Hi Jo. The light will differ in each room so would go for different shades according to the light in each room. Maybe also consider darker accent ŵalls for alcoves and in the dining room? You could even do the woodwork and coving a shade or 2 darker than the walls. I'd go for a soft chalky white on the ceiling. Have a look at farrow and ball for matching colours or little Greenes shades come in light, mid and dark

Thank you all for your suggestions! Lots to consider... Special thanks to Celerygirl and Carolina for the mock-ups. I have to say, that creme rug changes the whole feel of the room... AS, Colourhappy and Celerygirl, I have some 3 different greys left from other jobs; I think I'm going to paint some lining paper and put it against the fireplace, units, windows, etc and see what it looks like. I'm also thinking of the smokey purple we have in the bedroom, that could be an alternative. Also, I'll have to buy some of that hue Jonathan suggested (it's quite intriguing). Jen P and Carolina, maybe I could keep the beige and change the accessories... I ordered a new frame with a proper mount for Chris Ofili's painting and might put it back above the fireplace. Najeebah, I know I need to cull the accessories, we have too many all over the house and I don't know where to place them any more. But I love most of them and find it hard to think about letting some go... Hubby almost sank in the middle of the Bristol channel today and had to abandon the race, so I thought bringing up wall colours tonight would not help my cause. See, I can be sensible... and he says I'm not sympathetic to his sailing problems... :)) Thank you so much for your help again, I'll let you know the next step as soon as we decide what to do. Good night all!

I would choose something very close to that deep red/rust/plum (can't quite work out what it is) in the granite. It looks as if that colour is also in the tea towel on the right (hanging on the handle in front of the oven). Everything else is so light I think the room would take it well and it would give it wow factor. You need a warm colour, as someone else has said, to tone with the cream of the cabinets and the granite.

Now thinking if it’s best to place the wall art by the dining table and do a corner photo collage.