I like your color choice, but I think it would make the wall become a large black scquare. I can't Photoshop but you might see if you can mock it up to get the effect. I do think a good look would be to paint the back of the open shelves the gunmetal grey.

Ageee with @kandrewspa - are you looking for a refresh? what about wallpaper on the backs of the cabinets and then curate what is displayed on them a bit?

Are you looking for a more edgy contemporary vibe and is that your reason for gun metal? I agree that it is going to look like a big grey monolith. For that reason, I'd paint the face gunmetal and the backs of the cabinets and possibly the shelves another color - silver, gold, a lighter gray color. Just something to bring contrast. Then play around with new knobs that might pop a bit against the gun metal. It will be a whole lot of grey with your fireplace, sofa, and rug. I'd consider another rug just to break up the chunks of grey.

Hope this helps.

No matter your decision, I’d try to update them: before painting, remove the arched inserts and wood-fill the holes and sand. Maybe remove the upper doors on the left, so the bookcases are more similar. Consider updating the hardware and how shelves are accessorized. I think an update is as important as their color.

https://jennifermaune.com/built-in-bookcase-decorating-ideas/

Maybe I should start out with wall paper new knobs. I want it to look designer and as expensive as I can. I was thinking it would all blend in and make the room look larger.

I really do need it rearranged

Once the Christmas decorations are down, empty the shelves and take another picture. I can photoshop the color for you.

Don't dark colors make a room look smaller? I get your point about the fireplace, TV and shelves all blending together, just keep in mind that anything you put on those dark shelves will disappear unless it's a light, bright or shiny. Look at your mantel: what can you see? I know there's greenery there, but it fades into the mantel and the only thing I see is something red.

Not sure painting the built ins solves the issue in this room.

The TV over the fireplace just doesn't look right. Maybe the TV should have been placed on the staircase wall.

I've assembled some options for paint.

Take advantage of Jean’s offer to photoshop new pictures of the empty cabinets. It appears the right side total width is greater than the left side. Is it also taller or is that just perspective?

You want designer and I am not a Pro, but for what it’s worth, the large tv over the fireplace overwhelms the wall. Placing art over the fireplace would look great and bring all your living room colors together. Do you have another spot for the fireplace?

Can you post the room’s dimensions? You can do it on paper and post a picture of it.

When I get it clear of Xmas I’ll repost. I’d love Jeans offer. The fireplace is part of the house and it’s a natural gas fireplace. We do use it in the winter. I could change the stone, mantel or paint. No real good place for the tv except there.

The style of the bookcases is out of sync with the style of the fireplace. Something that paint won't fix.

What I would do is 'remodel' the bookcases or remove them and replace with freestanding, more contemporary versions.

To remodel them, the arched infills need to removed, the fluted face frame needs to be removed and replaced and the raised panel doors replaced with something more contemporary or neutral. Or remove the doors entirely.

Have you thought of tiling the fireplace to the ceiling as in Paul's pic above then painting the bookcases the wall color? If you can no longer get the same stone, paint the chase a color from the stone. Then bring in some deco to balance the contrast of light and dark.

Do you mean my current wall color for the book cases? It looks like he changed it to blue?

Xmas is down. This is what it looks like on the daily.

Sorry but the stuff you have is very traditional , the FP quite modern I do not think the bookcases even work with the FP but for sure not gray for them . I agree maybe change the FP to be more traditional instead .

Can you be more specific about what you’re not liking with the current setup?

(if it were me and i had money to spend, I would re-do the dark FP tile and mantle but that’s just personal preference for a lighter palette)

Different approach since the bookcases are wrong for that fireplace no matter what you paint them. All those little items clutter up the wall. And a TV over the fireplace isn't a great design/expensive look if that's what you're going for. My suggestions:

--Replace bookcase on the right or left with a console and put the TV on that. Maybe there's a way to have someone reconfigure the bookcase cabinets as console cabinets. Then float wood shelves that link to a new wood mantel.

--Put a modern art work over the fireplace.

Your living room could actually look quite a bit like this.

Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade · More Info

Modern Farmhouse · More Info

I love all of these ideas! Thank you so much.

I think we are stuck with the TV there. But I can redo the stone to blend better and update the mantel and bookcases. I thought going dark would help blend the TV in better. We need a big TV we are getting older, if ya know what I mean. :)

I just want to thank everyone for your advice. I love this site I wish I could hire you all!

I love that last picture. I might have to do some measuring.

I moved my furniture and it just feels so much better. Still doing something similar to these pictures. Getting a quote mid Jan. Do you like the layout better?

I do too! I would suggest you bring the sofa at the window forward a bit more, so that you could put your mug on the coffee table. In the photo it looks two feet away.

Layout is much better. Do not paint anything on the FP wall gray/chrcoal/black. The mock ups look depressing. The picture above "Yellow Cape Cod' in your post above would be best for your home.

I like the new layout. If you move the recliner a bit to the left it will cover the floor outlet.
While I like the fireplace surround, that and the heavy black mantle seem most out of place here. Have you considered a white or wood mantle in a stain that goes with your floor with a surround in white tones that go with bookcases?

Update! Paint today! My trim guy will finish the trim above the fireplace today and paint. We will decide on a stain for mantle. Stain #1 with 2-3 coats should coordinate with flooring.
Question: do we paint the side walls of the fireplace wall the same color as the front, iron ore??

He changed up the top of the trim in the cabinets and after the fireplace is done we will decide what to paint the bookcases.

I'm trying to interpret the work in progress. Looks like you painted the fireplace surround (is the paint heat resistant?) and are moving up the chimney face. I I'm not a pro, but I wouldn't use the dark paint on the sides of the chimney. You've added new white trim on the outer edges of the chimney wall - but I see a gap between the bottom of the trim and the mantle - what is the plan for dealing with that? I like the wood mantle in place of the dark one.

It is completed now. I have to touch up bookcases.

It looks fabulous! Will the bookcases stay the same? If you are willing to remove the arches on the bookcases they will better blend with the moulding that was added above the fireplace.

I love it!! Now to style the book cases 😳

agree that it would look nice to have the style—not the color— of tour book cases match the style of your fireplace. remove the arches and paint the bookcases the same light color as your walls.

The fireplace looks much more congruent. Now have your guy return and redesign the built ins. Crown and curve have to go. I would remove most of the left sets shelves/sides and put the TV above what would then be a credenza looking built in. Housegals first pic should be your target.