SFGate

jsettina Without knowing your budget, I suggest removing/painting/covering the panelling first. But not until you have a plan about what to do about the fireplace.
Assuming your husband has the necessary carpentry skills, the fireplace could be updated by painting the brick white and adding a solid wood mantel that is atleast 10" deep. If possible eliminate the lower fireplace shelf, expand the opening, add a hearth and invest in a wood-burning stove.
Floor to ceiling shelves on both sides of the fireplace would offer a solution to containing some of the clutter as well as creating an opportunity to display favorite books and collections.
Lose the shag rug and ceiling fan.....you can do better . Best of luck!!

carole hello Connie,hope this pic. helps you visualize what painting the fireplace and changing the wall could do,and would it be poss. to change the stand for the fishtanks to white or maybe put doors in front in white??i agree that the rug needs to go,the colours are very strong.you could keep the smaller wall as it is if you really feel that taken all the panelling out is to drastic,once the big wall is changed that might be enough to brighten up the room

ConnieQ jsettina and carole, thanks so much for your suggestions! I forgot to mention that the fish tanks will be gone...and hoping for some type of built in cabinet/shelving units in their place. Also, the blue carpenter tape was recently applied by my husband to cover the holes in the fireplace doors. It is a temporary measure to check heat loss from the chimney. I will post a couple more pics of the room...

mlondon17 here i was going to tell you about my ideas, then reading the other posts realized i didn't need to because those two have said exactly what was on my mind! I think painting the brick a nice white with the wood mantel would just be beautiful!

carole thanks!! now that i have seen the whole room,i really think you should get the carpet out,at the moment it RULES everything,and then group the chairs closer to the firplace,without the occasional table in between,once the fishtanks are gone you could place the tv on the left side of the fireplace(so the light from the window wont give glare)tthis way you can walk around the outside of the room and use the shelvingunit that is already there,and it would free up that wall for the painting you want to give your husband..

ConnieQ Thanks, carole! My thought about those chairs...or, as I refer to them, "Reclinerland"...is to replace them with a small sectional. And, then maybe add a swivel chair or two. That shelving unit hiding over in the corner has been measured and would actually fit along the right side of the fireplace. So, once those tanks are gone, I'd like to see how that looks. Thanks again for all your help!

ConnieQ Just for fun, I'll attach a pic of my husband's handiwork; two of his wood strip built boats. He rows the rowboat, I paddle the kayak! I would love to create this room so that it reflects his love of building boats and our love of spending time on the water in them!

carole wauw!!they are gorgeous,and what a nice way to spend time out and about.i have been kayaking only 3 times,but love it!!we live about 1hr away from the Dordogne river(france)no rapids but a lovely way to spend a summersday...back to the room;moving the unit and the tv will certainly give the room some space,will you post pics when that is done?/ i am curious now to see it all changed ;-)

decoenthusiaste Painting the paneling is an involved process of multiple steps and you may not be happy with the look as the vertical 'stripes" will still be there. Covering them is more complication, so you may want to remove it and drywall the room. Post when you do a bit of moving, so we can see how it is working out.

carole ,i agree it is time consuming job but there are some good product out there to fill it in and Connie,your husband must be perfect in sanding!!!! it may not need to be all the walls that have to change,maybe after moving the furniture and moving out some other pieces,it might not be neccesary at all,the walls seem to all be in good shape, with more colour and new sectional and that big art on the one wall!!! lets wait and see what the new pics. will show?

