BM Simply White ceiling and BM ballet white for walls. Looking at it from other side, I’m again thinking ceiling color, so as not to highlight the post that we unfortunately can’t remove.

@Katie B. we put a large piece of black paper there to get an idea, but it was too severe. We also will be mounting a flat screen TV in the space as well. So if not black, which one?

Ceiling, Alabaster in flat finish, trim, Alabaster in semi-gloss finish. Because the cabinets are abutting the ceiling and Alabaster isn’t true white, I would worry that a ceiling “white” would make the cabs look drab.

I suspect the paneling above that appears to be on an angle, is a bulk head for something, and I would be very cautious, trying to remove it. It may hold plumbing pipes, or it may hold ac vent pipes, etc. I would paint the walls all to match, but, leave the wood on the slanted ceiling part. I would paint the bookcases white too (different sheen, but, same color white as the walls), but leave the mantle like it is.