With electronics changing so much so fast, I personally don't think it makes sense anymore to have built-in furniture to accomodate the stuff. For example, the traditional entertainment center no longer has an opening large enough for most of our TVs. Or, if we pick a smaller TV that will fit into the entertainment center, then a huge amount of space is wasted behind the flat screen TV - and one of the advantages of having a flat screen is lost. I figure the next generation of TV's will probably be even flatter and will allow you to choose a screensaver of some sort so that, when not in use, it looks like a picture or maybe an aquarium or a window - and not like a TV at all. Either that or there'll be some sort of small cube that projects a 3D image right into the air in front of you. LOL! We're going back to old fashioned book-cases (which will be nice since I've got about a thousand books!) and will hang the new TV (flat screen of course) on a wall. The rest of our electronics (DVD player, CD player, etc) will go into a credenza below the TV so it is mostly out of sight. And, all the CDs, DVDs etc. will go into a near-by closet. IF/when 3D-projecting-cube TVs come on the market, I'll hang a painting where my old fashioned flat screen TV used to be and not have to redecorate my entire house - or, at least that's the plan! LOL

How about actually using cabinets? I just installed some that I built myself, they are 17" high, and will have a 3/4" piece of plywood with cushion & upholstering on top. It's definitely easier to square things up in the shop, but then you have the fun of scribing edges to strange walls. Either way is about the same difficulty, but it will be easier to do a clear finish in the shop. Bob

I'd suggest removal if one wants to re-stain a different color without obscuring the wood surface with a more opaque finish. For removal of grime I like scrubbing the surface with 0000 steel wool and boiled linseed oil, a method picked up from a refinishing class at the Smithsonian. Mineral spirits would be a little more aggressive, and is probably a good choice to start with for this project. Testing the less aggressive/difficult approach first to see if it gives a good outcome certainly makes sense. I haven't yet found a finish (including wax and silicone-based polishes) that I couldn't remove with a 2:1:1 mixture of methylene chloride, methanol, and lacquer thinner, followed by methanol rinses. Toxic as heck, no doubt, so plenty of ventilation and PPE required.

Hi jhoff- I like the wainscoting. It looks like the shelving and cabinets were just placed in front of the wainscoting, so I think you can remove them altogether and see what the wainscoting looks like behind there. Also, the brick on the floor in front of the fireplace may not extend out far enough to meet code for how far out a non-flammable substance must extend beyond the firebox. Once the shelves and cabinets are removes, take a good look at the mantel and see if you like it or it seems outsized to you.