[RyanD]

I feel that just don't go with the rest of the room, with better lighting they're really redish and don't match the floors, walls, fireplace, etc so I was thinking of just painting them white to blend into the ceiling. Pros, cons?

 

[Gymschu]

I would paint them. Dark, like they are now, makes the rooms look small. That style was popular about 20 years ago. I know I had them in my living room. They were the hollowed out rough hewn beams that a lot of people installed in the 70's and early 80's. I am so glad they are gone. Painting them to blend in with the ceiling gets my vote.

 

[Two Knots]

We painted ours in the family room white to match the ceiling.