Oh and side note (wish you could edit posts). I am not planning on painting that paneling — zero desire to gut this place of all character.

It would help if we knew what the furniture going into this room looks like.

I have the same West Elm sofa as this pic, everything else will be replaced in the next month or so 😊

I know you said you don't plan on painting the paneling but I just want to show you how an updated MCM vibe can look like... Painted the paneling in a dark grey, walls a warm white !

Note: I don't know what the terracotta colour of the mantel and fireplace surround is made of so I just show it in white but perhaps that can be a wood colour to match the shelves.

That looks really beautiful lisedv ! I was thinking most people would say paint the paneling white and basically make it look like modern farmhouse lol. Never would’ve thought of doing it darker like that!

Oh the fireplace surround and mantle are wood.

Visual with white

and with charcoal gray

or just with painted hearth

Thanks for all the ideas celerygirl! Really fun to see all the possibilities!