What's to update? It presents very nicely!

I love the wood. You could always look into a new fireplace screen or into updating the tile.

Are you selling or fixing it up for yourselves?

It's a great space. If you want to update it, you could paint only the wood on the left hand side, and thereby show off the fireplace as the focal point. The white frames on the gallery wall would go a little better against a light grey wall also, because they compete now for focal point with the fireplace. I don't love those blue striped curtains in the space, I think they should be plain white or with a very small pattern.

The wood is a great focal point. I'd do new tile on the hearth and blackout the fire door.

I would leave as is and remove all of the items on the wall and look a large piece of MCM artwork to the left of the fireplace and don't accessorize over the mantle..just add a really nice piece of sculpture or wood carving.

Uh wait - I thought this was a flip. Are you asking how to stage it? You can sell it without doing anything except maybe blacken the brass door trim or change the door.

It's gorgeous!

All it needs is new tile!

Perhaps replacing it with a marble slab This will add a level of elegance but still hinting at that mid century style.

Or even a black marble would be cool..

Then final touches, either a gold framed mirror hanging above the mantel, or no artwork on the fireplace itself to intentionally showcase the beauty of the woodwork.

If it aint broke don't fix it. The way it is now the tile doesn't really match the room decor, but it could. I would not do a thing to it, other than snazz up the room decor to do it justice. A little too much fru fru on the walls I think at this point, but maybe the photo is old.

I don't usually do this, but I got really excited about how this could turn out..

I suggest painting the sides and back wall a matte black, then replacing existing tile with a marble slab... Stunning!

Its not the cedar thats the problem. It looks good. Tile on hearth, should be replaced, and all sthe clutter on the wall next to it should be taken away, and the blue and white striped curtains, while very pretty, do not go with anything else that we can see in the room.

I'd leave it.

Only if you get overwhelming negative feedback would I consider changing it.

I bought a house that had a relatively major project done to it as a result of feedback...and it's one of the first things I undid once I moved in. And actually the other offer that came in also felt negatively about the change that was made.

Id' have to vote with everyone else and say leave it, maybe change the tile. Most of the changes you could do aren't nearly as costly, change the curtains, hang less small art pieces, change the rug. It'll all make it look nicer, but the wood is wonderful you should totally leave it as is :)

Flip or flop show, they use whitewash wood/shiplap/ reclaimed wood that looks good.

Here is what I like idea

Sarah Richardson Design · More Info

Leave it. Paint would be a nightmare for the future owners to remove.

You noted you like the diagonal pattern but that to me looks like a second thought. You have these great simple vertical boards and then the diamond pattern looks 80's and not MCM.

There is a vendor in Atomic who sells MCM plywood panels with a grooved pattern. They would look better in the center portion. Somebody else mention a simple marble slab or even tile straight up the center.

Dont paint or even worse white wash.

That wood is beautiful. Take all the stuff off it and just leave it alone.

I agree, such beautiful wood. I'd say remove all the clutter, including the console thingy and place one not too large piece of art on the left, with pictured chair, small side table and floor lamp. Not sure about the shelves on the right, maybe just stack a few large books and tall vase. Maybe one horizontal art piece on mantel.

Please, leave it as is! It is gorgeous!

I'm with wannbath - the diagonal planks inset above the fireplace don't say 1961 to me. They seem more 1979. I wonder how it would look with the horizontal planks above the fireplace as well?

Clarece,,,great idea! I like the black wall idea.

Remove all of the clutter. The chevron pattern is great. Can't appreciate it because you have the picture and others things propped up on the mantel.

That cubbie storage thing to the left does not go well. Try the mcm credenza (pictured above) with a nice piece of art over it. or:

all those small pictures and the chaotic book placement, are fighting w/the chevron pattern. Not digging the drapes either. I like the rug, but not the drapes you have. I think a solid white or a woven wood blind would work better.

Yes, with a living room wall that bold, you need bold art and less of it to really highlight it. Nothing wrong with what you have, its cozy but if you want to impress for resale, punch up the room to match the wall, don't try to do it the other way around. No point in building something that cool and not taking the best advantage of it. That room would be dated and blah without the wall just as it is. Now it is cool and classic. Something trendy there will simply age out to "what were they thinking."

Leave it alone!!

I love it. I wouldn't change it except to change accessories, etc, as others have suggested. I really love some of the artwork someone posted above.

If it's the shape that's wrong, then why is this okay?

I would just leave it. I also think the wood is beautiful. I'd let the new owner decide if they want to keep it or not.

The OP seems to have left this post, but note that she said, "The family room has this large wall of untreated cedar. It's one of the
reasons we fell in love with the house in the first place (the
character... love the triangle pattern over the fireplace!)" which makes me think the chevron design was there when they bought the home. It IS a beautiful feature, and I'd want it left as is.