Eutree Wide Plank Flooring Those boats are beautiful. Your husband is a craftsman and an artist. I think with all this good advice you will be successful in your endeavor.

maureenindk Absolutely beautiful boats!!

tinksama The brick fireplace would look great painted, but that rock on the fireplace has to stay. The room's color should complement or be based on that green/gray. Also, use that window! It's a fantastic size, make sure to take advantage of it.
One problem you will have is the TV/fireplace focal point battle. We had the same problem, and hid a projector screen in our mantel. The projectors are down to $350-$400 at this point, and can be ceiling mounted or hidden on a coffee table shelf. Here's a link to our mantel if helpful :)

http://6826freemanridge.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/transformer-mantel/

mcbriec I agree that paneling should be dumped and the brick painted. If your husband makes smaller model boats (the real boats were gorgeous!), one could be hung over the fireplace and various boat-making paraphernalia could be displayed in built-ins on either side of the fireplace. If you have a sectional as someone else suggested, part of it could face the wall where the tv currently resides which would look much better with a flat screen tv and something attractive underneath it.

carole hi connie,these pict. show our paintings and our livingroom,as you can see we have the tv fireplace and the dogsbed all in the one corner,we have plenty space in the room,but no matter how many times i rearrange the furniture in winter we always seem to end up around the fire and the tv,and i think that is oke,a house is to live in!!

bollmansct Given your husband's considerable boatmaking talents, I would ask him to create a model, or rather a half-model, mount it and hang it above the fireplace, If you can put a spot in the ceiling to light it....even better. It will create a unique piece of art and conversation piece, not to mention showcasing his talent! I agree with comments about painting the paneling and adding a wood mantle surround to your fireplace. The large bluestone mantel and hearth may have to stay as it may be too difficult to remove without damaging the brick. If so, paint the brick a taupe/gray shade that blends. The attached photo shows 3/4 inch, tongue & groove knotting pine paneling that was "whitewashed" with limed oak. I don't advise staining unless you have really good, thick wood....not large panels that look like tongue & groove. Paint that type of paneling or remove it and replace with wall board. Found a photo example of a mounted boat model....general idea.

leneh I think you can have the wall like it is if you want to, but then you have to Get the rest of the room more light. Your floor should be change. I think and in my head it looks cool if you keep the wall and do the rest og the room in light colours:)
I dont have any pictures, but on the photo i show you, you can see what i mean with the wall:)

Walter Frazier Think twice about painting the brick. Definitely clean the brick and replacing the screen will help.

ConnieQ Thanks SO much, everyone! I really appreciate your input! And, I am sharing your responses with my husband, especially in regard to his wood boats! The wood paneling is a higher end product, but still not a thick wood and sounds like nothing is behind it when we tap on the walls. If we do paint it, I don't think I'd mind the vertical lines of the paneling still showing, in my mind it might give it a cottage look. We've looked at products online that can be used to stain bricks and lighten their color to offwhite. The cost seems to be about the same as refacing though, which in the end, I think would look better. (attaching a pic of the style I like) I agree that the fireplace needs a more substantial mantel. The one it has is a long, narrow piece of some kind of stone, maybe granite? Perhaps my husband could encase the current stone mantel with a nice wood mantel. I agree with you, tinksama, about the room needing to speak to the color of the stone/slate on the hearth; green/gray. I am drawn to teal, turquoise, gray, soft yellow,coral, lime green. Thanks for sharing your pics of your fireplace, tinksama, we're thinking we'd like the tv in a corner wall to left of fireplace...similar to the Houzz idea attached.



carole, loved your pics! did you do the artwork, the paintings? I also loved seeing your living room. The rock on the walls is beautiful. so rustic and charming! I like your idea of waiting to see what happens when furniture is moved and changed, before jumping in with painting the walls...and maybe not painting all the walls. We have a guy here now who is interested in taking away the fish tanks...so hopefully, we can move forward with improving the room! YAY!

