One thing about white walls is that you can easily put a naturally transparent colour (like yellow without whit in it) over the top if it starts to feel too clinical...really hate all white, large 'antiseptic' spaces...feels a bit soul-less, makes me wonder as to the state of mind of the inhabitants...= no personality, or just being trendy or...not wanting to 'show one's colours'. Don't trust 'empty-feeling spaces'. Love your riotous colour ideas! My walls are natural timber and I would not dare paint them,,it would be almost a sin! Am inspired by mahogany stained faux panelling here and there for a more luxurious look. When I'm bored or my head is too full I watch a soapie in which the house and the office are very grand places...strangely most of the walls are stained panelling and dark timbers..so bohemian style with a touch of multimillionaire residence! YOUR BED You say you cannot find what you are looking for...do you have a picture in your mind of the bed you want or don't you know? Could be a good idea to either do a sketch or several and see where the pencil leads you or maybe draw a definite pic of your dream bed. Alternatively, write it down..:"I want a bed that has......etc", This often helps to focus your thoughts...and...I've found that putting it out there either in a sketch you keep on a wall or writing it where you will come across it often seems to "call" the desired thing to you and all of a sudden...viola' there it is when you are least expecting it. Have fun!.

If you do choose to paint it make sure you sand well then use a stain blocker, followed by an undercoat then the top coats (best spray painted)......a bit of hard work and may not be successful. If all your other furniture is white then you can use this piece as a focal point and dress it up with a large white vase or white framed pictures of varying sizes, you can include a splash of colour with the white to lift the look. You could also buy a piece of white 4-6mm Perspex with beveled edge for the top leaving all other edges as is.

I think a nice grey (not too dark, but darker than your concrete driveway colour), on the weather boards OR the render around the entry (not both) would look great! It would modernise your home further; bring out the brick more; and tie in with your driveway and roof? Green foliage also looks great against grey so will complement nicely when you get your garden established. I can't reccomend any particular grey as I know nothing about paint colours, sorry!

Lightening the mortar will look great and keep those lovely bricks as the feature of the room. Eventually a few other ways to brighten the room could be: lighter coat of paint on the walls & a tall indoor plant or wall art in place of book shelves (if you have another spot for the shelves that is). Gorgeous room - look fwd to seeing the before/after pics when you colour mortar. :)