A panoramic picture is of absolutely no help. Take pictures of the room that will clearly show all the walls and the connection to the kitchen.

following

I agree with you on eliminating the tops of the built-ins.

I’m new to this and had thought the panoramic would give a fuller sense of the space ... here are the individual pics that hopefully are more helpful 😁

I would like the tv to remain in the room but open to mounting above the fireplace if that would look better

The door on the right in the pano is the door to my pantry ... I am thinking of a new front door with some reed privacy glass and switching out the current frosted glass in the pantry door with reed glass as well

Remove all the upper cabinet doors in the kitchens and leave them open concepts, paint/stain the lower ones ebony/charcoal for a sleeker look.

Do not eliminate the tops of the bookshelves, just remove the shelves, paint the entire bookcases,and style the areas. There are plenty of pictures to guide you on Houzz. Don’t use so many small items, it just looks cluttered. Think large and few.

Do Not remove cabinet doors. You have children and you want to store, not share the clutter. Do not paint the kitchen cabinets, it will be difficult for you to maintain with small children. Do buy cabinet polish and give them a good cleaning. Spend your money on new countertops and backsplash instead. Forget about the reed glass at this point. You will get more bang for your buck with new lighter countertops and backsplash.

Keep the art above the mantle . It looks like your television is too large for the space.

Tv is fine. But if tops of the units were removed, your art would look less grounded, and possibly 'too high'...

For 'fun' here's house somewhat like yours - does a warm accent color appeal ? [see grapefruit] -- !

what is your rug like?

Wide Open Spaces · More Info

I like idea of repeating curve of sofa ... another art color could be real pretty, between the white chairs for more zing -

Trapezoid-shaped ottoman with removable lid / reveals a round storage area. Dressed up in velvet making it easy to drop in a living room or bedroom space - try in multiples.

Botanical Ottoman Green Velvet · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/botanical-ottoman-green-velvet-prvw-vr~127613390

The idea of introducing a warm color pop does appeal and the grapefruit above did make me smile -- maybe in the backsplash I can work that in?

I'm glad you smiled!.... backsplash is a small area, and near warmth of wood, anyway, so I'd put it where it'd really be noticed.

Good idea!

Please, post photos of dining area.... ?

I think new lighting that's not dark bronze could make a difference - I'm sure it's great with style of cabinets, which look beautiful btw, tumbled stone too.

S.steel is cool - so satin nickel wouldn't seem out of place in your kitchen.

Sendero De Alba Kitchen · More Info

Dining area ... and yes, I agree that a change in the lighting could make a bid impact ... Probably need to change out the fixture over the dining table and the ones over the counters

And I’m guessing that changing out the fan for something that coordinates would be needed too

Beverly's would seem to work with elements like windows... but your kitchen has the.. is it Tuscan details...what about the rest of your house's...

I agree with BeverlyFLADeziner, leave the bottoms of the units and put up shelving.

Yes, you are right that the original owners had a more Tuscan/Italian style ... the dark bronze fixtures and cabinet pulls and door handles throughout, tumbled stone for backsplashes, etc. and eventually... I will work my way through the house in updating and changing the feel .... last year was painting walls in every room - all the walls and ceilings were tan before and now, I’m looking to transform the great room and use those changes to drive changes elsewhere ... I’m leaning towards thick white countertops - do you have any ideas for the backsplash?

And have been considering changing out the cupboard doors for slab doors (at a minimum changing the pulls and knobs and thought it would help to remove the crown molding on the top of the cupboards

For the big picture - another blue [blue spruce/ robin's egg blue....], might blend with sofa and art, and add more casual...

Juniper Berry Room Darkening Curtain, Set of 2, 50"x120" · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/juniper-berry-blackout-curtain-set-of-2-50x120-prvw-vr~84050990

Why remove all molding - might need bit of re-design. To me above your stove seems busy - would this type work, with 1 piece, straight line. This could be back-painted glass, neutral.

Manor House Painted Limestone & Anthracite · More Info

Idk if upper above frig "hides" cabinets at right - would you like it changed, removed? idk what....

Seeing above blue island - what is your thought about painting just the island? not sure a blue couldn't go with tan counter....

Hi Kristin. It would be exciting to see a fresh change by painting all uppers and walls white, lowers a soft charcoal, including lower cabinets around your fireplace (charcoal or white). I would install marble counter tops and a square one on your island. Change out lighting. Remove top fireplace surround cabinets and replace with white shelves. You might even want to re-tile or paint over your fire surround. Painting is low-cost and makes a huge impact. I would keep your tv to the side.

Would this old-world chandelier fit your liking of curves... and house's traditional ... to replace fan ?

9-Light Chandelier · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/9-light-chandelier-prvw-vr~130458652

Back in the day of ‘mid-century modern’, counters were Formica, cabinets were slab-front
and stained, floors were often terrazzo, colors were bright (orange, lime, turquoise) or white, and light fixtures could be wild. Furniture was angular and simple, chairs and sofas without skirts. Windows were very simply framed or frameless. Architecture was simple and angular, too.

yes.... what is house like, exterior too?

window have the simple look - did owners impose Tuscan on it?

It’s stucco and pretty non-descript right now ... My plan for the outside is to paint the body of the house a touch whiter, trim with charcoal/black, change out front front door - remove the sidelight and put in one larger door (I’m leaning towards steel frame with mostly windows/privacy glass), replace the garage doors (either something like CHI planks or the design with all windows) and if I go with the wood look for the garage doors, I thinking maybe even put wood on the ceiling of the porch front entryway

So nice as it is, like door in kitchen - idk what reed glass is, that you mentioned. Certainly you don't / can't make it modern - transitional might be the indoor thing.

And yes! I love the look of a solid piece of backpainted glass for the backsplash ... I feel like I have a lot of cool colors in the room with the blue sofa and the gray walls ... do you think a light soft butter yellow would work? And from a design perspective, do I need to have the same backsplash for behind the stove and on the other wall? Or could I do the solid glass behind the stove and then something punchier/brighter under the microwave?

And yes ... best I can do is apply some elements that make it transitional but with the roof line and bones of the house, it will never be truly modern or MCM

Reed glass is a privacy glass - looks like this

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/2b/09/8c2b09d25c249b58c1d116a799693036.jpg

Cute sleepy pooch.

Nice home, inside and out. Like all that natural light.

Would focus only on redoing the inside of the home and not even to begin investing in the exterior until the interior is done to suit you.

In the middle of the last century, kitchen countertop backsplashes in the average home was usually a single row of tile about 6" tall that matched the countertop. You might see if a solid color countertop from Corian could get you the look you want.

In the pic, your cabinets appear to a be in good shape. If they are, do keep them as is. Making them look cheap will not help the look of the space or the resale value of your home.

Paint all the walls the same color -- your favorite color.

You could add some color to your great room by changing the pendant lights to larger Tiffany style stained glass lights. You might find your lights before choosing your new paint color.

Would definitely keep the built ins by the fireplace -- they're working perfectly with your tv -- but you could remove the shelves from the middle of the built in on the left and hang art with a thin b lack frame the same size as your tv. You could use black matting around the art to further add symmetry. Would not paint the built ins.

Would probably paint the large dark frame around the small door the same color you choose for your wall. The small art by that door needs a frame and some companions to hang with in in th dining area.

Let us know how your project is going. After pics, please.