As far as the floor goes, it is a product called Torginol. It is original to the home and VERY durable. So, for now, I think changing out the current shag area rug for a larger non-shag area rug makes sense. Especially if we decide not to paint the wood paneling, I would want to keep the floor a light color and not wood. The Torginol in that room is yellow with brown flecks...reminds me of beach sand. :)

lenah, I like your idea of keeping the room light, if the walls remain dark. I'm keeping that in mind as I shop for furniture.

sacapuntaslapioz ConnieQ, i think if you carefully edit the house you could end up with a stunning house in midcentury style. this is what I would do:
1.- remove the fan.
2.- leave the fireplace alone. I love the wood and brick together. leave the wood in that wall
3.- remove the wood in the walls with the doors. (if not in budget then paint it.
5.- take everything out of the room. I mean all, fixtures, furniture, pictures, window treatments, carpet. the time to do this would be when you get your sectional.
6.- one thing at a time, get furniture in and assess. First get the sectional. then the furniture that will house the TV.
7.- any of the little side tables that comes back in will have to be painted in the same color to unify them.
8.- keep walls spare and knick-knacks grouped in 1 selected place.
9.- hang all pictures in a tight group
10.- paint the room
11.- buy a carpet o clean and bring back the shag ;-)

houzz=Global Living / Bluefish Home - Showroom][houzz=My little apartment][houzz=Living Room Built Ins][houzz=Designer Goes Retro][houzz=Laurelhurst House][houzz=Carmel Mid-Century LEED 1][houzz=Carmel Mid-Century LEED 2][houzz=Mountain Cabin][houzz=Sitting room in 1958 Irwin Stein Home][houzz=Mercer Island - Midcentury Modern][houzz=Contemporary Living Room][houzz=William Hefner Architecture Interiors & Landscape][houzz=Farmhouse Living Room]
POST PICTURES AS YOU GO.

Promethean Remodeling, LLC Ditch the paneling and perhaps integrate some shelving to create a family use. Paint the brick or go over it with cuture stone veneer or simple stone surround

susie77q I would white wash or completely paint out the brick and the panelling. It would look like a sea side cottage back home! If the Mantle top is wood, tape it off and try to keep it natural, put of boat on top of that fireplace! Avoid murals they lose their charm quickly...find some nice rope, buoys, anything nautical that you can lean against the fireplace. Love to see some after shots when you do something!

ConnieQ Thanks, susie77q, for your ideas!

ConnieQ Sacapuntaslapioz, thanks for your thoughtful comments. I think I've already selected some of the pics you shared in my Houzz ideabook! So, we must be thinking along the same lines!

1. remove the fan. We don't really ever use it anyway...but, what type of light fixture do you think you'd replace it with? Something flush mount I'm assuming, since the ceiling is only 7.5 ft.
Here's one I pinned to my TV ROOM board on pinterest...

ConnieQ Promethean Remodeling, LLC, thanks for your help! I like the photos you attached for ideas.

Promethean Remodeling, LLC Something else I have done in the past is to use white cement and plaster over the brick and then scratch off the cement to reveal the brick beneath while leaving just enough white cement to give it a weathered old-world look. It lightens up the fireplace without making it look too formal. Attached is a fireplace using grey cement.

carole thank you,the paintings were made by a dear friend,unfortunatly he is no longer with us,but i am sure this kind of art is being done by others too.the walls in our cottage are mostly like that downstairs,some parts were so bad we had to fill and paint off-white,then i decided the fireplace could be done like that too,it is a late 17th century small farmhouse,we have tried to keep as much of the original features,it is by no means finished but the livingroom is almost as we would like it.now...back to your house,you are right the floor does have that beach feel and with the theme and the colors you are picking in the ideabook it is coming together!!hope the guy took the tanks away today!!bet you cant wait to get started...

carole on www.fineartamerica i found this artist,very similar its called rocks of grosmorne by karen richardson

dmbrenker I had a den with nice paneling. I used kilz and then painted the wall. Kept up beautifully. I have done the same with brick too.

ConnieQ Carole, I checked out Karen Richardson. LOVE her work! One painting of hers would be perfect for our room. I'll attach it here, so you can see what I mean.

carole beautifull choice,Connie,love it. .....are the fishtanks gone???????

ConnieQ One fishtank gone, one to go! It sure makes the room look and feel larger already!

carole it certainly does!!!!and is the rug out too?really shows the room much better now,thanks for the pict of the fireplace in more detail,it looks great " less is more" !!the stonework is well done,maybe not get the paintbrush out just yet!!either of the walls is just right for the painting!!;-)nice to see it changing,pls keep us updated...

