Try lightening up your furniture fabrics. White or cream upholstery with pillows in the blues.

Lindal Cedar homes are traditionally pretty 'cabin' and not so coastal, tho in the PNW they can be a coastal cabin. From the pics it doesn't look so bad but what I think dates it is the window coverings. Doesn't look like you need privacy as much as maybe light/sun control? What direction do those windows face?

If light control is what you need, I might think about removing the vertical blinds and installing exterior sunshades with remote controls. They can be open to take advantage of the views and closed when the sun is shining in and invisible when open.

I've seen track lighting in wood tones that might disappear on the ceiling, yet give you some overhead lighting. An updated fan would be good, too..

Don't be in a hurry to take down the track lighting. The current configuration likely provides terrible light for this room. But most track lighting manufacturers have accessory items that could really provide great lighting in this room. See below.

Track Lighting manufacturers offer an extension wand that will clip into your ceiling track and then you place your existing black fixtures at the end of the wand to get the track head into a better position. The wands come up to 48" long. Additionally, a pendant/chandelier accessory allows you to hang fixtures directly from the track using this adapter.

If you add the extension wands to the track you'll be able to highlight the stone fireplace that seems to be lost in this room.

Also, the ceiling fan is not large enough for the room & it's hung too high.

With everyone likely wanting to look out the windows, I'm not sure there's a better furnishings arrangement for this room. The gray sofa and chair look good. I'm sure that adding the wood floor can only help the room.

Thank you for all of these suggestions—and for the photo edit (track lighting)! It’s helpful to be able to ”see” what it would look like.

I completely agree about the blinds!!! The house is on the east coast/Chesapeake Bay and faces south. We will be doing this project in phases, so it sounds like focusing on hardwoods and blinds is the best places to start. Floors in the kitchen are hardwood finished in place. They are currently a yellow’ish tone and long overdue for refinishing. We have budgeted to have them installed in the living room but are struggling to find a color that works with the lindal cedar ceiling.

The updates are for them but the house will stay in the family—it really is a beautiful property…just needs updates!

@Jan Moyer—thank you for the window/door trim suggestion! There are beams that run from the ceiling to floor on the large windows Would you keep those natural wood or paint ALL of the trim white? What anout the baseboards?

Definitely INCLUDE the vertical beams as window white. Base skirts too.

It will take the "choppy/cut up" feel right out your view.

Do a sand on site white oak hardwood for the entire living floor and just blend the kitchen in via refinish. Or? Rip the kitchen floor and do a new engineered hardwood, everywhere.

You are going to want some area rugs so don't wring hands: )

Is the carpet in bad shape? It might just need to be restretched. I agree with the others to start on the window wall and paint. I think a Scandinavian look would look good. Think white and wood. The blue couch would work with that look. It might be nice to open up the fireplace somehow and to group the furniture tighter. Perhaps the tv could tuck under the stairs? I would have the couch facing the two chairs - great for afternoon naps, while still seeing the view.

I do not even like wood usually and love Linal homes . If coastal is what you want go light and airy decor no black chairs at the table nice light colored sofas and chairs I would do solar shades on the windows so you keep the view and control the heat and UV. No carpet some nice area rugs and no painting the wood ever . The big this is much better lighting everywhere that is IMO where you spend the money .

This is a multi-stepped process and each decision will affect the way forward. Be careful to add updates that suit the home/ not leaning too far coastal. Budget wise, prioritize and decide on where money will be best spent/have the most effect/meet your parents needs and tastes.

1. Flooring: buy a box of your favorites (if you can return) and test.

2. Painting: will have a major impact and suggest staircase and walls (trim can be decided when rest is done).

3. Floor plan needed before purchasing. How much seating is needed/what will meet their needs. Consider overall interaction and also a cozy spot for two next to window.

4. Decor and color: will have a major design influence. Maybe slipcovered furniture will feel coastal, but also cabin like (and is practical). Incorporate plants, blues and greens. A rug (Oushak?) and make it cozier and choose a big coffee table. Updated lighting on ceiling and on side tables and/or floor lamps.

5. Window covering: costs really come into play and how much they dislike what’s there. A good choice if budget allowed are customized motorized blinds (needed on the top only). No matter what is chosen, they need to be custom so getting quotes will help with a decision.

