I would paint it a creamy white or light taupe or greige. The wood looks to be in nice shape though. Are you trying to make the room lighter and brighter?

No, you don't want to match the trim - you want contrast. Are you considering any paint for the gray-green stone? If not, I would suggest a neutral that will complement the stone. Leave the beam as wood since it matches the floor. Here's a good one to test - sw jogging path http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7638-jogging-path/
it is in the green family, but is a neutral that I think will harmonize well with the warm wood and cool mossy stone.

If it were my room, i would paint the brick and the wall the same color - something like sw wool skein - though I would be sure to use masonry formulted paint for the stone and paint it first - see how the wood tones looked then. Great mid-century lines

I agree with Robyn, are you asking if it should match the trim, or do you not like it the way it is? Once you paint that, the brick of the fireplace area might appear dirty. I'd probably clean the brick appropriately to see what the ultimate look of it is, so if you like it, you know it will look good next to a white wall.

Also, what style is your furnishings, or what style do you like? That wall & the look of the room is mid-century, 1950-1970. If your furniture or style is like that, it 'might be fine the way it is. It matches the floor, which is a nice look.

It might help to know more.

for a visual with the brick painted white

separate photo of the FP

The pics are in keeping with mid century style.

I def want to paint it white, I am painting the walls a dark gray so I want to lighten up the room, we are having the floors redone to a lighter color wood so from what I'm gathering I should be focused more on the brick than the paneling? I would like the pain the panel white just not sure what shade, I guess I have to start focusing on the brick now as well

Yes, if you paint the wood you have to consider the bricks. You may not have to paint them, but you need to consider the style of your furnishings and what you want it all to look like in a cohesive fashion.

Again, what style do you like? What will the furnishings in this room like like? If you have things that are grey, black or white, the bricks might match. If you want other colors entirely then all white on that wall might be your answer.

I was thinking as libradesigneye. With some murphy's oil soap the wood may be beautiful. I'd paint the FP white and then decide what to do next.

Furnishings aren't decided yet, I have a big black dining room table, a white flakari rug from the 70's, and a couch that I have not picked out a slip cover yet for, I wanted To paint first and then do furnishings

I am 24 and this is my first time decorating a home which is why I have so many questions lol thank you

You might want to check under the wood. Some people paneled over the dry wall when paneling was in style. If you paint the paneling, use kilz on it first to seal the wood then the paint. You can google painting paneling on the internet. On an HGTV show, they even used drywall compound in the ridges (then sanded) to make the wall flat like drywall. Hope I have been of help.

If you like photography, check out my Etsy shop, nancyhehmann. Good luck to you. Ask all the questions you want. As long as you keep responding people will keep assisting you on here.

Paint color should always be your last design decision, but I totally agree with libradesigneye's suggestions of going with a gray/green for the paneling, & SW Jogging Path is a good place to start. The room looks too chopped in half the way it is. I would keep the fireplace as is & keep that great texture, but to create continuity, I would paint the paneling as close to the brick as possible. Sherwin Williams have in store designers (some do) who will come to your home to suggest.

My cousin told me white brick with that dark wood paneling would look good but I am painting the walls a dark gray and the gray looks terrible next to the wood so I just feel like it should be painted, does everyone think that would look okay? The rooms are most windows so the room will be bright, I am painting it the gray on the right

Is your cousin an Interior Designer???

No I just asked her opinion before finding out about houzz, her home is very contemporary and I loved the way she designed it

Now I'm just conflicted lol if I leave the wood panel as is than what color would look good on the walls bc the gray I had picked out does not look good and most of my furniture is black

this pic is a continuation of the Pertola Valley pic above and the color chosen for the WALLS
is listed as BM Chatsworth Cream
the BRICK paint is listed as BM Super White


this post is for yr information .

Anne D I really am liking the photos you are sending me, they are givin me ideas of what I can do with white brick and the wood panel walls, keeps sending if you can, I love!!

