Most Fired Earth paint colours are available in masonry paint, it's expensive (compared to standard masonry paint) but goes on a dream, with great coverage. Gives you a great choice of colours, we went with Stone Ocre, although on a more modern house, it looks much nicer than white or magnolia (IMHO).

Hello headers13, Looking nice! Not much of a mess at all! Normally I'd suggest the idea of dark chimney breast and lighter walls.. Since you have dark cabinets going in then perhaps consider the other way around.. Usually alcoves are better lighter as they then look further away.. Chimney breast to the fore.. Standing out with a beautiful mirror.... I normally don't recommend shelving in alcoves either.. Just a personal taste.. However.... What about approaching it with the idea of scale colouring.. with dark at bottom and working it's way lighter up the shelves.... So you could have dark chimney breast and dark bottom shelves and gradually take the shades up till you get to a creamy white at the top... Ceilings are really gr8 in Whitening by Little Greene.. It would give it a different feel and this style of painting is really in.... You can do it with walls too, see image... Also to lighten the look of the shelving... consider darker and fuller shelves at the bottom and lighten towards the top... This creates the idea of openness with the shelving, thus giving the fireplace the focal point it deserves... : ))

Light colours always help to make a garden pretty so maybe try a pastel colour. I'm personally in love with a sort of light mint colour, this works really well with white (but any pastel will) cornflour is nice too for gardens as it is more of a contrast to the leaves. Growing a climber up some trellis on the wall might be an idea too, honeysuckle smells very sweet and attracts butterflies but any climber again will work. I have attached the mint colour I meant just for clarity, a word of caution would be that it can look a little clinical so to be used in moderation.

Any colour can go with any colour: It is a question of intensity of hue and temperature and % used as contrast or compliment. If using two colours in a vast expanse, it is better to use two of the same range (for example, blues) of the similar intensity and temperature, eg two dark warm blues. Then add the pop of colour (no more than 10% of your room and you're good to go. Then add the jewellery: chandeliers, door handles etc, as one would adornment on a person. Ex2: A cold 'toilet blue' would not go with the above- The temperatures are different. I hope this helps. Ausbengal, teal would go perfectly, because the colour remains (shades of blue) and temperature and intensity are changed, thus being used as an accent colour, but not in a vast expanse, for example, the entire wall.