Shanghaimom and Willow - Here are the answers to your questions: Shanghaimom: Yes - we plan to have a darkish dining table. Haven't decided on the exact color yet - I guess it will somewhat depend on the color of the beams. Willow: The ceilings are 9' high. The light should be good - there will be french doors and 2 windows facing south; and light from the living room coming from the north. I will be buying a new dining room table and am not planning to have a rug in this room (not until my youngest (3 yrs) is a little older. There is no dark wood in any other part of the house. The feeling I am trying to achieve (I think) is old/classic, but new/fresh. I like your idea of keeping them dark and then if it doesn't work, we can always paint them to match the trim later. Couple of other notes/issues: * I am including a drawing of the kitchen. The cabinets will be white/cream inset. The island in the kitchen will be distressed black (Amaretto) with a butcheblock top. The island color was somewhat of a random choice; I didn't want it to be white and distressed black was the only color that my husband and I could agree on. The counter on the perimeter cabinets will be Quartz in Raven (I think). We haven't decided 100% on a wall color, but are leaning towards a warm color red/orange/ color (BM Fire Dance). I know that cool colors would probably work better in this space - but somehow we want to try a warm color. With the wainscoting and the cabinets there will be a lot of what/cream to water the color down. * The other weird thing about the coffered beams is that there are 4 light fixures sticking out of them where the beams cross. So, there is a chandelier (which we will replace) in the middle and then 4 light fixtures wih just bulbs sticking directly out of the beams. I went on the "Old House" forum and was told that these lights are architecturally correct and most people suggested that I leave them as is. While I would like to keep them for the sake of preserving the character of the house, I think they make the ceiling look way to busy - with the coffered ceiling and the chandelier, there is just way too much going on up there. Plus, I don't really want to look at plain lightbulbs and haven't found any type of mini shade/cover that could go on them. The problem is, of course, that if we take out the light fixtures, we will be left with big holes in the beams that will be hard to fix, as well as expensive. This is partly why we had originally planed to paint the beams the same color as the trim... So, as you can see, I have some issues to work out! Let me know what you think I should do. thank you!!

Great information, everyone! Thank you so much!!!! And thank you tnfarmhouse for posting more photos! I've shown him all the photos and discussions and he's convinced he'll like the Whole Wheat and Creamy. I asked about color samples at the store and was told they were available, but they didn't recommend I use them because they were a "cheaper paint" and wouldn't look exactly like what I intended to buy! In the end, this guy won't even notice what colors are on his walls... but I will. :) Thanks again!!!

We used Behr’s Pot of Cream white for all of our doors and trim. It’s a really great creamy white that reflects well. It has a soft look to it, not brash or harsh. Don’t limit yourself to just SW paint colors. The paint retailers have the formula’s for each others colors and can mix whatever you want regardless of brand. Even Home Depot has mixed colors that were spot on from SW for me.

Are you standing in my kitchen right now? I have the same backsplash, countertop and cabinets except dark brown. North Fort Worth? We painted our whole home in Sherwin-Williams Softer Tan. Creamy and Alabaster were in the lineup; Alabaster was way too light and Creamy was just a smidge too light. Trim in SW Dove White. There are times during the day the color moves from a neutral beige to a yellow undertone. The kitchen tiles seem to have a pink undertone, at times, but it works for me. And I didn't want the tiles to be not a focal point. I feel if you go with something between creamy and alabaster those tiles will stand out which is good if that's your goal. Considering we changed from scuffed greige circa 2013 to this (bought the home in 2017) it's been a breathe of fresh air. I don't feel the color is heavy, and I'm not into light bright and airy. I like neutral colors with some kind of body and weight.