Painting wood

We have a wood stove in the basement which we have used the last couple of years to help heat the basement and first floor.  We also have a stove in the living room that we haven't used much...Duh...  We have decided to use both of them this year and see if we can get our heating bill down ~~ The 2nd story is basically closed off, since that's where the kids's rooms are.

ANYHOO...Hubby built a box for me to store wood in upstairs.  He had to buy some of the 1 x 4s and 1 x 2s, but the main large pieces of wood are just cheap, thin plywood.  He actually told me I could PAINT IT!!!  This from a man who cringes over painted wood. I was so excited I almost peed myself.  Ahem...  Now, 3 walls of the living room are a light brown, and the 4th is a darker brown.  I first painted it the light brown.  Hmmm...

This is the back side.  After some thought, I decided it looked too "hi, I'm a painted cheap box!"  I wondered what would happen if I decided to paint over part of it with a dry brush the darker brown.  So this was step 2:

The last one is just so you can see the inside.  After looking at it for awhile, I decided I really looked the "painted over" look.  My next decision was whether or not to paint the whole thing with that look, or keep it as is, to make the lighter brown areas pop.  I spent quite a bit of time pondering, wondering, debating, questioning...  Finally I decided I liked the painted over look, as my living room is somewhat rustic, and I thought that look was softer and not so much "look at me!!"  So, I went ahead and did it all:

What do you think?  I like it much better this way.  Even hubs likes it, and he usually rolls his eyes at these types of things.  It's drying right now, and I can't wait to bring it in.  Below is a pic of the living room.  This will sit to the left of my throne chair, to the right of the fireplace (in front of the window.)  The box that is sitting there will be moved:

What do you think?  How would you have painted it??