonder if some lighter accessories/books might help? Love the blue island! I think the bar stools are also a bit dark and heavy.

Hi, I would seriously consider painting the bookcases as well as the kitchen cabinets. It will create a more open and spacious feel.

Look at the difference between these two images:

It looks as if your island in the kitchen is painted blue, so you could use a paint colour similar to the colour on your walls in the sitting room. It will brighten the whole space.

Here is an example of a pair of painted bookcases in a living room:

Let me know what you think.

Hello here is my list of things that would be better than $$ on painting the cabinets

1. could you remove the doors on the right side of the built in? than would open things up

2. replace both ceiling fans, and ask yourself do you really need a fan in the kitchen?

3. remove the crystals from the dining fixture, they look like you might have added them. I think your money would be better spent on lighting then on painting.

I did a few things which may or may not get you closer to a lighter feeling, but you can see what you think. I totally removed the fan, replaced the chandelier with a simpler, more open one, and changed out the living room rug for one that seems more complementary to the one in the dining room (which is gorgeous, BTW).

I didn't remove any plants, though if any of those are fake, I would.

If you do need the ceiling fan in the living room, look for something simple with no light kit that will blend into the wood.

How about changing the barstools, the lighting fixtures and the TV? A Frame TV would make a big difference on that wall of built-ins. So would restyling the shelves a bit. In any case,you have a lovely home and at least in pics, it does not read particularly "dark".

As per others' suggestion, removed doors on right side of built in:

I, also, would paint foam core board the blue of the island or the wall color & the inside of the corner curio cabinet. and all Groveraxl ideas.

I love all the ideas! I am going to start with removing the middle doors and lightening up the accessories and look for new light fixtures. I will post pics on my progress.

Love that ! We will be so excited to see the progress, we are always here to help! You have a beautiful house!

I like what you're planning. Trying the painted foam board inserts may make a big difference. I also, for some reason I see the sectional on the other wall and the chairs near the windows. I might open things up a bit. Is there a table in front of the window or just a ledge? You could relocate the plants there. I can't tell what's on the windows - curtains and sheers? Is there a way to open that up too? Maybe shades rather than drapes?

Following

Another thought as to what might help your room: include small but defined touches the dark brown color somehow in the area with the couch and chairs. That will bring the brown as an accent color and tie the three areas together. The brown could be as simple as a throw on the couch or a chair or several pillows that color.

I would suggest a gorgeous piece of white/light marble on top your table, or get new table + chairs that lighten up the heaviness of all the dark wood...

Grover likes that the TV blends in, but I think it looks like a black hole in an already dark wall. Could you move the TV to the side wall (where the chairs are) and replace the TV with light-colored artwork? If necessary (and it probably would be) you could add a picture light. I know this opens up a whole can of worms with your furniture layout and probably your TV-watching habits.

I like the built-ins and definitely wouldn't paint them. I think the idea of painted inserts is a good one.

Grover can you superimpose some soft blue paint in the back wall of both units flanking the fireplace? I think it would pull the colors together instead of one big dark wall.

Since you seem to love blue, this could work.

If you don't want to remove it all then paint it white, it will be a huge difference. If it were me I would remove everything except the lower cabinets and fireplace. I'd do a light paint color behind and shelving above.

Since everyone wants you to cover the shelf backs, I did. I wouldn't paint them blue, though, but something light and warm:

Here are the shelves in blue, just so everyone can see. (I also returned your current rug to the room, though I think you could stand to go darker.)

Love the look of the back of the bookcases lightened.

I like the back of the bookcases painted the lighter (wall) color. Blue tones can be incorporated with hardback books. The shelves actually need more books and fewer picture frames.

Great start to what will be a beautiful room.

Try to put bigger lighter colored objects on the shelves, remove the plants and little stuff.

Replaced the TV with art.

The blue doesn't fair well with your current rug, the cream would be better, but i would put paint them or with foam core I like the all wood look.

To my surprise, I didn't like the backs of the built-ins lightened with either color. To me, it cheapens them.

Would it be completely cheesy to put mirrors in the backs of one or more of the larger built-in sections? Framed mirrors might be nice, but I've also seen mirrored plexiglass that comes in large sheets that can be cut to size.

Really like your room. Would not paint the cabinets, I would just concentrate on any other decor being light. The lighting and fan recommendations also really improve the overall feel of the room.

I love those cabinets. Sometimes when something sticks out in a room the trick is to run counter to instinct and to highlight it more. I agree your other dark or busy features—dark barstools, the busy living room rug—are competing with the cabinets and undermining them. If you don’t want to change the cabinets I’d lighten up or neutralize those—make the bold cabinets the star.

I just realized I did not come back and update what I decided to do. I so appreciate everyone's commnets and suggestions. I did have them painted white and love the result! it feels like such a tranquil room now.

I don't know if it is just an itch to have something different, but now I am trying to decide if I want to have the kitchen cabinets painted white since to rooms are open to each other. I am not concerned about following trends. The cabinets are either maple or birch. As I have polled my friends and family I get differing answers. I am not good at visualizing and have tried the paint visualizers from SW and BJ but it looked like a kindergartener scribbled on the picture with a crayon!

I did try homedesign.ai and no matter how many times I ask for white cabinets, it always produced this picture:

I actually really like this look, but it also has new countertops and backsplash. I just wasn't ready to do a whole kitchen remodel.