Either or even covered with drywall .

It depends on what direction the room will be heading style and furniture wise as well as your labour/time commitment. Here’s info on painting if you decide on that option.

If you are handy, good prep and painting it yourself might be step 1. Then see whether or not you still want to replace it or drywall over it.

If you go with replacing the DR’s wood ceiling, consider also removing the popcorn ceiling in the adjacent room(s).

Definitely removing all the popcorn . I was thinking to maybe paint it a subtle teal to match the same
Color in my dining chair ( light paisley ) walls a light off white / beige and the trim white . Bamboo/ wicker type chandelier .

I wish the wood was more uniform in color. I actually like the wood ceiling if it was. I don't care for the stripey look. (is that what you mean by wormy?)

What is your style though? If it were me, I'd try to stain it darker to blend in the dark streaks better. Not dark allover, maybe a med brownish will do.

As far as a pale teal, show the other rooms around it and more details about your style would help with the ceiling.

Please no teal ceiling ever . Sorry not a color I use often it seems to always look a bit cheap

The dark spots are actually deep gouged wood I thought it was called wormy wood . Not sure what it is . Not a fan of it though.

OMG, not wormy wood but Pecky Cypress Wood.

https://weaverscypresslumber.com/pecky-cypress/

That is a real valuable feature for a home. You don't paint that. It's not working because everything around it is wrong.

I suspect you'd paint over gold leaf if that was on your ceiling. Do some research. I'm assuming you live in the South where this wood is found. This s a VALUABLE FEATURE for your home. It might be the walls need to be painted a better color and certainly the window treatment needed to come down in 1995 but I'm sure there is a solution.

I'd clean it up and keep it as is if you want a bamboo/wicker fixture. Tone on tone is my choice.

it's unique, and anything you do will be labor intensive, and working overhead is a pain!

@lisedv offers a great idea.

Thank you very much all for suggestions. My table and chairs are very similar to what you suggested. I planned on a light fixture similar to that one. I have hope!

This is what “wormwood “ in maple looks like:

debra

Barb, there's no reason I know of that you should have recognized Pecky Cypress for the treasure it is, but Beverly knows what she's talking about. It's very special, and I hope you can find a way to work with it, rather than against it.

I found a few articles on a website devoted to "Mid-Century Modest" [sic] design that you might enjoy.

https://retrorenovation.com/2008/08/12/lawrence-bills-1955-pecky-cypress-living-room/

https://retrorenovation.com/2008/10/16/pecky-cypress-in-jenn-skis-office/

Although not in the same room, this one shows a fantastic light-teal patterned wallpaper ceiling, and Pecky Cypress beams:

https://retrorenovation.com/2018/01/29/1968-genius-interior-decoration-inside-lovely-houston-time-capsule-ish-house/

If you go to the Retro Renovation home page and search for "Pecky Cypress" (or even just "pecky") you'll find even more.

Ultimately it's your house, and your decision. (Just remember, every time you paint a piece of Pecky Cypress, an angel loses its wings. ;-) )

I had no idea what it was and I appreciate that you shared your knowledge with me. I will definitely work around it thanks to all the wonderful comments 😊

Probably way before your time, but Pecky Cypress wood paneling was so popular in the 50's, 60's and 70's that it was featured in the set design of Perry Mason.

We put in our family room in 1971. (Skip the green shag wall to wall carpet).

Keep it and love it.

Honestly it's not an attractive feature with our without the wood. Would suggest you have flat ceiling framing installed and finish it out with a gyp board ceiling.

Do you love it then keep it but if not at least paint it but better just drywall and paint