Instead of painting walls, I would stain/paint the light wood balcony and fireplace mantle the same as the ceiling.......would be wonderful if you could also stain the floor darker...good luck

I am not sure if the color is coming through the computer monitor correctly, but it is looking too blue....the grey should be closer to your rug color.

Hi tym, here's an attempt to match by eye Kelly's suggestions -- Sherwin-Williams --
SW 7736 Garden Sage --

thank you, Ed!

Hi Tym, here's a blue off-white -- Sherwin-Williams -- SW 0019 Festoon Aqua --

Kelly, you're very welcome! Let's try some more greys.... :)

Ed, could you try the same with something like pearl onion? SW7126

Hi tym, a slightly darker green -- Sherwin-Williams -- SW 7742 Agate Green --

Filmy green? SW6190

Hi Tym, Carolins -- here's Carolins' SW 7126 Pearl Onion -- on my monitor, it appears quite white :) --

Hi Tym, Carolins -- here's Carolins' SW 6190 Filmy Green -- this one looks nicer on my monitor :) --

Cool Ed, thank you :-) Tymcio is asking for white, so that's good. It does brighten the room up hugely. It's a white with a green undertone (the Pearl Onion). The Filmy Green is a grey with green undertone I believe.

Hi Carolins, you're welcome. Tym, here's a lighter blue-ish grey --
Sherwin-Williams SW 2832 Colonial Revival Gray --

Hi Tym -- you have many pretty choices of blue, green, off-whites, grey tones... But since we cannot really trust the computer's monitor display ( even if it's calibrated! ), you probably want to visit your local paint store or professional painter, and ask for various paint chips, and bring them home to see the different paints in your actual, physical lighting and living room! Please post photos of your progress, and good luck! :)

I am not liking the white...it seems so stark.

I like the white, love a clean and modern base and white walls myself. I think the stone from the fireplace, the different woods and the furniture bring enough colour into the room :-)

Something like the Filmy Green would be my choice. Hmm... but I do like the Onion too. Ah well, it's not up to me :-)

I usually do like white...just not loving it here...sorry

No need to say sorry, it's just personal opinions most of the time and fortunately we don't all think the same about these things. It would be a bland, bland world if we did.

I think the green undertones are perfect for the room- they make the FP pop!

Hi Tym -- here are two more, just for fun :) -- Sherwin-Williams --
1. SW 6375 Honeycomb.
2. SW 6270 Soulmate --

Hi Tym, this one is a bit more subdued than Honeycomb --
Sherwin-Williams SW 6123 Baguette --

Hi Tym -- your photo is very "photogenic" for trying different paints ! :) Of the above, there are about 10 that look nice on my monitor ! You have a nice "dilemma" :)
Nice flooring, too -- you mentioned yellow oak -- is it sold oak ? :)

For the most natural look, choose a cream-white from your fireplace, and you'll have a beautiful seamless wall color that will match your floors.

Ed, could you try a creamy white? Like Venetian Lace or something similar?

thank you all for taking the time to make suggestions. I will keep everyones comments in mind. A special thanks to Ed for all the variations in wall colors. It really helps to actually see the differences. I like several of them. But this makes it easier to know the direction. I'll post the photo when finished. thank you so very much!

We'd love to see the end result. Good luck :-)

Tym, you are very welcome! Carolins, sorry, I closed the software before I read about the creamy white idea. :)

No worries Ed :-D

A Jacobean or darker stain would look great on those oak floors. :-)

Hi, I just wanted to add a color to your suggestions. I have a stone house with a later addition clad in hardi board, I painted it in Benjamin Moore HC Nantucket gray. It looks great with the stone and its a really nice neutral. I paired it with BM Featherbed for the trim, a really bright cream, white trimwork can look very flat next to the stone.

I know this is only about paint colors, but I think the colors you like would really look great with a darker stain on your oak floors, the post above mine is spot on. I won't mention anything outside you're topic again ;)

I appreciate any and all suggestions. We have been working toward a mid century modern look from a barn beam and cedar farm-house or country- look and truly appreciate any advise. I really wanted to go back to clean white walls but I think Kelly is right — it just might be too contrasty, too stark. I've even considered painting the fireplace gray. I will check out all the neutral paint colors above as suggested. thank you.