Oak-Land Custom Fireplaces, Inc. I wouldn't paint the brick that basically ruins the brick, because you'll never be able to remove the paint. i would take off the brick and put up a casual slate and rustic mantle. Like this:http://www.oaklandfireplaces.com/images/480_slate-cute.jpg

ConnieQ Oak-Land Custom Fireplaces, Inc., we actually brought home some samples of slate tile (very similar to your photo) from Home Depot and I like the look a lot. The slate blends well with the gray-green stone on the hearth.

ConnieQ Here is a photo I took in Whistler, B.C. Canada of a slate fireplace using the same slate tile I found at Home Depot...my only concern with slate tile is it could make the room darker than just keeping the brick.

ConnieQ Carole, currently the bright shag rug is rolled up and tucked behind the chairs...we'll see if it finds it's way back into the center of the room, or finds a new owner!!!

Susanna My two cents worth: It is more affordable than I thought to put stone veneer over a brick fireplace. Many stone options to choose from too. I had a hard time choosing! One afternoon and it was done. Something to consider.

Your husband's boats are stunningly beautiful! I would take advantage of his artistry and build the units mentioned earlier on both sides of the fireplace. Mantel too.

I would suggest taking the color palette from your boat picture. The trees, that strip of gorgeous water blue, the gray etc. It works with the stone pictures you like. I have to say, I have never liked painted paneling because you always know it's painted paneling. I vote keep it as is or drywall.

Judit please remove that paneling your room looks like a wooden box, it will make a HUGE difference

Oak-Land Custom Fireplaces, Inc. Promethium, like this? This is a picture of one of our fireplaces in our showroom.

Oak-Land Custom Fireplaces, Inc. If you're looking for light, I would go with a cluttered stacks tone.....but whatever you do, best to take the brick down. Rather than covering it. For our crew it's two hours.....and most of that time is spent hanging up plastic to keep dust from spreading, and hauling it to the truck to dump, just make sure whoever knows what they are doing. The row if bricks directly above opening are there for a purpose.

ConnieQ I'm not sure it would work to remove the bricks. Husband says the bricks ARE the fireplace...removing them would surely be a HUGE mess.

carole no need to take it out,how about the idea you posted for someonelse's dilemma(cant remember the name) and put on a mantel??

carole hi connieQ,how are the changes coming along????is the other fishtank gone too???

ConnieQ Hi Carole, not much has changed. The other fishtank is still here. We moved it to the other side of the fireplace and then moved the tv into the left side corner. Just that little change already feels better to me. I'm still unsure about painting the paneling, and refacing the fireplace. The only thing I'm sure about is I want a comfortable couch (or sectional), and a swivel recliner. I'll be sure to add more pics as things change. Thanks for asking!

carole youre welcome!!!!could not stop myself!!!more pict.............

aebj Have you considered painting the ceiling white? I think that would brighten your room quite a bit. I like the look of painted panelling as it gives texture to your walls. Something to consider.

ConnieQ aebj, the ceiling is white. I just need to muster some nerve and paint the walls. It took awhile before my husband would consent to painting them...now that he has, it's me that's afraid! :)

amh57 Go for it, you won't regret it! Our dark family room came to life when we painted our paneled walls. The vertical lines give it texture, and now I'm glad we didn't tear it all out and drywall.

blrussell I have painted paneling in the past...I liked the look. It was in a lake region vacation home. It does look cottage/country style when done so if you are looking for something more formal it will
Need to come down.

aebj We just painted our 1970s house's "white" ceiling. The fresh coat of paint really brightened up the whole house. Over the years, the ceiling gets kinda dingy and you (general everybody "you") don't even notice or realize it. We have the popcorn ceiling, so the paint had to be sprayed instead of brushed or rolled on. But, to make it more modern, you could consider scraping it if yours is the same.