Ok - I can see what you are going for, but I think you have just missed what will work best. The blue-gray you selected is very, very blue and very dark for a room with a wood ceiling. Could I persuade you to test a different kind of neutral gray before you decide? Test sw worldly gray - put it right next to the warm wood and you will see it turn gray but still harmonize. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7043-worldly-gray/ I'd go one step more and use the lightest color from this card - shoji white - in a masonry paint formulation for the fireplace stone.

Mac this is the kind of gray that is going to be neutral enough to give you freedom with color later. The denim gray that you were leaning towards will dictate a lot of color choices. The reason people often choose paint last is because you can get paint in any shade, but matching paint when you buy upholstery is challenging. So you need something more neutral, or if you want a big navy wall (which is what that gray was going to read when it was done) then it needs to be deliberate with your entire color story. You would need nearly all ivory/off-white furniture to pop against it, light rugs - things that may not stand up over time well.

Your black table and slipcovered sofa will look great against this wood tone, which is particularly beautiful and very contemporary which is the style you want and the style of your home. Even though you have a lot of windows, I'm concerned that you will feel the room will be way too dark with the dark indigo - and to compensate you lose one of the most contemporary features of the room when you paint the wood wall out. Painted panelling just looks cottage-y - not what you want here in this fabulous mid century room. We are all droling over your architecture. So, follow our seasoned advice - test the other gray, paint that neutral so you can have more freedom with your color story. If you decide to go dark on the walls, then paint the stone white instead of painting paneling.

I know you were working on perhaps the same gray-blue in your bedroom. A master bedroom is exactly the kind of location for this kind of dark blue gray drama, because you can use light bedding and paint craigslist storage a pale gray like sw mink or light french gray. Go for it there and see why we think it might not be so great as a larger mass. Indigo / blue jean blues can be gorgeous with this wood, but you want to use them in the decor - your upholstery, art and pillows so the room feels as big as it is.

Let me suggest you buy an amazing, extra large abstract canvas to use as inspiration and highlight your color story. Here's an inspiration piece of art for you - http://www.art.com/products/p15253938-sa-i1265457/stephen-dinsmore-sojourn.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=5007115&ui=17daa2579332487e9295741da25634d4
In its largest size, it would be great over the fireplace or perhaps in your bedroom. It has the blue tones that are in the paint you first chose that you love, the wood tones, a bit of the green stone of the original fireplace and it is from a quality artist. You can get it printed on canvas that you don't have to frame.

When you go shopping for rugs, upholstery, art and furniture, you could use this as the color inspiration for your whole house.

ps. i saw candice olson have a mason use a chisel and hammer to cleanly split the face stone where the deeper bricks were put in to make ledges like you have. I would not remove the one in the mantel location - even if you want a wood mantel it makes it easier to add one structurally to have that piece. I even think the three shelves are kind of a charming original modern detail, but if you want to get rid of them, you can do it and you wil never know - the real stone like this is the same color all the way through.

@mackenzie 918 I am not a pro but I love to give inspiration and ideas with the Houzz pictures on hand or Google links.
If you would like to see more ideas on the Portola Valley home click on the picture and it will lead you to the link which shows additional pics for this particular project.
For professional direction and details on how to approach a project you will find others more suited than myself such as some of the above who have already posted some excellent suggestions.
From the pics posted it appears your home has great bones which is a good start.
Good Luck!!!

Libradesigneye if I leave the panel how it is, the cabinets my dad is putting in the kitchen are white, so as far as my wood trim in the house, should I leve that or paint it white? As well ask the window trims? You can see the start of the kitchen, still need to put in cabinets, island with stove top, etc. do you have a personal email I can contact you on?

That is actually a good place for gray! Can the cabinet faces be shop painted before they go in? Wonderful to have your dad's help! I would leave the wood trim wood. Easier to maintain and here, it is more contemporary. You may email me directly at LynneBaker@cox.net -