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feeny This photo reminds me a little bit of what you are describing, though here the brick is painted as well:

Brooke Enos Interiors I would definitely recommend updating the brick and getting a more substantial, interesting mantel. I would also recommend picking your paint color AFTER you pick your carpeting. You want to avoid competing undertones such as gold tones with gray tones.

Jill We already picked the carpeting...it is tan with no golden tones. We want to reface the fireplace with stone (having a hard time finding the colors/shapes we like) and were thinking of using a railroad tie as our mantel but not sure if that would go if we paint the paneling white. It's such a big wall and focal point - we don't want to mess it up.

feeny Another thought: What about keeping the trim pieces in the original wood and painting the walls between an off white, cream or light gray (personally, I'd go with Benjamin Moore Dove White; it looks great against wood). That way the railroad tie mantel and stonework will tie in with the wood trim. Otherwise, if you are painting the trim white, I'd suggest using a white mantel as well.

lefty47 HI -- Yes I have . This type of paneling is from the 70's and I've seen it painted and or sanded down and white washed . You could do that , but I think it would look great if you clad it in a barn board look.Very up to date , and it's not going to go out of style anytime soon.Lots of examples on Houzz if you search. Also the last few ELLE DECOR magazines have shown this . Check their website.Then paint the walls in a warm grey and have white semi-sheer drapes . The fireplace has nice brick , you would just need to darken the mantel to a charcoal grey. You can do the same barnboard to the wainscotting but , if it was my choice , I would remove it , and then paint the whole room the one grey color . But if you go with a darker grey for the walls then have a grey base white on the ceiling, or a blue tinted white. BUT, My first choice, if this was my place is to paint the whole room in an antique white. With the barn board , it would be stunning ! Did you check to see if wood is under that blue carpet ? If there is hardwood , have it in a natural to light grey weathered look. Then have a natural sisal look (wool) area carpet for under all your furniture.I think if you keep to the light but warm looking decor , this will be a great withit room - a new rustic modern .

Kelli Kaufer Designs Add a more modern, sophisticated stone/tile to the fireplace, all the way up the wall. Add the railroad ties for the mantel, paint the paneling a cream (coordinating with your carpet) or add thick beadboard vertical over the paneling. Paint your walls the gray. It will look beautiful. Hot look right now is a mix of rustic, modern, creating your own style and space with unique and interesting products. Have fun!

Jill The home was build in 1989 and there are no hardwood floors beneath the carpeting. We thought about painting the wood cream but I am concerned about painting the wainscotting all around the rest of the room cream and there is also a big bay window because the rest of the house's woodwork is being painted white and this room opens up to the kitchen and living room.

Kelli Kaufer Designs I look closer at the wood wall and wainscotting I love the detail off it all! Don't add anything over the top except forpPainting it all white, coordinating with your trim (I did not know you were painting it white) and do a highend modern looking stone/tile for the fireplace, add the railroad ties for mantel, it will look wonderful! The focal point of the room will be the fireplace which will be seen from the kitchen and living room - beautiful.

Christina Katos I moved into my home two years ago and painted my entire family room, which was knotty pine, a warm white (Benjamin Moore Marscapone). No more old dated woodwork.

Atmosphere 360 Studio Natural slate for the fireplace surround would create a rustic yet modern look. Mixing the gray and reddish tones in the slate would also complement the paneling and unify the design. Would look great with a railroad tie mantel.

housebuzz Why not give a nod to the age of the house and just tweak the color of the wood with a very sheer wash or stain. The mantel is fine,just go over the brick with a tabby or other nouveau concrete or tile treatment. Concrete comes in many designer finishes . It could be gorgeous & updated,but without fighting the existing structure. Instead it would take advantage of the possible beauty of the materials.

housebuzz You probably don't like the combination of hospital white walls with the wood. Try a different tone of white lighter, but in the same family as your new carpet. They should make each other pop. Then restain the wood into a complimentary tone. If the tan carpet looks good with the rest of the decor in your other rooms, then the tones you select for the wall,and wood should look lovely from the other rooms also.

housebuzz Polyurethane stains go right over old colors and can totally change the color of wood without hiding the wood like paint does. Nice paneling is expensive. Why throw it away when the room is so coordinated and well done. It just doesn't hang together colorwise.

rivers300 I agree the stark white against the wood could be what you don't like. Would you consider painting the other walls before painting the wood.... live with it a while and see if you still don't like the wood. This room would look great with wood floors instead of carpet is that an option see picture. scones and a little polish to wood could be great.
http://www.houzz.com/wood-panel-fireplace-wall/p/88

Jill Thanks Everyone! Housebuzz - Do you have any pictures of Polyurethane stains on walls similar to mine? I know for sure I don't like the wood. We have been in there a month and the color is ugly it depresses me. I want to room to be warm and comfortable. Anyone have any pic's of paneling like this painted cream with a fireplace in the middle?

Sarah Greenman I had the same situation in my living room - a brick fireplace and dark wood paneling. I painted the bricks a creamy white color and painted the paneling gray. Make sure you put a good base coat (like KILZ) on the brick and the paneling before you paint with your interior color. Here's a pic...

