Here’s another view of the room

Are the built ins currently painted or stained? It’s hard for me to tell in the photos. I think if you put modern furniture in the room and style the built ins with modern pieces of pottery, art, books then it will look less transitional. Do you have photos of the furniture that will be in the room for us to see? The room is gorgeous so keep us posted once you move in. Congratulations!

Can we see pics of the furniture/rug that you will put into the room? Impossible to get to the details without knowing some of the basics.

Thank you for your feedback. I have not decided on any furniture for the room yet. Would love to get insight if you have suggestions! We are starting with a blank slate :)

I would wait on doing anything to the wall until you have it furnished. The built-ins and fireplace are fairly non-descript so will take on whatever decor style you choose.

Now, if it was my room - that view looks amazing, so I'd want it to be the star. So, I'd paint the bookcases the same as the trim to blend them into the wall a bit., and I'd be very judicial with what I put on the bookcase to not overwhelm the view.

Yes! You’ve read my mind and put it on paper. We love that view too and want to make it the star. I’m posting a couple of other pictures so you have an idea of the layout of the room - it’s an open floor plan with kitchen / living room. I guess the builder painted the built-ins the same color as the kitchen Island cabinets

I agree the built-ins would look better the color of the trim.

Can you find another place for the TV? I would much rather see a gorgeous piece of art over the mantel!

Good luck with your new home.

Is anyone able to do a rendering for me so I can see the built-ins as the same color of the trim, and the mantle a charcoal / ash gray?
This is the inspiration picture I was looking at…

Yes, I can do some, later tonight after work...

Thank you Jean!!! I appreciate it!

Not a designer; but, I love what u have on ur patio/deck. Minic what is going on in terms of color with ur patio/deck. Is ur kitchen island the same color as ur built-ins in the LV RM?

Thank you, but none of this is our furniture :) It’s the old owners furniture. The kitchen island is the same color as the built-ins. Do you think I’d have to paint that too if I changed the color of the built-ins?

This is the pic of the island and the whole room layout…

To me painting the built-ins white makes the space look even more traditional. To modernize I'd simplify lines by making the the paneled area at the back of the built-ins a solid wood and paint to match existing, then remove the very traditional mantle and update with something sleek and simple, closer to the look of your kitchen counters and cabinets. Beautiful home!

Hmmm Never thought of doing that; i do like the idea of modernizing the mantle to match the kitchen counters. Is updating mantle more expensive than painting the built-ins? I was hoping to do minimal work to modernize what we already have.

I would paint the built-ins the same color as the walls or the trim, but paint the cabinet doors with a higher gloss to prevent wear.

I wish the builders had put some decorative molding around the top and sides of the built-ins since there is molding all over elsewhere, it looks like it was forgotten.

Around the fireplace opening, I would put some tile or stone that was the same or went nicely with your kitchen island. I would also use that on the floor in front of the fireplace to protect your lovely wood floor.

Great idea about the fireplace. Thank you. Lots of things to consider!

I agree that the panel back makes the built-ins traditiontal/farmhouse feeling more than the paint color. I'd try to change (or cover) that with a solid wood. The mantle is traditional so regardless of paint color, it will look traditional.

I’m a little clueless when it comes to all the ins and outs of fireplace structures. I love these ideas but Does anyone inspiration pictures to give me a sense of how it should look if I wanted to modernize it? Thank you!

Oh and I see what you mean about the panels at the back of the built-ins; I didn’t realize that was traditional. I’ll take a look at changing that up.

Hi Jean or anyone else who can help - can someone do a rendering of the built-ins the same color as the mantle / trim? I’d love to get an idea of how it looks so i can decide whether it’s something worth doing. Thank you!!