If I am seeing the pictures correctly, the 'beams' in the kitchen/dining room run in a different direction from those in the family room. Is that right?

If that is correct I would remove them.

Thank you herbflavor - the look we will be going for with the renovations is clean and white - shaker cabinets and marble-looking countertops. (Like nearly everyone else in the world, it seems - ha!). Our house doesn't get much sunlight, so we want to brighten things up. When we bought the house the beams were unpainted barnboard (dark) and they're turned sideways so they kind of hang down. I have never loved them but before going to the expense of removing them wanted to get some other perspectives to see if anyone thought they added interest. Thanks again!

Yes, localeater - they run in opposite directions. Thanks for sharing your opinion!

I would remove them from the kitchen. I think nice wood beams in the right house are a feature, but painted out white in this space they don't add anything IMO. I'm not as sure about the other room. . . .

If they were rustic wood I would have said keep them, but they don't seem to add anything architecturally as plain white beams.

I don't think the beams work as an architectural feature in this case. I'd get rid of them entirely. I think it makes your rooms/ceilings look "heavy" like the ceiling is really low. Imagine how spacious the rooms would look without the beams in the way.

I would keep them and place LED strips on sides of ceiling beams. It would look awesome :)... You'll get great ambient lightening

How high are your ceilings? If 8 feet, I would definitely remove them. Overall, I think the beams visually dominate their spaces; there are many other room features I would want to highlight.

Thanks for all the responses! Ive been reading on GW for months and this is my first post - it's exciting! Ceilings are 8' I think. I am 5'3 and can touch the bottom of the beams if I stand on my toes.

If at 5'3" you can touch those beams, they gotta go. Only boys in the first spurt of adolescent growth (you know, when they're forever jumping up to touch the tops of doorways and ceilings to glory in their newfound height) would want a ceiling that low.

I would leave them alone in the FR but remove them from the kitchen. Good luck!

Remove them, for all the reasons already mentioned. They look "faux" to me.

Lose them all unless it'll leave your fireplace in a bad state--looks like one goes in there.

Thanks for the advice! You have given me the reassurance I needed - beams will be GONE whenever this project gets off the ground. I am so grateful for all the knowledgeable, generous TKO folks who share their insights here. This is the first of what will likely be many questions. Up next - cabinets. I'm all over the map!

Remove them. Unless you have a post and beam or MCM they should go. I think you'll be surprised at how open the place feels when you take them out.

If you only had 2 or 3 fine, but there are alot of them. You will notice a difference.

Agree, with 8 foot ceilings those beams would make it feel claustrophobic and busy. It will completely change the character of the house (in a good way, at least by my eye). Just be prepared that bringing down may open up a few cans of worms (such as the fireplace and possibly refinishing the entire ceiling). I'd put in crown moulding instead if you want to keep a similar style to the house (not contemporary/MCM).