Both the TV and mirror have to go. Find a piece of art. I am not sure painting the brick will help. It appears to be highly textured. You might look into refacing.

IMO move the TV. Remove the mirror. Leave bricks as is until all decorating is done then re-evaluate. Those built ins need color not photos. Good size ceramic pieces in colors to go with your furnishings etc. Also books would work.

Thank you everyone! i just got the mirror down and fixing the wall behind it. As of now I think I will be leaving the brick alone. i will update with photos soon.

Happy to hear, looking forward to seeing updates. :)

Here's the fireplace leaving it "as is" with a black screen and new decor as well as a painted look of the built-ins with blue bricks. Everything depends on the style you would like for your house.

I love the blue and white ! But I am so torn to paint it now

One is a fad look that can never be changed back, one is a classic Craftsman style that can go with any decor.

Consider resale, too … although unfortunately there don’t seem to be many of us left who appreciate original features in old homes.

True! I also have dark leather furnitre thats not my style but I cant update that now

. I put some stick wall paper above the fireplace when I took the mirror down to see what style I like.

Nothing is decorated yet just unpacked things and placed them. The Tv will be hung up on a walll soon.

This is the other half of the living room opposite of the fireplace

This is my dining room. The pink chair is not part of the room just needed a extra chair. I am getting rid of the side table and removing items off of the window seat.

This is the style is like

Your home is a real charmer and deserves to have its unique features elevated and celebrated, not erased in a cloud of white. I lived in an historic neighborhood where some residents thoughtfully restored original features of their homes, thereby saving that which is so often overlooked in favor of trends. Others gutted and "painted out" classic elements and turned 1930s cottages (which still wore their wonderful exteriors) into HGTV-looking flips. This is probably not what you want to hear, but these older homes deserve better than that. I would urge you to research the arts and crafts style of design, and maybe try to appreciate the wonderful aspects of your home as they currently exist. You'll be saving a bit of history.

I've just gone back to take another look at your fireplace surround. Those built-ins are perfection. It would be a real shame to even attempt to modernize such character.

Thank you ! Yes I love the details and history of the house. I have never lived in a house with all of this wood and character so I have no idea how to decorate it. This is my first home and wasn’t what I was looking for but I fell in love with it when I walked in. So many original features I am still finding here. I have been here almost 4 months now and starting to slowly figure out ways to brighten some of the rooms without changing the wood or brick.

Yes! These homes are meant to be cozy, with the warm glow of real wood and soft lamplight. Congratulations on your first home. I applaud any decision to retain those original features that aren't even found in most homes being built today, and I think that by living in spaces we feel aren't quite our style can have a profound way of educating us and expanding our appreciation for how things were once done.

Yes I love the built ins here the upstairs hallway also has a big built in drawers. The bathroom has the original black and white tile I was told also. I was thinking of putting nicer Knobs on the cabinet doors in the living room and dining room?

Ohhhh, the original black and white towel! You're so lucky!

As for knobs, I would look at something in the craftsman or arts & crafts style. I can't quite tell what you currently have, but hand-forged is a hallmark of the style.

https://www.craftsmanhardware.com/

Also look at mission and bungalow details for your style home.

Lots of eye candy here. As you can see, this is a high-end design style and you're quite fortunate to have a home with those period details.

https://artsandcraftshomes.com/

Love this thread! Ida is giving such excellent advice.

What a charming house. :)

Thank you everyone! This has helped me appreciate the house more. I think it’s the original knobs? I am going to check your link now

Go for it and have fun! It is your home…it can always be painted white.

Agree that your fireplace, built-ins and wood trim are beautiful. I’d absolutely try to find another place for the TV, and style the built ins with books and a few (ceramic) pieces. (I know many disagree, but a TV screen over a fireplace-especially in an older home- is a hideous abomination to me.) I have a 1914 Craftsman bungalow and am grateful every day to be the owner of an older home. Appreciate your good fortune, and don’t try to turn your home into something it isn’t, please. I would do everything possible before deciding to paint the brick. Ours was painted white before we bought the home, and I so wish it was the beautiful original brick! The white was constantly smoke-stained and ugly, and we ultimately painted the brick a very dark, almost blackish green. We would have tried to restore the original brick, but at the time were not able to tackle that huge and expensive job. We’re not fortunate enough to have built ins like you do. And keep the original knobs, they are wonderful!!

Can’t wait to see how you decorate this gem!

Oh just read you love all white and neutral monochromatic and posted inspiration photos! So charming..paint that fireplace white and keep layering all shades of white. What a cute home fill it with everything you love!

Love this for your room!

OP, wanted to let you know there’s a forum here for older houses and people who appreciate them … it might be worth tagging for any future threads:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/the-old-house

There are lots of other old home websites out there, too, like what Ida posted — with info for keepers of these treasures.

I hope cpartist sees this thread, she’s another very knowledgable about these wonderful Craftsman homes.

I do love those original glass knobs and would keep them. If you decide you want something different, though, just store them away in case anyone wants them later.

Chinacat, love your beautiful windows!

Great idea to refer the OP to the old house forum, Jinx! I'm so pleased that others understand the importance of saving these vintage gems instead of reducing everything to a generic sameness, devoid of soul. Anyone can "big box up" a house, which is absolutely not an appropriate direction to take with a 1930s treasure containing such beautiful features.

Chinacat, your home is so adorable! And yes, those windows are wonderful!

Thanks, Jinx and Ida! Right now the mantle is a Hanukkah/ Christmas mashup:)

The current knobs are wonderful! I'd keep em.