Looks like the Spanish White is the way to go - thanks, VANESSA, for your suggestion, and to everyone else for your help and advice. Think I'll keep the fireplace bricks and timber as they are but am now excited about the new look of the white or shades thereof.

Wow, thanks for that How2Girl. Yes I have considered it, but because we live off our water tanks I was told that it's not the healthiest to drink the water after a roof has been resprayed/painted.

I think your biggest problem is the paintwork, particularly as it seems quite dark in the space anyway. If you sell the furniture & replace it you will run at a loss, so I would put that money into repainting instead. Go for a much lighter colour, like Dulux Natural White. Beige & pale blue absolutely work together, & when the beige is on the floor only it will be far less of an impact, it's actually quite a neutral flooring to work with, and certainly a 'beige' floorboard will lends itself well to a Scandinavian look. Also you really want to mazximise the light in the space to achieve a Scandi look so the whiter walls will help this too. If you search "beige and blue" on Houzz I would be surprised if there weren't countless schemes incorporating these colours. Good luck :)

hi...your house looks so much like mine! Are you in SA if so I can recommend an exceptional and very reasonable colour consultant. I will post a picture of my house , I think we used Sandy Day and ? in the end with black trims I will check. It looks very in keeping with the house but also very fresh and up to date.The roof still needs painting. Have a look at Peter Stubbs website for local landscaping ideas and colours including the second pic below which is inspiring me at the moment. This is a house in Fullarton .