Without a photo just based on what you said, it sounds like you don't like the beams themselves. If this is the case, paint them to match the ceiling as that will make them the least noticeable. If you paint them any color other than the ceiling they will stand out so do that only if you want the beams to be a feature.

This has been my conundrum for the past several weeks. Everyone says not to cover up wood, but I went against the status quo and am painting it white. Please don't hate me everyone and say mean things! I've already had that done to me. I've looked long and hard at pics that resembled what it would look like leaving it alone and painting it. I think it comes down to the look and feel that you are trying to accomplish. We stained the beams a dark walnut color and are in the middle of painting the ceiling now. We are priming it first and then will apply a ceiling white. For me, the decision was based on having too much wood in the house and making me feel like I was living in a VRBO mountain cabin in Aspen. Not like that is a bad thing, but I wanted a more light, airy feeling, than to be in a cliche mountain cabin. We will be having hardwood throughout the living room, kitchen and dining room, hallway. All interior doors will be wood with hardwood blinds and trim. All trim/doors will be the same as the beams.

Virgil, we plan to have drywall throughout the house. Might do paneling for some accent walls. Some of the windows and doors will be vertical grain douglas fir. I was asking if the windows and doors should get the same stain as the ceiling. I suppose the trim should be done in a similar fashion as well. seabornman, leaving the fir natural is definitely an option we want to consider, but I am not sure what is the actual natural color. I have been trying to find some pictures online, but there seems to be quite a bit of variation. If we did the semi transparent stain on the ceiling as Virgil suggested, I am assuming the natural finish on the windows and doors will be lighter.

You need to post pictures of all the issues and the rooms.