Greg the PAINT-IT! guy I'd be careful the fire in the firplace didn't throw out a hot spark and start you off with everything new! Would hate for that to happen. Start shopping!!

studio10001 Connie , you posted a photo early on that may help solve some questions that came up after. The pic of the corner TV cabinet included a good solution to overhead lighting in a low ceiling, dark room. Recessed light, coupled with mid-century standing lamps will cost a bit ,but will pay you back tenfold in the long run. Also, the scale of the fireplace seems at odds with the room, so I don't think you should feel scared to re-color anything/everything to get it back under control. That said, if you are painting the panelling you might start with JUST the fireplace wall as a test - poor results can be hidden by the shelving area you are planning in front of it, or by refacing the entire area, again, as shown in your photo. If you have the budget, What would you think about using your slate tile choice across that whole wall as well as the fireplace, and then painting the other three walls to complement? It would neutralize the odd dimensions of the fireplace, add texture, and draw the torginal back into the design( all hail the Torgenal!), as well as lighten the room overall if you can't afford to rewire the overhead area. I think your painting choice is charming - as is your photo of hubby's handiwork. (kinkos will blow up photos to 36". If you have a shot that would look well in black and white, you can attach it to a backer and frame in reclaimed/ driftwood). I think once you have resolved the wall issues, you will quickly see that you have moved beyond the shag - or at least that particular shag. Someone on Cragslist will be thrilled to buy it!

amh57 I don't think painted paneling has to look "country" if you use a contemporary color and furnish accordingly. Our family room is "transitional" with a contemporary feel. Very comfortable, but not the least bit cottage/country. I wish I could include a picture, but don't have the camera or skill.

Johanne True painting the fireplace that is dated and add paint to the panel and it would add drama and it will update your area and clear the area of non needed items to make the room seem spacious

ConnieQ Thanks, carole for the pics of possible furniture! I have some of the same pieces on the "TV ROOM" board on Pinterest! There's one couch or sectional I have my eye on at a local Macy's. The Kenton. I'll see if I can attach a photo to show you.

aebj~all the ceilings in this house are thankfully NOT the popcorn style. My in-laws were smart when they had the house built in 1965 and instead have a textured ceiling. When/if I decide to paint the paneling, I may decide to go ahead and paint the ceiling too. Right now, it's a bright white, so not at the top of my list of re-do's! :)

Greg the PAINT-IT! guy~it's been a process to change out anything in this house since it was my husband's parents' house and my husband has sentimental attachment to everything....yes, even the bright flame shag rug and those old recliners! ugh. But, believe me, I have spent many hours looking at furniture, rugs, light fixtures, window treatments, and how-to paint wood paneling sites!!! Sometimes I wish I could just hire Candice Olsen from HGTV to come over and take over! :)

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/kenton-fabric-sofa-88w-x-38d-x-33h?ID=683437&CategoryID=29391&RVI=PDP_6

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/fud/3613522597.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/fud/3633853043.html

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/blair-leather-sofa-86w-x-38d-x-36h?ID=255918&CategoryID=29391&panel=furniture_4_product-pool

I like the mid century type furniture, but it's not always as comfortable as the more cushioned arm furniture.

sooneralumom Painted paneling and fireplace (keep stone slab on mantel) use cues from the beautiful wood of your husband's boat. A coastal cottage look can look fresh and up to date without looking "country".

Kevin Retired Decorator I agree with the majority paint the paneling because it's not high quality. The painted paneling with the groves in it could go nautical , traditional or industrial in looks. I would stain the brick a light grey. There are concrete stains on the market. They leave more texture once finished than paint. I would then add a weathered gray meaty wood mantle. I would look for seating that has legs on the sofa or chairs so you visually show off the floor space that would make the ceilings look higher and the room bigger. Grays and Aquas would be beautiful with a touch of lemon yellow. Your husband could build a boat book case for the room and show his talents to hold the aquarium. I would put down a hand scraped walnut color faux wood laminate down on the floors with a nice large area rug to anchor the seating area. I would use recessed lighting if possible due to the low ceilings, or small halogen track lighting in white to match the ceiling. Have fun !

handymam I might be getting in on this late, but here's my two cents!

