It is very nice wood and almost gives a library feel to the room. It is too bad that everything in front of it is dark and blends in instead of pops against it.

I see what you mean. But, I can't get rid of the couches. Anything else can go.

I agree with abbyjean - I think that I would concentrate on the furnishings rather than painting the wood - it would be hard to know where to stop painting.

How about a sofa table behind the couch with the painting and then your lamp on that table?

Can you add some colour to your hearth. Maybe put the urn that's on the hearth onto the new sofa table and get something with colour on the hearth and then tie in some new cushions (pillows) with that colour.

No to painting the wood- its beautiful and you will regret it. I think a new rug with some color to give the room some interest.

All the walls, trim and floors are wood. It's beautiful. You need to brighten up with colorful and light fabrics and rugs. New pillows. Perhaps a warm soft blue above the wood. The color now is another tone of brown. Stay away from neutrals.

What about a metal and glass end table, like the Pottery Barn Tanner line?

You have interesting furniture.

I think a different wall colour might show off your woodwork better. This is a light neutral, but reduces the amount of yellow in the room. Rather than the robin's egg blue, using a greyed blue in a few patterned pillows or a throw will pull colour from the fireplace, and make a stronger bond between the stone and wood. Best of luck with your listing.

Pale yellow or pale blue?

I have not looked at the other comments, but rather than paint the wood which looks great and blends well with the furniture and stone, I'd paint the wall a warmer color to blend with what you have SW favorite tan , universal khaki or basket Bill

do not paint the wood - lighten up other things.

Keep the wood trim!

Idea? Pull the sofas from the walls onto the rug and remove most small items. Place the tv in the corner next to the fireplace, so the media cabinet can go.

Oh! What do you think of that floor plan? Looks like it might be an option, too, huh?

Wow, great ideas from everyone. thanks. The colour on the wall now is Cable Knit from BM. But I have had it for so long I would like to get rid of all the yellow tones in my house. Yes, pillows are easy to change up.

Abbyjean: I can't put the secretary in the dining area. The place is loaded with glass cupboards. But I would like to remove it from that area in the family room. Any suggestions on what to put in that space. And yes, we see the back of the TV from the kitchen or a portion of the back. Thanks again for all your thoughts.

rinqreation: If I put the tv on the fireplace wall, that is the first thing you see from the front door. ugh, not sure about that. But love the area you created.

So you either see the back of the tv while dining or the front when you come in......either one better? Seriously, just trying to walk you through the process.

Love the secretary and if other dark things get moved from right next to the wood, it will still be fine. What if you were to even set it up to USE as a desk to make it functional instead of just a pretty pretty in the corner?

Abbyjean and renqreation: I like the floor plan, but not sure if I want to see the back of the couch from the front door. The opening to the left of the love seat is the main foyer of the house. I am so surprised that none of the houzzers' have said to paint it. I'm going to check out the tables you suggested from Pottery Barn.

Hi housefluffer, I am going against the grain here (sorry bad pun intended ;) but I really agree with you about painting the wood, both wainscoting and trim. I'm sympathetic to the other point of view, &see that it is a big decision. But I do agree with you that there is a lot of yellow tones, and I think the only way to get a brighter, crisper feel is with paint.

I think your furniture & floor plan are mostly very good already and that tinkering with them is well, tinkering on the edges of what you really want.

I also think that painting in the family room wouldn't oblige you to paint the kitchen cupboards; in fact once you downplay the woodyness in the next room the kitchen will seem more of its own character.

And lastly, with an eye to re-sale value, allowing for the fact that people will always feel strongly either way (paint/not-to-paint), it's more common now to paint, especially where you want to have a more contemporary feel.

MadeByMare; I say paint it all..... choose two tones of creams(not stark white) and do the wainscoting and the walls.... it will look modern and crisp.

Put tv at the cabinet?

Have you considered:

- Removing the paneling and keeping the oak trim throughout?
(you could place the chair rail back, so only repairing the lower half)
- Updating the fireplace? (or even remove it and turn it into a tv wall)
- Staining the floor a bit darker to create some contrast?
- Or stain all the woodwork, except the floor?
- Try a darker wall color for a rustic den feel?

In my opinion the wood is a strong characteristic of the house and should be cherished.

Some examples to go with the suggestions:







https://www.houzz.com/photos/42-orchard-place-traditional-living-room-seattle-phvw-vp~1740363

rinqreation: Thanks for all the pics. You have put a lot of time in sharing your talents. I am overwhelmed and surprised that the majority of readers have said......."keep the wood, do not paint." I have looked into redoing the fireplace and addding a gas inserrt and some sort to mantle. I may concentrate on that area. I'm still going to paint the upper part of walls and look at recovering my chair. I love the pic of 42 Orchard Place that you provided.

I like antique white, or a pale buttery color. A cream coffee or milk.

Paint the wood. Paint it white or do a tone on tone with the wall above (wainscoting darker wall lighter shade of same color, look to cool colors because with low light you want to open up room.) I have same issue in my home, lots of wood and low natural light. But my wainscoting and home is from 1890 and the light issue is from buildings in NYC being built over the past 130 years, changing the light that the townhouse gets. But your home is not from the 1890s ( and many people paint antique wood and it looks AMAZING), so don't worry about original detail. Your kitchen actually looks very nice. Paint the wood wainscoting and trim, in the family room and in the entry. it will look great. Add some crown moldings when you paint too, and add some plants, pothos will look great and withstand low light. Good luck, good speed, don't listen to these non-wood painting purist. People love light and open, and its nicer to live in light and open, this isn't some antique that you are "ruining" it's some 30-50 year old wainscoting, made to emulate a victorian style, theres nothing here worth preserving.

It

Now that's a fireplace! Nice job!

wow...post is from 2014

I know this is 4 years old... i would either paint the walls a different color r paint/ gel stain the rectangle anels on the inside of the wainscotting. examples.. although in the 3rd picture i woud leave the wood and not aint it white. what did u end up doing?