You can't go wrong with clear. I just wanted to say that I really like your built-ins. I spent about an hour this morning on built-ins this morning for our new house too. Trying to figure out what I like about yours so much, I just realized that everything is behind doors! No messy open bookshelves like I have now. No matter how I try they are always a mess. Can't wait to see your finished product.

I guess painted isn't bad. The spouse just has no vision. Sees this and thinks it's gotta go: A problem is the lack of wall space. We have a large, awkward space and a weird angle. The triangular room in the original ate the angle and I'm thinking of expanding it to eat the new angle (which is the same angle, really). This is pretty early on in the process so things can be altered, and obviously my scribbles aren't to scale, but if I make the triangle room (which will probably be a laundry room plus cleaning supplies/spare appliance storage) even stranger, it gives me more wall space. And it seems to work with my chimney. Hmmmm. I don't know why the architect's table is so huge in the image. I have a table in there set up for ten right now and it's not that big! In the scribble, there is no wall and no upper cabs on the peninsula. But I drew it extra fat intentionally. (And no, I don't really want a 5+ foot fridge!) That kitchen doodle isn't serious. It's just a see-if-it-all fits doodle. But it shows the space. The goal is to be able to shut off the more casual messy noisy areas--kitchen, family room, and inlaws--when desired. Pocket doors everywhere! The more I look at my living room fireplace, the more I think it'll have to be refaced. I don't think I'm up to that. And we do need to rework the tiny guest bed and bath. I want it to be somewhat accessible since our most frequent guests are getting up there in years.

Thanks for the great points. I had planned on a deeper storage area on the bottom for electronics which are 13" and 15". The depth to the window molding is 15" so I would have to do a step-out to get the depth for the components. Don't know how that would look - because, obviously, LOL, I'm no designer. I hope I find one :-) The tip about the height is great - helps a lot. Panel isn't out of the question, especially if it looks better that way. Incorporating a new mantel isn't out of the question either. The ceiling is 12' so I wouldn't want it that tall. I'm just about ready to forget about it and just get something smaller for the TV, build bookshelves on another wall and move on to something else.

Claire, nope they are all level. But maybe you’re seeing the gaps in between the planks that are typical for old floors. We choose to not fill them in. They still have to finish the toe trim.