This reminds me of your new house. This works pretty well due to the interplay of light and dark--light upholstered furniture, colorful rug to pull the eye downward and create a cozier "island" in the vast space.

Vermont Home 2012 · More Info

Your fireplace wall: remove the beams around the fireplace and paint the beams around the doors on that wall the same color as the walls.

Paint: The color seems okay--could be a warmer white, but that could be decided later with the help of a color consultant. Leave it for now since it would be a massive paint job to coordinate with kitchen cabinets.

Here's an article about paints that harmonize well with wood features. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-terrific-paint-color-matches-for-wood-details-stsetivw-vs~9025200

What's throwing things off is the high contrast between kitchen flooring and livng room flooring. It's too bad the owners didn't continue the wood.

I think the island is beautiful as is since it's a transition to the kitchen.

Large rugs and art work and table lamps will help bring the eye to eye level. No gigantic clock. Get rid of that first thing. No massive dark leather frat house sofa either. Have a mix of sofa(s) and armchairs instead. Here are some rooms with warm, comfortable furniture in scale with the space and in colors that harmonize with the floors

Northgate Family Room · More Info

Farmhouse Living Room · More Info

Kitchen: That wall of cabinets is pretty bossy. I'd be tempted to pull down all the upper cabinets facing the living room since there's otherwise plenty of storage on other walls and on island. Here's a kitchen with no upper cabinets at all. Note in kitchen below the flooring that harmonizes with all that wood.

Forest Retreat Kitchen · More Info

No uppers on one wall:

Kitchen rug:

Wow! Thank you for such great ideas. You’ve both given me much appreciated new direction. I would’ve never thought of some of these ideas but they sound great when I picture it. These are just listing photos so I’ll be coming in and starting from scratch with rugs, furniture, decor. Your suggestions will make that so much easier!

The entryway - just balance with a rug? Remove any trim? Paint any of it? I think that space is harder because the ceilings aren’t as high and there is just so much dark wood all in one area.

And yes, it makes my head hurt but I think there is great potential! 😂 There is the same paint color, cabinet color, wood and tile for every room in the house.

It's a great space, it just needs some decorating. Eye-level art, rugs, lamps, etc. Leave the ceiling alone.

The finishes, especially the ceiling, look extra bossy because there is nothing interesting in the rooms to balance them. Look at what happens when there is just one change, a colorful rug to the people level.

I'd add painting the ceiling vents to your list as well.

You're going to need a big rug. One hint about ordering rugs online, order the smallest one available if possible. You can check out the colors and weave and if it doesn't work, you won't have to haul a giant rug to the post office. Free shipping and returns are great but it's no fun rolling and wrapping a 9 by 12 rug to send back.

Hugely agree with Kendrah on ALL of what she said.

Estate sales can be a source of oversized rugs since many homeowners downsizing from a large house can't bring their big rugs to the next home. Find rugs that are beautiful and classic in a light palette that harmonizes with your ceiling and floors as well as your art work and furnishings. Look for a wide runner for the fantastic entryway you have.

I agree with others. Decorating will really sway this space. I love the wood ceilings and the floors. I'm not sure whether I like the trim width and color on the doors and the base trim. Easy way to test that. Take a bunch of sheets of paper and tape them onto the door trim and see if you like it better.

The kitchen is nice but having stuff in all of those glass cabinets is a bit much. I would leave them empty at first.

Scale is going to be very important in this room. It is large! Dainty little pieces are just going to be lost in here.

I would get a more interesting ceiling fan as well

For the front hall - maybe a different paint - a beautiful sage green? and a longer narrower runner. I think I would change the lights too - they seem a little lost and too small ( although that could just be the way the picture was taken ).

Don't rush to do everything at one time. Take your time. Look into lots of different pieces and colors. Maybe start with a beautiful rug and build up from there.

What a great house! Enjoy

bleach the ceiling, trim, and door woods?

Paint the ceilings.

I think the house is a bit over lit, the kitchen looks very bright and sterile. They should have continues the wood floors into the kitchen. Is it that bright in person?

@Shady Willow Acres the kitchen is definitely brighter than the living room. The only natural light in that combined space is from the doors on the sides of the fireplace. The # of lights in the kitchen is way higher than the living room.

@deegw Great advice on buying the smaller rug. I'd have never thought of that.

I hope Escrow closed okay and you're safely moved in.

I love this house but I don't think it would be a shame to paint over the wood of these ceilings. A white or off-white semi-gloss would be stunning in the wood pattern.

Leave the beams and trim wood.

These renders are only concepts to envision the white in the room.

Thanks for the like. Someone mentioned pickling the wood...here is an approximation.

Is the stained wood pine or another species?