Hi scjmj, How is it going with your fireplace? Would love to see an update!

I see what you mean with the wood, but I know it can be kind of controversial to paint over such nice woodwork.

Think about using a lighter shade from the same color strip as SW Shortbread for your trim and FP surround.

I often recommend painting a fireplace surround, when there is this much wood in the room already. It's a good way to introduce needed contrast. But in this case, I have to admit, I don't see an obvious choice. Ordinarily, black would be an option - but your hearth is black, your couch is black, and the room is already dark. So black seems too "heavy." Another go-to is white or off-white, but I don't see that tone anywhere else, not even on molding and trim. Ditto for a charcoal tone - it doesn't appear anywhere else so I wouldn't do it. However, a red close to the color in your stained glass might be an option. It would add color and focus. Another potential direction could be a metallic - a muted gold or pewter, IF you then subtly repeated that with a different coffee table, some lamps, or a statement light fixture with the same tone. (I can't see what light you have from this photo). Hope this helps a little.

Hello and thank you for the responses. I painted it about two weeks after posting this question. I used Benjamin Moore's White Dove and I am very happy with the way it turned out. It is such a great color. I also ended up painting the baseboard trim in the room and the window trim on the opposite wall. It looks so modern and updated now and brought it all together. I did consider black, but also thought it would make it too dark and have the opposite effect of what I was trying to achieve. I considered the red too, but didn't want to commit to having to decorate around it in the future or having to repaint it. Colors come and go so often, I decided it was probably best to stay neutral. Right now it is decorated for Christmas, but I found a picture that I took while I was working on it. Hope you like it!

Much better.

It looks great!

WOW... what a great change

Love it! Just curious, after painting the fireplace does it make you want to paint the entire wall?

good choice. Looks great!!

Much better! Now it's more of a statement, instead of getting lost behind the wood walls

Much better! Now it's more of a statement, instead of getting lost behind the wood walls

Thanks, I appreciate the compliments everyone. Yes, I was tempted to keep going and paint the entire wall, I think it would really brighten up the room a lot, but boy what a job that would be. Maybe one day if the urge strikes me. The house is full of stained trim (almost too much for my taste I have discovered) so it still connects with the rest of the house by leaving it stained. I added a daytime picture to give a better idea on what the room looks like overall.

Agree! I would have to paint the wall a different color.