This is timely because I have similar cabinets. I've been looking for whites that aren't too bright. I just got an estimate from a cabinet painter; his proposal included 2 coats of oil-based primer and then 2 coats of either oil or water-based paint. Here's what I've found in other threads: BM Linen White: SW Alabaster: SW Casa Blanca: SW Dover White: Here is a link that might be useful: Instructions on painting cabinets

Yes of course you can paint the rocks. But when you are dealing with concrete it is best they use the proper base coloring in the original mixture. So before they do all that work you want to see them doing a small sample/portion area first. It must feel terrible to see that much completed and have it the wrong color. Hire a painter. there are concrete staining paints that will seep into the rock and last longer. Still, most concrete rocks are porous, erode, or chip over time (usually has lots of hard to fix leaks too). To get the color you want the painter would have to use a paint spray gun and cover the entire rock to a lighter color which takes more work. How the rocks are carved and designed makes a huge difference in the quality. Personally I would rather pay someone more who actually does a good job as it is an investment in the property value. Live and learn... You may want to try looking into concrete staining paints. It is carried by most home hardware stores.

Yikes - what is that ? =) Did it bring red greetings to our leader when it landed? lol The palm tree is in interesting idea - hadn't considered that. It actually cuts the effect of the horizontal shape quite well. It's interesting, the downward line of the high tree and the low red plant does change the boxy shape quite a bit. The sago palm in the middle may get just as high over time. I wonder if that will have the same effect - although maybe not since it's smack dab in the middle. Having the tall tree over to the right where you have it works a bit better. It also depends where you stand. The more I look at the palm tree there, the more I like it. Might be a hurricane hazard having a tree so close to the house, not sure. Might be ok planted further out. But I like the way the height cuts the shape regardless.

To my eye the fireplace does not have attractive proportions. The hearth is too wide and and overly deep for its height, the wood box is too small, the ceiling trim too bulky, mantle too large and too high. And the doorway looks squashed in beside it. No amount of whitewashing or painting is is going to change any of that. The good news is that it looks like the stone isn't boulders stacked up like some of the photos people have posted above. I think it's rock veneer, flat pieces of rock stuck to a cement/wire mesh base. If it's veneer, you should be able to see that from the side. Can you stand by the round mirror and take a picture for us? Veneer can be removed relatively easily by someone with experience and the right tools. Then you can have the room you want. You can shorten the hearth and put the TV to the left of the fireplace which would look much better than above it. Now is the time to do it, when you're re-doing the floor. If not, be sure to keep a box of the flooring for later if you want to remove or shorten the hearth and need to fill in the floor. My house also had an overpowering stone fireplace and the best thing we ever did was replace it with a normally-proportioned fireplace surround. IMO these large stone fireplace walls look great in big chalet-style homes with high ceilings, and are out of place in regular homes.