Since it was your husband's parent's house and he is resistant to change...Paint the panaeling. If you don't like it, you can rip it out later. I painted ours when my husband was out of town once. Without telling him. He was pleasantly surprised! Paint it something neutral until you know what else you are going to do it there. Now when he has to go to a conference or something, he always wants to know what project I am doing while he is gone. (I have done this about 5 times to him...)

Sometimes, if you go with the more boxy looking as opposed to rounded looking, you could still have that mid-century look for your couches. (Like carole posted above.)

carole wow,loads new comments!!!i really like the margereth,the color is BEACHY!!and i think that you will be able to mix that with lots of different colors over the years!!had a white leathersofa for many years,i find leather cold,but my husband never had the problem,so that is just personal preference!!!and you have a point the new furniture is not always as comfy,it can be more about the look than comfort!!

libradesigneye The boat model over the mantel is a great idea. You may be able to put hangers on one long wall to hang your gorgeous kayak inside in off season.

For the sophisticated cottage look you seek, definitely paint paneling and split brick but not stone hearth or mantel of gray stone. Your split brick is so gorgeous a profile both for cottage and for mid-century - wait and live with it painted a while before you jump to some other stone profile. It will grow on you when the colors are right in here. Here are some color ideas to achieve the look you love.

#1. Try painting your walls a greige with a green undertone to pick up the tones in the mantel and hearthstone (will look really expensive / is really expensive today / will be amazing once room is painted properly). This is not really a gray but a really amazing neutral that will advance your favorite color scheme a lot. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6170-techno-gray/

#2. Try painting the brick and any doors/trim a beige-y / creamy off-white. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7010-white-duck/
That kind of white will play off the other tones better than a stark white and echo your floor well since you want to keep it. They have special formulation paints for masonry when you buy paint for the brick so it can breathe - otherwise the latex will peel.

#3. Try this color for the built in shelf / magazine rack - wood painted out in the same color family but two shades deeper to coordinate - resemble high-end painted furniture color. See http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6172-hardware/ or you can go off white here, but it won't be as beachfront / cottage appropriate - more of a traditional home look to paint this like trim.

This paint work will instantly produce a classic, sophisticated backdrop for the cottage room you want. All the other natural toned wood furnishings you use will look amazing in your room.

Bring a sample pots of these colors home and paint some big pieces of cardboard and move around the room to see how it plays off the mantle stone and the light. Color is my thing - but you have to see it in your light. Put something in your favorite aqua blue and white next to it and see it all sing!
You will have to use a primer on all the wood until it doesn't bleed through any more - then put two coats of eggshell on the walls, and high gloss on the trim/ doors/ built-ins/fireplace brick / but you will love the result.

Wait and watch and save your $ for real stone veneer on your fireplace if you don't love them painted. I would spend that instead looking at the vinyl wood plank products that look like whitewashed wood floors - they look expensive but they are not - it will update and warm but wear as well as your old sheet vinyl and you could put it all through the house for continuity / more cottage / beach cottage.

In summer you can take out the fireplace insert / door that has holes and paint out the brass with high heat black spray paint after you mask the glass. You may be able to use glass adhesive / silicon to fix it so you don't need the tape. You may also be able to get a flue retrofitted that you can close to help the problem.

ConnieQ libradesigneye~wow, thank you for your thoughtful suggestions. I like your paint color ideas...and great idea to paint samples on cardboard! My husband & are leaning towards going ahead with painting the paneling and staining the brick, then if we don't like it, eventually, removing both. I love the idea of using grey. My only concern is if it would be too gloomy as we see a lot of grey skies up here in the Pacific Northwest! But, I'm sure I could still liven things up with accent pillows, rug, etc.

