Scrape the ship lap??? You mean take it down? You can paint it as is. I don't know they why of your question. What do you dislike about the wood? If more light is your issue that can be remedied with brighter bulbs. You also could give it a white wash which would retain more of the charm of the current ceiling. The other option would be to put up more shiplap is uniformity is what you are after.

We have Shiplap up vaulted ceiling slope and on vertical wall onto ceiling of adjoining room. We just thinking of cleanness. We want to add large center mounted ceiling fan with recessed lighting surrounding it.

On the family room side is that shiplap on the ceiling as well? picture is not clear. And is the beam covered in wood as well?

Here’s ceiling look showing room and family room

Here’s current ceiling look showing room

Here current ceiling

I would keep the shiplap and paint the ceiling planks. Since I don't see any specific decor, here are a few ideas starting with a warm white that would coordinate the the whites already in your room.

We would like to put recessed lighting in vaulted ceiling and move ceiling fan from over dining table middle or farther up ceiling. The play room area we thought about filling in recessed bookcase or desk space and shifting tv to install built ins there, currently there’s French doors in play room and we thought of removing them and making it a smaller archway. The brick under fireplace mantle we have thought to paint. I’ll try to get pictures

It would be good to mention all of this at the beginning since it does have an impact on suggestions you'll receive.ù

If you can post more pictures we'd be able to see the French doors you say you want to replace with an archway. We need to see all 4 sides of each room.

You want opinions so I like the ceiling as is, but remove the vertical wall portions of shiplap.

Paint all the walls and soffits the same white as the kitchen cabs.

Paint the fireplace brick charcoal gray, not white.

Here are acouple individual pictures showing areas

Geez, leave the ceiling. It's an excellent feature in the room.

Change the wall in the dining room and replace the fan with a light fixture.

MOVE THE TV TO OVER THE FIREPLACE

It's difficult to see the exact colour of your walls, in some places it look like a medium gold and other closer to a warm white. If you paint all the walls in a warm white your existing ceiling would really stand out nicely. Here are the highlights of what I show below:

- Remove the shiplap from the vertical wall and paint same colour as the walls

- Move the TV above the fireplace

- Install a gallery wall of family pictures where the TV was

- I'm showing Ikea Billy bookcases for hidden storage below

- Paint the gray cabinets in white

- Install a bamboo roman shade on the window above the counter

- Stage the fireplace mantel

- Place a floor reading lamp at the end of the sofa

- Install curtains on your patio doors/windows

- Remove the fan and install a lighting fixture centered with the dining table

- If your dining chairs are from Ikea, replace the slipcovers in blue to coordinate with the colour scheme of you family room area. You can also order from Bemz in Sweden, they make slipcovers for all Ikea furniture and have a great selection of fabrics (you can order free samples)

First, your ceiling is NOT ship lap. Ship lap is a type of wood paneling with a rabbet (groove) cut at the top and bottom of each board so they overlap to form a tight, waterproof seal and has a distinctive 90-degree-angled joint connecting the boards. Proven effective against water and wind. "Hello boat".

Paint your paneled ceilings white. using a gloss finish. It will make them stand out.

these ceilings are the best features of these rooms. do everything beverly says and paint the cabinets in the family room the same color as the walls. were these always there? remove as much clutter as you possibly can- be ruthless.

Thanks for the feedback! Currently the walls are painted an off white like Swiss coffee about. The cabinets under window are gray with hickory countertops. All common area walls are same color currently

The cabinets have been there since we moved in.

Great advice already - just a plug to add a few lamps, they will make the room so much nicer to be in at night

You have a lovely home with a sweet ceiling. All the advice you received is excellent. Maybe add brighter bulbs in the light fixtures to help brighten the space. Storage doors for the open shelves to hide away the toys and clutter so you can take a deep breath and really enjoy the space.

I like the idea of painting ceiling a bright gloss white. Would it look best if we replace fan with light fixture and add recessed lighting throughout ceiling around a large centered ceiling fan? We have considered painting fireplace brick white or German schmear like any thoughts?

Unless you really need a fan I would remove it and only have the recessed lighting throughout the ceiling with a lighting fixture above the dining table. Painting the fireplace white or German schmear is also a good idea.

The only place the ceiling looks dark is in the play area where the ceiling is lower. Painting a ceiling is a big PITA, so don't waste your effort doing that. The wood is attractive anyway. Add lighting in the play area. In my experience, recessed lighting in high ceilings is fairly useless, but in 8' ceilings it is helpful. I don't think there's anything wrong with the fireplace. I think you're reacting to the lack of light and want to make everything lighter. Address the lighting and then see how you feel about the ceiling and fireplace.

These are acouple fans we liked a 65” and 72” ceiling fan

Fans did not post...

Fan photos I tried posting earlier

Would a fan like I posted above get in way if recessed lighting is installed? How many 4” recessed lights should be put in lower Shiplap like ceiling? The area is about 10x10 roughly

Lets just say I'm not a "fan" of any of those multiple blade fans, too busy...

Is there a reason you particularly want a fan?

We currently have a fan just thought it would be more effective if centered

So you absolutely need a fan or you simply like the idea of a fan on the ceiling?

Not sure it’s required being we live in Southern California 20 minutes from the beach lol. It’s a nice option I guess

How many 4” recessed lights would be needed in the room with tv and book case. It’s about 10x10 feet