Can you tell if there is any clear finish on the wood?

Doesn't look like there is a clear finish on the wood at all

I want to redo the cabinets - but not even sure what color the cabinets should be yet. Really depends on the stain I choose for the walls. I might even go for open shelving and get rid of the cabinets.

It will look better if the stain is brushed considering that it is not sanded, this way you make sure the bristles push the stain into every little crevice. Most do just roll-stain these days though.

You do not need to condition the wood. Make sure it is as clean as you can get it though. I am not you but I think a Matte or Satin would be good considering the amount of sunlight. If you are not considering painting the brick I would go with a stain color similar to the cabinets if that is a color you like.

I would paint it white to go with the other white ceiling? I see.

Is that wood or 8ft sheets of paneling on the wall? The strip of molding is the dead giveaway that this is paneling.

Not sure you can do anything in the way of staining paneling as typically it's not wood but a fiberboard with a printed paper facing applied to the panels.

One of the main rules of home improvement-renovation-maintenance is “Know when to call in a professional.” This is one of those times. If that is real wood, you can quickly ruin it by the wrong choices: sand or not sand; type of stain (solid, semi-transparent, transparent); color; method of application (brush or roller, wipe-on, wipe off); etc. Skill in application of any stain to raw wood will also be important to avoid streaky, blotchy results. If it is not real wood, a professional can tell you that, too. I recommend that you find someone (a professional) who is a skilled woodworker with experience using stains (that person may not be a generic house painter) and seek his/her advice before going any further.

If it’s rough to the touch, my guess is it’s T-111. Take it down an Sheetrock instead. It’ll never look good on the interior.

Is that some kind of photoshop pic you have sent? Looks odd.

Remove the light switch cover next to the door. See if the wood is thin (quarter inch or less) or thick. If it's thin, it's probably big panels that are easy to remove. No one needs splinters from their walls. Wallboard would be better than splintering wood.

I agree with Rachel Lee. It does look like some sort of exterior house siding. And, if it's rough-surfaced, you will always be dealing with cobwebs and dust adhering to it that can't be removed by brushing it with a duster on a pole. It's probably best to get rid of it and put in Sheetrock instead. Or, if you really want wood, get an appropriate, quality product.

I would not recommend stain here, and agree with others that you should just remove the paneling. there is already so much interesting texture in this room with the wood ceiling and brick wall. honestly, this space will look better w/o that paneling.

I think painting the beams white would look better too. once you fix up the cabinets, this will be a really stunning space.

I have to agree with the majority here - don’t try to stain without consulting with a professional. Honestly, I don’t think the wood paneling is going to be worth the expense & effort anyway. If you’re able to remove it and there’s sheetrock underneath, hire someone to come in and retexture the walls and then paint them.

I do love the photo SeattleMCM shared. That’s an ideal solution to modernizing & brightening up the space.

The reason I wanted to chime in is that I had an almost identical situation with our home when we bought it in 2007 (giving the year because styles change, so keep that in mind). Our family room and foyer had a similar scenario — unfinished rough tongue & groove wood from floor to vaulted ceiling. Ceilings were the same tongue & groove (but smooth) with dark brown wood beams. The wood used in our home was a good quality and single boards ran to the top of the wall, but it looked like Girl Scout camp. Just brushing up against the walls snagged clothing and scratched your skin.

We opted to paint our walls, and I like the way it turned out. Because the ceiling was stained, we left it the original color, as well as the dark brown beams. It was much less expensive than drywalling and I like the texture of the tongue & groove. Keep in mind, you won’t be able to roll the rough walls. They’ll need to be sprayed. Start with a good primer like Gripper, and then a couple of coats of paint. Our walls still have the original character, but they no longer catch clothing or collect cobwebs & dust.

I’ve posted a couple of photos to show before & after. My walls are still this color today, but it’s starting to feel a bit dated.

Since your ceiling is already painted, I think SeattleMCM’s paint scheme would be great for you. It’s really versatile!

I think I'm way too invested in your project. I'm still thinking about it - haha! I don't think your panels are T1-11 because the spacing is varied. They're very typical of 1970's paneling, and it was also very normal at that time to cover the horizontal seams caused by multiple sheets on a tall wall with moulding. Like flooring today, some paneling was laminate, some was real wood. Either way, it's probably just sitting on top of sheet rock.

Painting over it is your cheapest option.

Removing it and retexturing would give you a clean surface for new paint and be perfectly acceptable.

My new idea is...siding! If your budget allows, what about keeping the character of the wall by replacing it with board & batten siding? You can either go to the ceiling, or use the existing lines and do a horizontal siding above that. I love the look of an interior wall done in siding.

Good luck on your project!