Are the ducts running inside the columns? If not, are the columns solid and load bearing?

@sktn77a Thanks for the reply. So these are 2-sided drywall boxes installed into the corners of the room with a duct inside. Not load bearing whatsoever. They put trim on the outside of the drywall to make them look like roman columns.

OK, so you can just remove the wood trim. You'll still have two verticals containing the ducts but if you paint them the wall color, they'll be much less visible.

@sktn77a Yah, I think that's the plan... I guess not much else can be done with ducts...