6. You could distress table and add new lighting. .

I wanted to add that the current window coverings are neutral so I'm not sure I'd sink money there. See what they look like once you've painted before you update them. I would make sure the strings are secured so they aren't a danger to little kids.

I would

-replace the blinds (they are dated and look like clutter)

-tear out the carpet and replace it with the flooring in the rest of the house,

-paint the window trim on the window wall the same color as the wall color

-buy a fabulous area rug for the living room.

It's a great space and probably doesn't need quite as much as you think to freshen it up.

I love the ceiling!! I would leave it and paint the trim around the windows white. I think light fabrics in blue and green hues would be beautiful. I bet it will be stunning!!

I wouldn't touch the ceiling or the trim. The easiest, most affordable changes you could make are changing the furnishings and lighting. I love the wicker touches, especially the wicker pendant below. Note the pale gray, streamlined sofa. Do research furniture measurement guidelines for seniors who need fairly straight sofa/chair backs/arms for support when they sit and get up.

Light furnishings, coffee table up on frame, recessed white roller shades. (On your lower windows, you might be able to get off-the-shelf wicker roller/Roman shades, then get motorized solar shades for the top windows--pricey though.

More wicker touches, pale blue accents for lake/coastal feeling. Think about painting your dining chairs and china cabinet a very pale blue.

Here's a more streamling recliner:

GDF Studio Hinus Indoor Upholstery Club Chair Recliner, Light Sky · More Info

Or recliner like this, pale blue or white that swivels to face the view. It has nice high cushions as well.

Upholstered Swivel Recliner With Tufted Back, Teal · More Info

Get some large abstract landscapes to echo your view and add more light to the room and give you more of a water view/coastal feeling.

Large Abstract Painting on Canvas Modern Acrylic Skyline, 48x48, Blues and White · More Info

Cool Water 1 Artwork · More Info

Light over the dining table--wicker, rattan, and coordinate with other new lighting in similar materials. Rattan not only gives light below, it allows light to shine through. Shape should be oval or rectangular.

This group is amazing—thank you! i should have mentioned that they plan to remove the fireplace. It was there when they bought the home 25 years ago but we need to select the hardwood color first. We have also considered closing the area under the stairs and putting the TV there. It’s a difficult room to configure because you want the focal point to be the water views but its also the only TV viewing/sitting area. Here’s a view from the stairs/main bedroom landing area looking down to give a better idea (red arrow is hallway entry to 2 small bedrooms; blue arrow is stariway to main bedroom):

Painting the sheetrock and the window and door trim the same white color will make a huge difference.

It's helpful to brainstorm but you do have to be cognizant of the budget. How much are they willing to spend? Is this for imminent resale or their enjoyment?

@tracefloyd: I agree that painting the walls a slightly cooler white throughout will help. Here's an article about best white for spaces with a lot of wood trim:

https://www.simplehomesimplelife.com/blog/living-happily-with-wood-trim

Define "coastal"?

To me coastal fits if the house is on the Ocean or a large body like the Gulf. A lake, to me, doesn't qualify as coastal.

I see what you mean about using the term “coastal”—it overlooks the Chesapeake Bay so I wanted less of a "cabin on a lake in the woods” feel and more of an open/light/waterfront feel. We plan to keep the house and in the family but also want to help them update it. The fireplace removal and new flooring will happen first in order to allow a better/less obstructed flow from the kitchen to the living room. Sounds like painting and updating some fixtures would be the next step.

I agree, so go with white walls and painted white window trim as suggested. It will feel so open...you'll see.

I think white or pale tan solar roller shades would be preferable to the current window treatments. Indoor 80-90% or so roller screens so you can still see some view thru them and have more control opening and closing. We use chain rollers...I hate losing remotes.

Thank you again for these great suggestions! This has been amazing. What are your suggestions for TV placement?

The house looks great. It would look perhaps more up-to-date if you painted the trim around the windows white, but I like it the way it is. I don't get the point of spending a lot of money making something fit today's trends. That house is still pretty modern-looking. I would price new blinds before I removed the existing ones. I suspect you'll pay a ton for something not all that different.

What looks cabin to me is the furniture. The dreary gray and that awful houndstooth don't go with the warm wood.

