Thank you everyone for weighing in with your thoughts. I can just kick myself that I didn't seek advice from this forum when we were choosing paints for our whole house. I just love Wilmington Tan and feel it would look better than the Oat Straw we have presently--DH likes it also. I do agree with caroleoh that Tyler Taupe pairs best with the Oat Straw, but for this room the one I prefer it the Wilmington Tan so am glad to read a few others here think similarly. It's hard to think of repainting the other rooms just now, but perhaps we will phase over to the WT over time. We paid to have the house professionally painted, but this time around it will be DIY. While I've not chosen a rug, I've thought about it and looked at some. Even though this room is formal, it still needs to fairly kid proof (we have three ourselves ranging in age from six to 14, and most of our friends have children also) so I tend towards rugs that are darker in color without an ivory/taupe/gold background. Particularly if I were to put the WT on the walls and with the existing WT and sofa, I feel the rug would be an area to bring in more color so with that in mind I'm hoping I'll still have some options open. I'm also wondering with a more neutral backdrop, if it will allow the chairs to become the focal point along with the fireplace. Les, you are never a pain. I truely appreciate your insights as well as everyone else who has replied to my threads. Here are a couple of distance shots that I hope will give you a better feel. As it was later in the day, it worked better to put the sample boards lower. Notice, I've also tried to drape the drapery fabric as I know once it's hung in folds and how the light plays on the sheen of the material also gives it a different look. I'm really getting very curious to see my drapes. They have such a lovely weight to them and with the lining and the leading edge trim, I'm hoping they will meet my expectations. This has been the biggest splurge in this whole LR/DR remodel--and the next I imagine will be the rugs.

Getting lots of comments on the built-in....think 1970s built-in...it needed to go. The bottom cabinets were about 2 feet deep, and took up too much of that wall, plus didn't allow for a nice accent chair. Of course we would've assumed that they had built the fireplace properly instead of not finishing the stone around. I would much prefer wood floors, but DH doesn't want hard surfaces everywhere...I know the wood would hold up better long term and be better for resale.. I think I am going to have him put up a wood piece on the bad side. Eventually we might do some nice smaller scale built ins...but the other built in needed to go before flooring. I will make a mantle box probably with a nice corbel on the bottom on each side. The fireplace cover definitely needs to go. I do like the idea of painting the inside of the fireplace a matte black...and I can look for a different "fire" for inside the fireplace. I will find a nice picture or mirror for above the fireplace, and decorate the mantle ledge. Hopefully with a nice paint color and the rest of the room decorated, the fireplace will be nice. Thank you everyone for your replies. Beverly-is your first photo and the one next to it a before and after? I would love a link to that if you have it...I do like the grayish green color they painted the mantle and the corbels under the mantle. Thanks!

Take a look at SW Restrained Gold and Blonde. Those are nice honey golds without being too brassy. Glidden Water Chestnut is also nice with blue. As for the stone, it may work with a new paint color, but if not go neutral with it and let that be the accent wall. You don't want to have competing focal points. The carpet is such a striking color that you may not need an accent wall though. Perhaps just a nice large piece of art or some really dynamic fabric. I would definitely paint the woodwork and paint the adjoining dining area the same color. You can set a nice tablescape with colorful place settings for some pizzazz. And i would absolutely change the light fixture in there. There are lots of affordable options out there. I attached some fabric swatch ideas using restrained gold and blonde. Enjoy decorating your new place.

Can I also second getting a local color consultant to come to visit this very pretty home? I have also had tons of luck calling the SW color line (and its free!). They helped me out of a color jam a few years ago and just recently again. I painted my outside trim SW Fleur de Sel. It was a mistake. It can read very blue-gray. I was heartbroken but it was too late. Now I needed to paint my front door and it needed to coordinate with my reclaimed orange brick and now this odd trim color. My husband wanted a yellow and wanted to pick SW Sunny Day. I about cried. The SW phone line came to the rescue (with no pics nonetheless) and suggested Colonial Yellow. It looks fabulous. They have been so nice on the phone every time. Now I have not had the same luck with BM phone line, but did use one of their local home consultants once and it was a pretty good experience.