I see too much stuff that does not require diplay cluttering up all that shelving.I would remove all the shelving on the both sides of the FP wall hang the TV on anarticulating arm above the low cabinets left on one siade and balance the TV out with a nice piece of art above the low cabinet on the other side . A much cleaner look the TV at proper viewing height and the seating can actually watch the TV without neck support and IMO that extra TV and bookshelf can also go so maybe that TV just changed to a frame one for those times you need it

Be real, you are not changing anything in this room.

a woman that has 2 TV's in the same room doesn't have any say in how the room is used, or decorated.

“…that extra TV and bookshelf can also go…”

Agree...I would only keep the two built-ins flanking the fireplace.

Lyn, as my husband likes to say, “I DO Live here!” Most women decorate aesthetically, while men for functionality.

Kelly, you have a lovely space. Yes, maybe too much shelving. If you removed the corner units, and then get an armoire with doors, I think that would help.

You can paint the prints white, or look into limewash the limewash idea. I don't mind them. They will look better when you paintbyhe walls neutral color.

In NWFL where it freezes a couple times a year people still usually build fireplaces. We really don’t need them. I love the idea of taking out the corner cabinet and bookcase beside it. I hope I have enough left over flooring for that to not be a problem.

I’m not sure I can talk my husband into completely giving up his electric fireplace. The heater has never been on but he does like to use the remote and turn on the “flames”. He lives here too, he’s a very healthy 71 and has earned the right to some things that make him happy in his home, after 34 years in law enforcement and many more as a contract employee after retirement,whether I love them or not, so I’ll be happy with a compromise.

I guess doing a lime wash or painting the brick would be easy. I had a tile person tell me they could tile over the brick once. I’m not sure how that would be done or look.

Any suggestions for a new mantle?

Yes - I can’t wait for a light neutral wall color.

I do plan to remove most of the items on the shelves. I have a hard time putting family pictures away, but they can be pared down and maybe frames to all match for those that remain. I don’t care about the “stuff” other than pictures.

I may not be able to have a magazine worthy living room, but I am sure it can be improved upon.

As for me not having any say….I’ll be honest. While I do pick my battles, working 60-70 hours a week myself as a small business owner, I have prioritized my favorite indulgence, long family vacations of 4-6 weeks, over renovations and I do not regret it. Now everyone has graduated. They have less vacation time so no more long vacations all together are pretty much a thing of the past. I will miss that terribly, but now I can turn my attention to getting my house in better shape. We have enjoyed living in this house and having a life where many good friends have felt welcome to come and go as if it were their home too. Many memories have been made here. It is a home and I am happy with that choice, now I am ready to take suggestions from you who know much more than me, whose homes are better decorated and no doubt I would envy. I am ready to make changes to update our home to make it more aesthetically pleasing, though it may still fall short to some.

I do appreciate every single one of your efforts to give constructive criticism and suggestions. You have had some good ones I can do! If anyone has anymore ideas or inspiration pictures please post them. I am very thankful for the time you have taken to help me!

Question - once the corner cabinet is gone, will it look right with the fireplace no longer being in the center of the space? It will be to the right of center once that space is opened up. Will it look ok with the built ins on the left not reaching the wall, but just ending leaving just wall space on the left? It seems like they usually go to a natural ending like the end of a wall. Will I need to do something to the left of the remaining builtin? If so, what would look right?

Here is a wider picture of that side of the room.

Just put doors on the cabinet housing the smaller tv. remove mantle and its”legs” Then put shiplap above the fp to ceiling and match your moldings at ceiling Hang your tv lower or get one of the new tvs that allows you to watch 2-4 games all on one large tv…..just be careful not to get a tv so big it overtakes the original fp opening

I forgot to tell you to paint the bricks and the shiplap a color you like or white and of course you know to declutter your shelves and use fewer but larger items and real books

Bunny Williams, a well established interior designer who is regularly featured editorially, has her own TV show, and has an eponymous line of lighting, accessories, antiques (her husband is dealer John Rosselli) and made-to-order furniture, says that the best way to make sure a room gets used is for it to have a television in it, because realistically most people watch television. If it's a good enough reason for her, it's a good enough reason for me.