If you're removing the fireplace, then that will let a lot more light in, which will make you forget about painting the trim. Is it possible, after the fireplace is gone, to create a TV watching zone at that end of the room? TV could go on the wall where you have a small cabinet. Then add two facing swivel chairs with a small table between them. It's not ideal to have walkway cross TV, but maybe that wouldn't bother your parents. Bravo to your parents for not having a massive TV. Just a thought.

You could also get a sectional that faces the water with the back of a short "L" setting off the reconfigured area. Measurements for all the above will be critical.

An out of the box thought is to create a circle of comfortable armchairs, on swivels, on a rug, in the middle of space. Everyone can swivel to face view or TV wherever it winds up. The current sofa location bothers me because it blocks the flow in the room.

A few more. I also like the idea of sheetrocking the staircase to use for the TV.

If you go this armchair route, make sure chairs are very comfortable. Not sue these are, but just showing the coastal palette. You might be able to find a couple that are both on swivels and recline.

Which direction does the window wall face? Does it get much sun? You might be able to treat the upper windows with solar film and purchase updated blinds for the lowest level for privacy.

The large windows face south and they get a lot of natural light

We face Southwest and the upper windows have solar film. Makes a big difference.

@tracefloyd I don’t know anything about solar film, but does it darken the room? (sorry if that’s a dumb question!)

I wouldn't say it makes the room dark but it does make the window glass look a little darker. We had one wall of windows with UV protection. Most people probably wouldn't notice it but I could see the difference between the new window wall and the original windows in the room.

Lindal likes white everything, leaving the ceiling cedar. Just roll it on; one white, one sheen.

Slipcover the furniture in white; add some throw pillows which relate to the view and the cedar.. Keep the great blue heron...my favorite water fowl.

etsy pillows

My summary of suggestions:

--When choosing flooring, match it to adjacent space flooring behind fireplace since you plan to remove it. You want the floor to flow. If you find you can't match it, then get light but varieted wood flooring that echoes you other flooring. This is a common solution when new flooring can't be exactly matched to old flooring.

--Sheet rock the outside of the staircase and place TV on that wall.

--Paint all the white a bright white that goes with wood trim. Don't paint trim.

--Research very comfortable attractive swivel/recliner armchairs and get four of them, perhaps in blue or caramel color leather with light blue pillows. Here's a classic style from Pottery Barn, but measure seat height, which should be around 18" for seniors.

Swivels will enable everyone to look at the view or TV. Get a large round coffee table for the middle of the conversation circle. Choose light materials and finishes for new furniture. Anchor them on a patterned rug that harmonizes with wood and new swivel armchairs.

--Hang art work in coastal colors that mirror the view.

--If you've got budget left, get automated white solar shades for upper windows and wicker/rattan shades for lower windows--(not too dark or white).

--Paint your dining chairs and china cabinet light blue.

--Change pendants to wicker, which is very popular now in lighting.

.

There are different levels of solar blocking film. Ours were there when we bought the house so I'm not the expert. Ours are not dark and not really noticeable unless you actually look at slight differences in the sky thru the panes above vs the sliders below.

Your current coverings look fine, Are they vertical blinds? You can still see the view by angling the slats. I wonder If it would be cost effective to replace the slats with ones that are screened, like solar shades, to let the view thru when closed.

I didn't see the heron...nice.

Are you heading toward a Nancy Myers coastal look with white, blue and natural wood? https://www.potterybarn.com/tips-and-ideas/new-looks-to-love-coastal/ 

This is easiest to do as a package, but you can do it in phases over a few years:

Phase 1: replace flooring, remove heavyweight dark traditional accessories such as paintings and vases

Phase 2: buy white slipcovers for gray sofa and its matching chair. Replace two recliners with light colored swivel recliners. Buy new table lamps. Buy two "inspiration piece" pillows that will guide the color scheme in white or off white and blue (as elcieg shows).

Phase 3. Paint drywall walls white. Paint some of the dark furniture white or sky blue.

@housegal200 Thank you! i love the PB chair the link you posted did not open, i like the ideas you sent Do you tbink I should paint the trim white?

Its a beautiful house and I wouldnt try to make it something its not. Enhance what it has, and dont take away from the beauty the house already has.

It sounds like everyone agrees thst the walls need to be a brighter white but there’s mixed opinions anout the trim? Any suggestions for a south facing room? BM pure whitr? BM chantilly lace?

Simply white is a beautiful warm white, however paint colors look different in every room. I would therefore paint samples of different whites and see how it looks throughout the day