We are moving into a house with vaulted ceilings and I'm uncertain as how to decorate/paint to make it more interesting than just white. We will be purchasing new furniture to fit the great room and dining room so I'm not asking for color choices at this point, just ideas on what you would paint, lose or keep in the house. I know the kitchen needs an update, but that will be done in the next few years.

So, how would you paint the great room/kitchen/dining room areas and what ideas do you have for updating. Most pictures I see of great rooms have some kind of beams on the ceiling - not interested in that. Also, the wood shutters are super nice and I really don't want to lose them, but perhaps I could work with them or lose them in some areas. Lastly, the trim woodwork is pretty beat up - I can replace with same trim or paint it cream, just not sure how I would work that in with the wood shutters?

Anyway - if it was your room, what would you do without breaking the bank - knowing you would be doing more remodel in the near future (kitchen)?

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Dining Room - and what would you possibly do with the ledge that runs around this room? Lots of ledges in this house and I don't think I'm a fan of fake plants running along the top. There is uplighting on the top of the ledge also.

What a great space! I'm not a decorator, so I don't have a clue, just wanted to tell you I think it will be great fun to put it all together.

BTW, the 90's don't seem that old to me, lol!

LOL! Me either! What's to say that what we do today won't be "so 2010s" in 20 years? I think homes can be like fashion - just wait long enough and it will all come back in style - actually be "vintage"!

I'm not sure what I would do with it. It's a bit overwhelming for sure, but a really great space!

Bumping you up here so the others can chime in.

Another question - where would you put the tv? My hubby says above the fireplace - I say - no way. All cables are to the left of the fireplace.

Is that the same house you were looking to buy or a different one?

I would definitely paint the "floating" bookcase the color of the walls. They look too much like a piece of furniture which has no legs. Also confused by the TV above the fireplace idea,as it looks to me like there are windows.

Always1StepBehind - yes, this is the house we were looking at. We finalized the deal earlier this week.

Charles D - yes, there are windows above the fireplace, which is why I say "no way". As a note, the "doors" on the left side of fireplace aren't actually operational - just for looks.

I was wondering about the TV also, is there a cable for it anywhere? Are those bookcases attached to the wall? I would paint them the same color as the wall and maybe remove some to put the TV on that wall. Love all the room.

Wanda

gmvj - the cables are to the left of the fireplace. I think the bookcases are removable - I actually considered that as well about removing some and putting tv there.

We will probably live in it for awhile before making any big changes and see what fits our needs. I just really don't like white (actually theses are light peach) walls.

I think you are lucky that it looks like a great livable space as it is!
(the bookcase wall is a bit dark and does not go with the rest of the woodwork, even if it were half full of books/items). That would be a paint out with a great enamel paint to better match the light wall shades. Does not have to be a perfect match if you plan on painting the walls later.

The woodwork can probably be remedied with some scratch remover liquid in the meantime. Often that is all it takes to rid the visual "beat up" appearance.

Sometimes it is the best idea to have some patience and live in a space for awhile before making a lot of decorating changes. (if at all possible)

Ideas will come to you as you use areas, and avoid expensive redos.

conrad - I completely agree. It's a great place to move into and live. I am grateful that everything is neutral

I'm curious about the liquid scratch remover you are talking about - is that the Restore-A-Finish or Old English?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: christyinco,

Old English, actually.
I have used it over the years for so many furniture/woodwork boo boos, and recommend the one for dark wood, even if your wood is light. Just seems to work better, if you wipe it on and off right away.

Our whole mountain home is Navaho White, with vaulted great room, except for a guest room that is a nice moss green. We have lots of huge windows, and what wall space there is, I am filling with art.

I have gotten so used to the ease of the white in the past couple years, I am no longer thinking about repainting. That is why my suggestion was to sit back and live there for a while?

I think removal of one of the bookcase units for a TV/video space is a good one. Might also consider wooden doors over some or all of the bookcases to match the woodwork, and offer enclosed, out of sight, storage options?

I would either remove all or part of the bookcases to put the t.v. there and paint it all out.

What a great space!
I like the bookcases the way they are but seems like I'm in the minority.

Wow, this is wonderful! Let me ponder and then come back to this.

