He owns the place but I was thinking about SW Calico!

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8d/be/41/8dbe419ec90e9e7d2d845329649f0a4a--sherwin-williams-calico-house-colors.jpg

It is really a nice room. Maybe some art to bring in color?

Regardless of the color, I love the fireplace saying OHHHH.

I'm not at all on board with the current gray trend, but I generally like your room, though I agree it could use some perking up. I'd probably paint the ceiling (not the beams) before I painted the walls, and get a rug with more color.

Love the thread title : ) .

I'm not a big fan of gray, but that's a lovely, cozy room.

You could line the back of the niches on either side of the fireplace, which would be an easy way of introducing some color and/or lighter element into the room, possibly even a print. And if you do removable panels covered with fabric or wallpaper -- a colored grasscloth might be nice -- you can change it easily.

I love the gray in the room, I have always loved gray. The fireplace and bookshelves are awesome. I think it just needs a shot of color. What is your favorite color? I hate when people post "what color should I use". Color is a personal thing, personally I don't like green or orange but someone else may love those colors. Start out with a few nick knacks on the book shelf in that color, some pillows with the color in it, maybe a throw. I think you will find out that is enough, but if you feel it is still not enough, look into a area rug.

We are having a tract house built and the siding will be Dorian Gray. They have paired it with SW Accessible Beige for the trim color. Might go nicely with the beige stone in your fireplace.

All thanks for the suggestions! You have me thinking on some ideas outside of just painting the wall. And thank you Cawaps for mocking up those images, didn't even think to do something like that.

The gray in the this particular rooms actually doesn't bother me its just that the connecting kitchen is gray and the connecting foyer/stairway is gray so its so much. Figure I changed the middle space (the great room) to break it up.

Trying adding accents of the same bright color to all three rooms. I love the idea of putting color on the the back of the shelving.

I think a color that would marry well with the fireplace would be a good idea. The whole room will look so much warmer and lighter, although I agree this is a beautiful room. Please do keep the white items in the cabinet. The scheme would lose all its impact if you threw in colors.

The fireplace was the first item I started with to marry up a new color. Went through the whole SW swatch booklet. Although it was missing a few colors then any new colors they added over the last year. The chairs are actually blue and white but the color isn't really coming through.

Ok. I'll be direct about the elephant in the room - your room is lovely, but I can't get beyond the cartoonish 'fireplace face' which I noticed instantly and now cannot unsee. Nel smith referred to it, also. Sorry, but I wonder if the animated 'face' will negatively influence the calm atmosphere you are aiming for, no matter what the color choice.

If you truly aren't happy with the grey, I completely understand the desire to repaint. However, I think you could have an easy fix with bringing in some pops of color in the bookcase, mantle artwork, rug, and accent pillows. I really like your wall color and I'm not always a huge grey fan. I do think it works in your space. If you are still set on repainting, I would look to the ceiling as cawaps mentioned. I could see you going in almost any direction with color choices on the ceiling based on your favorite color or style.

Indigo I did catch that earlier but it's about perspective with angle and scale of the picture. I thought AHHH was more appropriate than OHHH though.

Its a bit shortsighted to think you can't simply adjust with mantle decor though.

SW Sea Salt might give you the airy color you're looking for, Will.

Hah, sea salt is in the adjacent den! Now thats a color we love!

Muted shades of coral or rose would be my choice.

That was another color I wa leaning towards so I don't have to worry about competing with the red in the mindful gray. Finding the right shade is going to be tough.

all good suggestions from everyone

I would do pops of orange in there. Throw pillow, a throw over the back of a chair and then add some orange colored accessories in your bookshelves. Sometimes you don't need to add a whole wall of color, just splashes of color here and there will liven up a space without being overwhelming. Gray and orange work well together. Good luck!

A nice Persian rug? And pull some colors from it for accessories?

The rug is actually brand new and replace a different brand new rug. It appeared much bluer online and ended up more gray! Next time I will only buy a rug in person. I can't believe how expensive those rugs are. Can find a decent one at Home Goods for about $300

We have a rug store near us that carry over stock rugs on site and you can pick out any rug and they will bind it to any size you want.