If this room needs two TVs for the reason mentioned, it needs two TVs.

Almost everyone in this hidebound forum makes absolutely no objections in this forum when the Husband has absolutely no say in the decoration of the house except some room off in the corner or the basement. Almost any time a husband has an opinion about something the consensus is that as a male he probably has terrible taste, or there is something not quite right about him and that he needs to get his nose out of "women's business".

There is no indication that the husband specifically chose anything other than two TVs in this room, so I find the statement that " a woman that has 2 TV's in the same room doesn't have any say in how the room is used, or decorated." inaccurate in this case, sexist, and offensive and a double standard.

I'd pick a wall color that contrasts less with the builtins and the trim. The contrast between the gray and the white makes the builtin wall and the ceiling tray area look cluttered and busy. I would also not use the lights on top of the builtins, there is no need to highlight that area.

I think your brick looks nice. I'd pop off that entire surround (more busy-ness) and put a natural stained plain chunky mantle there, no surround.

That plus the decluttering of the shelves will make a big difference. Do you have a sofa or hall table where you can put the photos? A display with all of them in one spot often looks nicer than when they are spread all over the place. Find a new spot for the small items and replace them with larger pieces of pottery in soft colors and textured items like baskets

Your room is very nice, it just needs some tweaking.

I like the brick colour and wouldn't change it. It adds warmth to your room.

I like your mantel and would just get a pull-down for the TV.

My husband is a 2-screen sports guy too. He uses a laptop for his second screen. Maybe your guy would be open to this instead of the second TV? And if not, it's his home too - for me it wouldn't be a dealbreaker either.

Look into displaying art on your TV instead of a black screen. https://designertrapped.com/display-art-on-any-smart-tv/

Your decor items have a lot of photos in black frames. Consider changing some of the frames. Use different colour frames or even just spray paint them, either metallic or a colour. And switch some out some of the pictures for non-square decor items.

We have youtube TV and my husband can watch four events at once on one tv. (Yay for us!) That might be something to consider.

I see the edge of a blue curtain in the first photo. It would be helpful to see all 4 sides of the room. If blue is your accent colour (and I do think it would be a good choice) then repeat it around the room. For example, pillow covers, throws in the same blue. Is there a chair that could have a blue slipcover? Some blue items on the shelves. Spray paint can be a quick fix if you have some wood/metal/ceramic things that are the right size and shape but the wrong colour. Maybe your ottoman tray for example. Temporary wallpaper could be used to give the back of the shelves some interest. The accent colour should be ~10% of the room.

Given the amount of cabinets, all the open shelving and two tv’s, suggest aiming for a paired down, less busy look. Some ideas:

You mentioned you have flooring left, so I’d remove the bulky hearth, which will make a really big difference. Then decide to paint or leave the brick, but I’m leaning towards leaving in order to break up the expanse and create a warm focal point. Simplify the surround/mantle, lower tv and rethink the accessories, as less can be more

Suggest updating the doors/hardware. Remove the small cupboard door above tv and add a tall door to that whole upper area.

The brick isn't bad looking as is but can understand your wanting to paint it for an updated look. The mantle can be reworked and lowered by any competent carpenter or if you are a d.i.y. person you can do that yourself. The cabinetry itself is a bit dated and there is an awful lot of it. You might want to consider reconfiguring it as well as removing perhaps the section on the far left as you are facing the fireplace.

If lowering the TV over the fireplace check local codes on how close tv can be to the firebox.

I'm short on suggestions because the physical fireplace and mantel are relative classic, in pleasant tones, and totally unneeding of "updating." The brick goes with the colors in your room. As long as you can have a (gas) fire in the firebox, I don't think you can lower the mantel/TV; that might be true even if you disconnect the gas, as long as the pipe is there.