The floor is not sheet vinyl, but a product called Torginol. http://torginol.com/ It's lasted 48 years and still looks new! Never need to wax it, always looks shiny...so, I'm fine keeping it and just finding a more suitable area rug.

My husband closed off the chimney so I've now removed the blue painter's tape on the fireplace screen! :) When we can, we plan to purchase a damper to be able to shut off the chimney and prevent heat loss. Ideally, we'd love to bring gas into the room and have a gas insert...less messy and more heat efficient.

I like the idea of hanging my kayak, but I'm pretty sure it is too long for any of the walls. I have thought of perhaps hanging a pair of weathered oars or paddles. I also have a large (2.5' x 4.5') Puget Sound water ways map. It is sand and pale blue in color. I'd like to have it framed and up on one wall.

libradesigneye Glad this painted a picture you can envision. Know what you mean about gloom and rain, but know that these earth tone based greiges actually warm a space - trust nature to make you feel cozy! Show us your updates!

carole hi ConnieQ,just gone past all the comments and pict again,and the margereth is very much like the style pict you send about 4 weeks ago!!i still think you should not paint or rebrick anything just yet,get the new furniture and i think you will have got a trendy pad!! painted the inside of my chimney just before x-mas and its already showing wear,its the heat that causes the problem,so i think i having given myself more work every season to keep it looking nice,now your stonework,if i had that i would NOT paint it,but as always it is great to see lots of people coming up with new ideas and i am really curious to see your tv-room as it is coming along....

hoot_owl FYI, I painted my paneling recently and love how it turned out..

ConnieQ hoot_owl~yes, it does look nice! I think you started out with much nicer wood paneling than we have.

Toni Sabatino I think hoot_owls's paneling looks great, too. Here is some more painted knotty pine from one of my jobs.

ConnieQ Toni Sabatino~your painted paneling looks great...especially love the wood boat mosaics! Thanks for sharing!

Toni Sabatino Connie Q- Thanks so much!

Toni Sabatino Connie....here is a link about the remodel of that room. http://tonisab.com/2012/02/01/kitchen-for-a-sunny-seaside-retreat/ We also remodeled the dining and living rooms. We used some mid century modern teak furniture she was ready to throw out and had it reupholstered and added some bookshelves with nautical books and model boats...it all really looks great....have fun with your project.....

ConnieQ Toni~just looked at your sunny seaside retreat remodel...good inspiration there for me!! Thank you!

Toni Sabatino You are welcome...

carole hi ConnieQ,its been a while, wondered how you are??

Murals by Katya Kompaneyets What about painting the wood panels light color? I've done it in one house, using light mint color and it looked great.

alleykat6093 The paneling in our family room is painted a light tan color. I love the way it looks. If you can't remove the paneling then paint it a light color. It will make a huge difference in your room. I think you should get new doors for the fireplace but I would not paint the brick.

ConnieQ Hi Carole, thanks for checking in! Two months later and not much has changed. I bought a can of Kilz oil based primer for the wood paneling, but haven't started painting yet. Still having doubts about painting it. I am narrowing the search for a swivel recliner chair and comfy couch. I'm hoping I can make the room feel better with new furniture and lighting and rug! I promise I will update with photos as soon as something happens! How are things for you?

ConnieQ Thanks also to Katya and Alleykat for your comments! If I do end up painting, it will be a light color. Then, either paint the trim or leave it...it's mahogany. My long range goal is to have a gas insert for the inefficient fireplace!

Murals by Katya Kompaneyets Connie, I can also do a painting of water and boats, which will bring more space and a feeling of outdoors to the space.

carole i think you are right in waiting with painting the panelling untill you have found the furniture you want,here mostly the same,not much work has been done inside,have painted but am not happy with the color. ;-(... and now that its spring the garden takes up a lot of time and energie,but nice to get out!!

Go Nautical Collections Here another idea decorating with wooden oars, large selection of decorative wooden oars http://gonautical.com/wooden-oars-c-2_99.html