FYI The hall picture was a portrait picture and it looks wider than it really is. I would guess it is a 36" hall.

Removing the carpet will make a huge difference. Are you planing on wood or tile floors? Is this a beach condo? I think you need look at design books and determine your style. If you can find some inspiration photos, we can help you get there.

What area of the USA? Obviously, the carpet and wallpaper need to be removed, but your region of the country may help inform some of the ideas offered here.

They make nice wood look tile floors these days. How far do you want to go with a kitchen renovation? How tall are your ceilings? The area above the cabinets seems larger than usual.

The soffit in the kitchen has to go so you can run cabinets up to the ceiling. Then, get rid of the peninsula and put in an island so people can enter/exit the kitchen from either side and not be "trapped".

Carpet and wallpaper have to go. Depending on the climate, I'd go with wood look tile or vinyl planks.

I'd distress the wood above the fireplace, kind of like driftwood.

I would start with looking for inspiration so as you go through the process, at whatever stage you are, you are progressing toward a specific end goal. What you don't want to do is get part way through the process and realize you'd rather have headed in a different direction.

Looks like it's going to be a great space with lots of fun living in store!

Are you planning to rent it out? If so, you should decorate it in a manner similar to other condos in your community.

Wood look tile would look great with your brick, perhaps in a light driftwood gray.

What a great condo! You didn't tell us your taste or budget but the possibilities are endless.

where in the usa was a good question. start there as beachy decor varies greatly do to region

Check INSIDE your soffit before assuming you can tear it out. Often they aren't just decorative in mass tract developments; they're there for a reason.

The brick is lovely, but be sure to pick wood, tile and/or paint colors that specifically work with the rather rosy tones of your wall. I noticed the wood color of the peninsula cabinets is particularly nice with your brick unlike the other wood tones in the rooms - but it's hard to tell exact colors from photos, so YMMV.

One issue with changing the floor out is that usually the floors are the last item to be installed. So you might select your flooring, but want to hold off install until all other work is done that might damage the new floors.

You might want to slow down and decide how you're going to do the LR/kitchen/hallway area, and then make a plan for what gets done, in which order.

Especially if you're DIY - it can be hard to visualize how all the various elements will look once everything's in place. I was the GC on our recent MBR remodel, and we took some extra time in between each phase, to make sure it was coming together for the look we wanted. That proved very valuable, as we ran into some flooring issues that led us to make some changes that we wouldn't have had time for, if we were trying for a firm 'drop dead' date.

Remodeling: an adventure in patience, LOL!

Good luck - you have a lot of potential there!

We are at a lake beach in the Midwest so not on a particular coast. We are going to wait until fall for a remodel so we can enjoy the summer life there. I just can't help but start planning! Here is a pic I found I liked. It's sort of bold and feels cool but with some warm... Do you think this would go with the brick wall? Or should I keep looking?

And Tibbrix should post some photos of her beautiful new kitchen. She used a brick backsplash and it turned out great. Love your inspiration photo and think you should be able to find a color combination that will complement your brick.

As someone already pointed out, just be careful in the colors selected that they don't bring out too much of the rosy tones in the brick. And keep the flooring neutral with the colors planned for the open kitchen and island. I love the photo nosoccermom posted with the distressed wood in a driftwood color above the fireplace.

In answer to your question--yes! As for the carpet, I have to laugh since my folks bought a same-era house with blue carpet in every square inch of the house except the kitchen and bathrooms. I imagine with being a beach place there is a whole little ecosystem living in there by now . . . You are lucky that there are so many wonderful options right now for solid flooring, much better than the days when the condo was built. You are going to have so much fun!!

I would get rid of that carpeting and wallpaper first (eye sores) put in wood/wood plank tiles/ or laminate floors down with a few rugs thrown about. Paint the walls white as the space looks a little dark with all the brick. After that's done, I would get a better idea of what to do next.

Also, and this is just my opinion, but I see a lakeside condo as being more rustic. Nautical themes would look out of place to me so I'd hold back on too much blue with white (we also purchased a lake home, but i'm going for a modern look.)

Because of the fireplace and ceiling height, I would lean toward more modern than traditional. A mix is good to make it cosy. I wouldn't go with a "theme" per se; go with mixing what you like that works together.

I have to say I disagree about changing the peninsula to an island. You wouldn't have much of an island or cabinet space if you allow enough space to walk through on the wall side. I have a peninsula now (came from an 8'x3' island in previous home) and it really fits well in my 12' wide kitchen.

The first photo that nosoccermom posted of a kitchen that blends modern and traditional is very nice.

I have grey tile in wood plank porcelain in my master bath. Love it! It's light enough to brighten the space, but not show dirt like white. It would hold up well in a place with a lot of indoor/outdoor traffic.

i agree with lots of the advice given.

i think a lot of different styles could go with the brick- i think once you spend a summer in it, you will get a lot of inspiration!!

the one thing that's great about carpet is it's not at all slippery! if your kids are like mine were, they are bare foot all summer and run more often than they walk! i would look into tile, but would find a tile that is not at all slippery when running with bare/wet feet!

I'm going to have blue cabinets in my next kitchen!

Imo, the picture you posted would fit the decor of a lake house, yet add a bit of cottage flair. It isn't necessary to use the typical shell and fish decor just because you're by water. Keeping it light and bright is more important.

We pulled up most of the carpet and put textured vinyl plank in a wood tone down in our lake house. It really stands up to the drippy kids, the sand and the dogs, and it's not slippery at all.