What are you willing to change or paint? What type furniture will you be adding?

I think there is too much of a contrast in the living room. I would put a white wash on the wood walls and paint the ceiling and remaining wall a darker color. I would also put bright print drapes and large colorful scenic art work on the walls and over the fireplace.

The kitchen cabinets could be painted a happy color. Take off the railing at the top.

Good luck with your new house. It seems to have lovely possibilities!

It looks like a good sized space, but it could use a major update...new cabinets, a change of layout, and new lighting, appliances, and backsplash.

What‘s your budget?

I’d leave kitchen until time and resources for a bigger plan. I’ve seen in the area where we vacation, people paint old pine paneled walls. I’d do that but get a local person w experience . Prep of surface w correct primer and some color tint of correct product? how to work w high angled ceiling but leave the beams and stone fireplace. ....here is probably a design issue at play. Is there a local interior design firm that can visualize those walls and ceiling and have access to the team to execute. It can really be stunning and add lighting maybe a built in bookcase.

Definitely paint the paneling or take it down. Dark spaces depress me as well so I totally sympathize. You have the bones for a really nice room. If you need the fans I would paint the blades white to match the ceiling. If you don't need them, I would replace them with large, airy lanterns.

In the kitchen, I would replace the light, take down the plate rail and the scalloped wood valance above the sink. When you decorate, do not put anything on top of the cabinets. Those easy changes will make the space brighter while you decide if you want to tackle a bigger renovation.

First change the lighting especially in the kitchen that flouresent fixture needs removing and replacing with LED track light if pots are not in the budget. All the other bulbs need to aslo be replaced with LEDs and make all the fixtures hae LEDs in 4000K . You have given us no info as to your style . I am not a huge lover of wood walls so those would be gone if it was me.I do not like the wood trim around the chimney and IMO only a nice wood mantel not the legs on the side.

I painted my overly paneled wood den a nice soft off white/warm light beige, very soothing. We primed the wood twice and then painted 2 coats. I also painted the ceiling beams to reduce glaring contrast. I have never regretted it. the wood trim around the house (windows, baseboard, door trim) was also painted but in BM Atrium White.

I suggest beginning with lots of white paint! If I was on a time limit or a budget constraint I would prioritize painting out the wall panelling and the upper cabinets in white. Also paint out the trim around the fireplace and remove the trim from the top cabinets Then I would stand back and reassess. U might find the fireplace and the lower cabinets appear less dark as u have balanced out these dark elements by adding all the white.

We did the same as Lulu Smith in a previous home. Painting the paneling a soft white transformed the room. I went from hating the paneling to loving it. I do recall the painters had to do some kind of special prep before painting it.

I would remove the paneling and the stone veneer that is used for fireplace in the the family room.

The kitchen has a specific purpose so I think you should live with it for a year so you know what you may want to change.

Spend about 20K with the best local expert painter and have all of that paneling, cabinets, and everything else wood painted SW Alabaster,. In Emerald. After sanding all of it, priming with shellac, sanding again, another BIN, and then 3 top coats. Thats a high level, high skills needed, change. Or it’s a whole year of DIY. Because it has to be prepped and sprayed properly.

Lynn what type furniture will you be bringing into this home?

My style is French country rustic farmhouse. (Not too farmhousey) That’s about as close as I can describe. I have sold our living room furniture so I’ll b starting fresh with a clean slate for family room.

Oh I think that is a perfect style for this home...I would have the wood paneling And beams sanded and lightened like a what you would see in a French country villa...all white ceiling and have the fireplace refaced..with german schmear..or replastered...it will look beautiful...

I think you could do something fun in the kitchen maybe lower cabinets in a fun blue with white uppers...or whatever your favorite color is.

Nice kitchen.

Like the living room rug.

Would want all the painted walls painted the same color.

Probably wouldn't paint the paneling.

Would definitely remove the "post" fireplace surround.

Not generally a fan of carpet but as carpet goes, your living room carpet looks good. If you're removing the carpet, however, then would not replace carpet with other carpet.

Personally prefer tall thin metal lamps with medium or large straight sided white shades.

Would definitely remove the "post" fireplace surround.

Do you like the living room paneling and wood trim for doors and windows and intend to keep them as is? Appears to be in good condition.

Alternately, have you considered keeping the paneling but changing the thin window and door trim pieces to slightly wider white trim board? along with adding a white mantel? and/or painting the ceiling fan blades white?

Would not put any small pictures in the living room at all -- maybe move those to the kitchen along with the other small pics in your collection.