Given some of the things that I know you already have, and the pine tones in this wood that carry a lot of yellow, I'm going to suggest that you keep all the wood trim and doors and floors and paint out the one bookcase that doesn't match all the other wood tones - the darker walnut one. Paint it out cream / off-white to match the white ceilings.

You'll need one really large scale piece of art or object above the fireplace / windows - about the same size as the entire fireplace surround would be about perfect for that upper wall.

This house has lots of light and the palladium windows and high ceilings read traditional while the shelf in the dining room reads modern. I think you can tie the two together, stay transitional in your decor and make this place your own while making it even better with one effort to bring the dining space a bit more tied in. In the dining room, if you add wood toned crown molding to the top edge of the wall at the "shelf," then the lighting above will seem like it is meant for / enough of a treatment for the ledge alone. No other things need be added. Put the lighting on a dimmer, and if it is tube lighting that can't be dimmed, convert it - you want this to be warm and add mood lighting.

I remember you had a wonderful cinnamon, green and camel color scheme in your last home. I see that this home has some great neutral carpet in the camel family, as is the stone around the fireplace. Green will really look great agains these pine wood tones, feel natural and cozy, and you can stop your painting at the ceiling hinge point everywhere. Green is enough of a neutral, particularly when you pick some of the earthy modern moss greens rather than the older sage greens, to work with whatever you throw at it. I'd suggest a mid-tone for the main great room, with the shelves painted out creamy off-white.

For the dining room, I would select the darkest toned moss green and let the room be dramatic beneath the new wood toned crown molding. Here is a space where I think a less formal chandy - something more like an orb candle light traditional would fit the entire space better than the crystal I see hanging there. You may be able to reuse that in a master bath or your own closet / dressing room where some sparkle makes girly sense. (no offense to those who love crystal chandies)

I would keep the wood trim and treat it, because beat up wood doesn't show the way beat up paint does. Your kids are still young enough , you still have dogs in house, etc. Might as well have it nicer so it can be restore / sanded / refinished some later date. Main thing is to select a color scheme that picks up the yellow tones in the wood. Your former autumn tones would work well, but you would need to be careful if you try to go camel on the walls.

Congratulations CinCo. This is an exciting new year and you will be able to do great things with your new space1

Love the open space and light. This is the house with the huge barn/stables? Can't wait to see how it comes alive after you move in. The ledges between DR and Kitchen:
you could hang 2 complimentary hangings- personally I would be leaning towards something stained glass - something that adds a bit of color and has clear/ beveled glass to allow light to flow, nothing too heavy feeling. Large bookcase wall: definitely paint to match wall; if possible and esp if you don't need all those shelves, remove 3 and put tv there.
Did I see floor outlets? If so, you can easily float your furniture. Looks like a great home to raise you family in.

LOVE the house.

The only thing I disagree with is the preference for Old English Scratch Remover over Howard's Restore-a-Finish. I grew up with Old English and think Howard's does a much better job.

Love, Lu
Personally I have never used Howard's, but if you've compared the two, then you are probably right.
And as LDE mentioned, varnished wood is a lot more forgiving than painted wood with kids/dogs/and some family members!

Gorgeous house with so many possibilities! I agree - live with it for awhile before making major changes. Libra gave you some great recommendations.

Browse Houzz for ideas.

I definitely agree about painting the built-ins.

Lou and Conrad are both right about the wood enhancers. I have used both and they both serve a purpose. The Old English is quicker and easier and really does enhance the wood and darken the scratches and flaws. Restore-a-Finish is easy enough but much messier to use. It probably is more long term. I bought an old vintage sewing machine in a gorgeous little desk style cabinet with really bad finish. I didn't want to totally redo it, so I used Restore-a-Finish on it about 3 years ago. I have since "touched it up" with the darkest Old English to refreshen. I use it about once a year. Old English would probably be the easiest/quickest.

You are lucky to have all those built-ins. I would either DIY or have a finish carpenter rework a center section for your TV. Hope you have some floor outlets.

You are gonna have fun!!

Since you aren't in a hurry to make any changes, I think I would just move in and see what ideas came to me living in the space.

I think I would keep an open mind to removing all or part of the bookcase, but would live with it first to see if I still feel that way later.

I wouldn't put anything on those dining room ledges.

And I just have to add- I love the 90s, and if that makes me old and outdated i don't care! :P