I'd leave both fireplaces as is. That one in the living room is a treasure. Keep the furniture light, as you have.

For the family room, I'd move the tv off the fireplace and to the wall with the love seat. 2 chairs flanking the tv.

Put the sofa with back to the bedroom. There is way too much furniture in the family room.

In the living room, take down all of the random art on the walls.

In the living room, a white ceiling would help.

Is this a rental? The stone fireplace is great, the cooler gray and taupe colors help tone down the orange.

In the other room, I’d accent with a cool color rather than red. Maybe a pale sagey green, or grayish blue. If it’s a rental, you may want to keep the two couches. Think about how the space is mostly used, and tailor it to that activity

And a larger rectangular rug in the brick fireplace room. Lose the chair back in the nook.

I would paint a couple walls warm grays cream just something besides wood overload love the rock you could paint brick black and white walls

Hi Andrea. What a beautiful house! Lucky you to have a place on a lake in the mountains. What part of the country are you in? Your fireplaces are lovely. However, since you asked what could be done to update them, you might consider painting out the brass on the brick fireplace. For the stone one (which is gorgeous!), you might consider staining the mortar a soft grey to better blend with the stone.

Love your Hudson's Bay blanket! A perfect touch in a chalet. It would also be great in the bedroom if you decide to move it.
I wouldn't rule out whitewashing or painting some of the wood, but I'd start with some of the other recommendations first, like decluttering the walls and rearranging the furniture.

Well, first things first: Take down the Christmas decorations. It's the middle of July, for crying out loud! Geez, what kind of slob leaves the...oh...wait...ummm...never mind.

Cool house!

The brick fireplace has visual texture that you will lose if you slap a $20 coat of paint on it, and it will devalue it immediately. These items (fireplace, wood walls, floors, etc.) don't stand alone. They are integrated inseparably in their setting. Changing one doesn't change the fact that it's a lake house in the mountains, just as putting stripes on a Ford Fiesta doesn't make it a race car.

The wood is already visually busy, so I would simplify everything else. I'd replace the round rug with a rectangular one, get rid of nick-nacks and the print of the canoe (the frame-wrapping makes it look generic, décor-store). Replace it with something that size, but from your lives.

In the living room, the two prints by the pass-through look like they were crammed in there for lack of space; move and re-align, if you keep them (they look sun-faded). I'd put matching bookcases flanking the fireplace, preferably built-ins whose tops align with the mantle. The sword and shield? I wonder about them.

Just tread carefully and don't remuddle a house with such strong character.

Great house! Love the colors in the furniture wicked white’s photos show. Is there another place the living room tv can go? That is the change I’d make - that fireplace is too gorgeous to be covered by a tv.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Hello!! Thank you so much!
It’s actually a rental for now so the generic paintings were to ensure it wasn’t too personalized for guests.
I forgot to mention that the stone fireplace picture was from couple years ago so the Knick knacks on wall are gone!

@tatts I hate the bookcases that are either side of the fireplace now and didn’t even think about built in!!! What a great idea, thanks!

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>@whickedwhite thanks

@wickedwhite this is in the Laurentians in Quebec, love the idea of mellowing the mortar! And those pics are gorgeous, thank you!

@ Carol Jean, thank you

@ Shady Willow Farm I agree with you on that rug! But my sister loves it so I was swayed hahaha and the chair is there only to d’écourter the dining room but I see what your saying, thank you!

@ CD-R design thank you, will move things around and see how it looks.

Ah, then the commercial art is fine, since it's a rental.

I've thought about it more as I've been working in the back yard in 96 degree heat (before noon!). One thing I would remove is the patterned pillows (and textured ones). They are really visually busy (and brown, which the room doesn't need more of).

I'd replace them with plain ones with colors from the Pendleton blankets. Or even (gasp!) make some out of Pendleton blankets--the bold striped ones.

Love the Laurentians. We ski there every other wknd in the winter. And rent a lake house every August near Arundel. Beautiful! Keep us posted on your progress. Stick with neutral colours. Would definitely keep furnishings and accessories to a minimum... Especially if a rental.

Thank you, Tatts, and wicked white! I'm only back up there in December so am planning all that can be done in a short while i'm there (I live overseas so I think about this all year long and then do things in one shot when I'm home :)). I'll post pics of the progress... however it's going to take a while :)

Wickedwhite, we are so close! Well, kind of :) I'm not familiar with Arundel; I may have to check it out next time i'm in the area. There are so many gorgeous lakes and ski hills, and good on you guys for getting out there and skiing so often!!

Don’t be afraid to paint the brick fireplace, just use the right paint. Brick + wood + stone = a lot. People get so hung up on leaving natural things as is, but if it’s not working for you, fix it. The mortar lines make the fireplace very busy. You won’t get struck by lightning I promise.

Hahaha @ShadyWillowFarm I will paint the fireplace but will wait to see how it "feels" before committing to painting the wood panelling.

Ok, if i do choose to paint the brick fireplace, what colour should I do? Dark grey?

I actually think the fireplace is an ideal color. I'd bring in more of those light grey tones in the room. I would . not paint the fireplace any darker.

I love the colors in the stone fireplace room - they look great with the wood. Can you pull a paler gray from something in that room?

Thank you all so much, I appreciate the feedback. As soon as I get to making a few updates I’ll post (will be end of year though!)

Some inspiration.

I think you did an excellent job of toning down the wood with lighter furniture. I wouldn't paint anything, except maybe the grout on the stone fireplace could be closer to the shade of the sofa.