SFGate

keestey Do you want it to be a focal point or to disappear? Painting it the same color as your built in will make it less of a focal point. Do you plan to keep the mantel? If you paint, know you can never go back.

Barbara Lang Paint them a barnyard red. Beautiful accent to the taupe

Dytecture I would paint the fireplace and built-in white as well.

medurkot The mantel is staying. I was thinking of a creamy white if at all. The rest of the wall to the right of the fireplace is also brick. I would paint that white as well? It is a big room...to much white....?
Kara what color white is that?

Maryl Hershelman Try lightening up the grout...to start.

keestey Mantel seems a little small. Probably will have more presence once fireplace is painted. I would paint brick wall same as fireplace.

mureen Create harmony between the cabinets and fireplace be 1. Get rid of the lattice on cabinets 2. Replace rustic mantle with more similar lines of cabinet and paint it same color as the taupe cabinets. Be sure you match a predominant taupe color in the bricks for the cabinets and new mantle.

mureen Ok mantle stays. I missed that. Then paint it same as cabinets. Try this before you paint all the brick. Since its an old farmhouse it almost makes sense to keep the brick. I generally like to paint it but its a tough call here. It will certainly modernize the room.

medurkot I did get rid of the lattice....looks much better! Can't get rid of mantel so have to work around it. Maybe I can stain it? I'm replacing the frosted glass with clear glass too

mureen I wonder what the frosted glass doors would look like removed, just leaving a nice space for a simple few accessories. As for the mantle, paint same as cabinets. Plz post the after picture !

Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design Paint the ENTIRE ROOM White! Fill the winerack. Add antiqued mirror (a single sheet) to the back of the wet bar. Place a silver tray with a decanter or two. You don't need to do anything to that "mantle". You could put a deeper and wider shelf on top of the wood to give it more presence. This new shelf can be a plain thick (2") length of wood or it could be edged with some molding. In any case if you paint the enitre envelope of the room (walls, caqbinets, mantle, brick) a shade of white it will become a lot richer and no longer look all cut up. For height, use a pale blue on your ceiling.

Susan Mills Design How much more brickwork is there? Can you show us the other areas? Once you start painting the brick, you will have to paint it all. Would be happy to give thoughts once I see that.

medurkot This is the rest of that wall

Susan Mills Design I feel white is too stark for this room, I also feel if you paint the woodwork in one a colour such as these, it would balance the whole wall. I don't see any other whites in the room, not in trim or mouldings or furnishings. In fact your sofa will add the visual weight across from the wall.

I would remove the lattice or wine rack? Also clear doors or no doors if possible. Do you need open shelving? Once the lattice area was removed, I would then add some tall accessories. You could leave the mantle, just place two plants that trailed down the sides such as an ivy. Tis would add width to it and soften the whole wall. The two pictures are making the mantle look out of scale. I would place one brighter more colourful piece of art there, or a clock or mirror if the right one.

medurkot Thank you! Great suggestions! What is the name of the color on the bottom right?

Susan Mills Design Hi medurkot, it's called Slate by R H.

Mega Builders As an alternative to painting the brick, you could just as easily drywall over the brick and realize a far less dated look. This will depend, of course, on what you do with the rest of the brick in the room.

onthefence @Susan Mills - those are beautiful color and accessory suggestions! It looks to me like they would unify the room.

Emily Bledsoe Hi I would agree with everyone that the brick should be addressed, but it might be helpful to first add paint sparing for a distressed look. Soft cream might be a start and if it doesn't lighten up the room enough, you can always put on a second heavier coat. It might be an easier transition than going directly to a white. I would either paint the wood or if it is oak, a strong look right now is a limed finish which could have taupe or gray undertones.

CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. You could do either. To me the brick in this pic isn't as bad as the cherry wood to the left of it. I'd pick up the darker colors in the brick and do a solid on the cabinetry.

Emily Bledsoe Also the mantel does appear to be undersized and is place a bit high. The proportions would be better if the mantel was wider and lower so you could put a mirror on it.

Kim Depole THe perfect color Benjamin Moore black bean soup.. reads like a rich wood tone . PAINT IT ALL
Include the arch to the right as well . It will fall away and the wood work will look amazing