Would, however, wait about purchasing any larger art until you have purchased all your furnishings and lived with them a while.

Even then, leave your living room walls blank unless and until you find art you truly like -- not just something to hang.

This is not where I currently live but a house we have purchased. I like your idea about wider trim around the windows and doors.

I dislike that ‘mantle thing’ as well.

I had thought about sanding the walls and going with much lighter stain. It’s real white oak.

Are there any suggestions fore that weird bank wall with uneven doors to kitchen and music room?

Light is a great warrior against depression. Daylight LEDs of 4000K will help. Change the cans to that, add LEDs under the upper kitchen cabs, and replace the florescent ceiling fixture with a pair of pendants over the island. If you don't want to do a major kitchen reno, just replace appliances with stainless ones as they fail. If you discover that the pass through is not a plus, I advise you rework it to move the fridge there and put a stacking oven/microwave in its place with a pull out pantry to fill any extra space there. A nice big hood over the cooktop would be striking. Recycle the doors and shelves from any removed cabs to the old oven location. Plan your furniture layout so there is a table or floor lamp with LED bulbs at every outlet in the living room. You can DIY the paneling by cleaning with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate,) rinse, let dry, lightly sand, tack off sanding dust, prime with 2 coats KILZ or Zinzer and then paint with 1 - 2 coats of your chosen color. It the FP is just veneer, replace it with a nice stone. If it is real, then lighten it with a good product from Romabio. I think you have space for a sectional, but keep its style contemporary, not the puffy man cave style.

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I would remove the top rail from the kitchen cabinets as well as scalloped piece over the window. I would paint the cabinets. Bottom cabinets a taupe that goes with the flooring and top cabinets a warm white. Then I would do a backsplash in a color to tie the cabinet colors together. Take down the light fixture and replace with perhaps pendant lights or chandelier depending on your taste. I would paint the island the same as the base cabinets. You have a great starting point and paint is a terrific tool to update any part of your house especially if finances are a concern. Good luck. I’m sure whatever you do will be great!

I just can’t see you painting that white oak..have it striped it will be gorgeous!..

If it was pine I would say paint it!

What product would be the safest and easiest to strip the stain from the white oak (real wood) paneling?

Also, the kitchen has a light yellow quartz countertop and backsplash. What colors would go with that other than the dark wood that’s present now?

I found out the paneling is pine so I want to paint it. What shade of white is calming without being stark white or yellow tones.

Oh no! That is a bummer..it still can be white washed instead of a solid paint job....Benjamin Moore Timid White is perfect for this...

you need to bleach the walls with a mixture of bleach and water to lighten the wood...than milk wash them...here is a good read!

Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you..my Houzz account was acting up and kept sending back my response to you..saying your account was full?

My husband went to the house and says the walls have stain and poly on them. Is there’s a method to painting over that, or do they have to be striped, and with what? Or does the bleaching technique work on stain and poly?

Ok you can use a bonding primer first but that is for painting solid white...I think it is best to consult with someone at the paint store first..depending on what is on that paneling...would be nice to white wash ultimately instead of stolid white paint.

Yes, I want a relaxed linen color so it’s not stark white.

The Timid White is really perfect so keep that in mind...

Well, we have a plan b. My husband is going to take the paneling down and use it in the man cave/pool room area! We will actually have Sheetrock places in the living room. So now, I have to decide on light color and what color furniture to have in there but still have a little warmth. I’m going to wrap the beams in the ceiling with a light oak.
I can see warm and cool tones in colors, but I’m not great at picking out several pieces of furniture to make a room cohesive and yet have some contrast or warmth. Suggestions appreciated. Better yet pics :)

Lynn You can always reach out to me by email if you want any one on one free advice...would love to help. Zmom40@aol.com

Hate to see that wood come down it really gives such great texture to the walls...

We painted our wood paneled living room white dove Benjamin Moore. I would recommend you check out amber interiors on Instagram. She just completed a home remodel with beautiful neutral palette. The trim in her house is a tad darker than the walls and it gives the room such character. She also has beams. You could find great inspiration there. Also the first pic on here looks like Emily Henderson’s mountain house (another great interior designer to follow on Instagram) she schmeared her fireplace to give it a different look. It has potential!!

This is my wood room before and after!

Well, I decided to leave the real wood walls as is due to budget. I used curtains to soften the look. We had the fireplace refurbished.

Looks fabulous!! The positive about going slow with painting out wood is it can always be done but cannot be undone!!!

The fireplace is beautiful!

It looks great - very nice and cozy! Nice tree too...