Tia Marie McDermid Hi Jill, I found a couple of pics that might work with your space. Grey walls, floor to ceiling stone work and some nice rustic touches for mantel ideas. Project: Modern Meets Rustic
Mike G Project
good luck!!

Toni Sabatino Hi Jill,
Although these photos are of a basement work area, these walls had wooden wainscot similar to what you have to work with. We used a textured vinyl wallpaper in the panels and added an additional trim and paint to give it new life and energy. I love interesting walls and I think finding a color for the side walls and using it in the panels would create a great look. You could also do a textural tone on tone paint in the panels or wipe the edges with a glaze.

housebuzz I don't have pictures of paneling. I saw someone do it with white glaze and pale sea foam. Some of the wood streaks just barely showed through. White glaze on her dark wood looked grey.the green over that ,very lightly,gave a beautiful glow. The best way to test the outcome is on scrap wood. Low's has samples of the poly on various woods. Watering down a small can of paint for your glow color could be done with left over paint from another room or samples.
The poly is also available in other woodtones, lighter, darker, colors. I don't know if deck type stains are good for indoors (voc's).probably depends on maker. I saw Cabot stains at apace hardware store in gorgeous modern shades. It also is a poly. They also have low pigment washes. See an experienced salesperson or/and read the fine print. You could call Cabot directly.
I'd test any idea on wood scraps of the same kind of wood. Maybe a cabinet painter could help. Uninterested ones just slop high pigment paint & say oops. See his work , make him show you a sample of what you would get. Take your time learning&testing. It will be worth it for many years to come!!

housebuzz I painted my 50 year old weathered beach deck with cabot's "milkweed". It looks like a new &beautiful deck in a warm, creamy,off white. Everyone loved it. It has interesting hints of shading . I took old furniture that had sat outside at a shop. I poly'd it with a warm rich walnut and it looked like new!

karen paul interiors Your furniture appears to be leather and uber comfortable. I'd be interested in seeing pictures of the rooms directly off this room to get a read on what else you have in furnishings and finishes throughout. It may well be you decided to go the leather route because it's a family room.

You mentioned extending the fireplace vertically, and I think that is a great idea, given your pitched roof and the size of your leather pieces. To effectively give you advice on the paneled wall the the other walls, as well as wainscoting, more pictures would be advantageous to make certain this room flows well with others.

Jill Hi Karen, all of my pictures are from the previous owners. We will have leather/velvet type furniture that is a chocolate color. Tia, I really like the dallas family room! Here are some pic's of the view from the living room and kitchen into the family room. Please note, the whole house is being renovated to white woodwork. The house hasn't been updated since it was built in 1989. Our kitchen will be cream cabinets, tan and black granite and a carmel/tan wall color.

karen paul interiors My first inclination is to not do the family room like all the others. If you are updating the entire house into white trim, perhaps the family room can remain the "smoker". It's an old fashioned term for a room done in wood and leather, which began with the men having their after dinner drinks, cigars and all of them ensconced in a room such as your family room. It's almost laughable when you imagine the scenario. The people of Amsterdam love their "woody" rooms. I only say that because my daughter lives there and mentions it often. These place are highly prized as they are so welcoming, dark, warm and enveloping. So if you want a family room that can do that for the family (without the drinks and cigars), it is certainly always a wonderful surprise and bonus. I only say this because you already have your leather and wood in place. You can do a real tongue-in-cheek affair that can be great for the guys. Depends on your intention. That, of course, is everything....intention. Thanks for the other images. Great house, BTW.

Jill Does anyone know of a website you can download a picture and see what the room would look like with different color walls, different fireplace, etc? I have seen a couple but they are not user friendly. Thanks!

housebuzz I love the beams in the photo Tia Marie posted. Sometimes you just more of a material in the room.

KILZ Brands Hello Jill!

Before you start any paint project, you want to ensure that the surface is clean, dry, and dull. When painting over finished paneling, prep is a very important first step. First, rough up the surface of the paneling with a pole sander that has been fitted with a sanding screen (rather than paper). Next, apply an interior oil-based undercoat primer like KILZ Original. It is important not to use a latex base because it would allow moisture to get underneath the paint, causing the paneling to swell and mildew to grow. For the grooves in the paneling, use spackle to fill in gaps and allow it to dry about two hours before sanding. Finish the wall with another coat of oil-based sealer and allow it to dry.
Now the surface can be treated like drywall so you can proceed with applying your preferred top coat.

If you live in an area where products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as solvents and alkyds, are banned you will have to find a substitute. We would recommend our newest product KILZ MAX as a substitute to an oil-based primer. It is a water-based primer, sealer and stainblocker developed with new technology that’s formulated to perform like an oil-based product. Currently, KILZ MAX Primer can be found at The Home Depot and Lowe’s stores in California and The Home Depot in Philadelphia, PA.

We hope this helps! Please let us know how it goes, we always love to see before and after photos!