What should I do?

I think you're having a problem with it because it's such a stark contract from the wood paneling. I'd finish off the paneling in the same white wash. The stones look good in the picture in the wash...

It doesn't look so bad, just unfinished. I actually like it. I'd wash the paneling with tsp, let dry, apply several coats of Kilz2 primer, then paint the paneling white. It will actually bring that lovely fireplace to life and give it a new and much larger appearance. I'd lean a large framed mirror against it off center to the left then add a colorful vase or a plant on the right side of the mantel. Designers do it all the time. Best of luck.

This is what I would do.... buy several sample jars of paint in grays, browns, tans, creams, even a mossy green, etc.... use a car wash or tile grout sponge... and tear off large chunks... pour a small circle of each paint on a paper/plastic plate or pie tin.... dip the ROUGH side of the torn sponge in one of the paints... and blot on a piece of foil (one for each color).. you want to get the majority of the paint off the sponge.... use a dabbing or pounding motion... and gently dab paint on one or more of the stones on the fireplace.... Plan on applying multiple coats... of multiple colors.... dab a little and let it dry.... Remember.... less at a time is better... you can add more if you think it needs it.... You don't need to use every color on every stone or color every stone in the same pattern..... when it is dry... if it is too dark.... blend over it with a little white or cream or light tan mixed with water.... again.... lightly... do more.... work at it until it looks like you want... then use several coats of a good clear sealer.

I agree that the panelling is the problem. You have many colours competing with each other ( fp, wall , trim/ceiling, carpet) I would pull a lighter colour from your white washed stone: light gray or a whitish tone. Alternatively, you could paint it the carpet colour (I'm assuming that is the carpet vertically in fron of the hearth. Personally I would paint it white like your ceiling and trim.

You may be pleasantly surprised. We didn't like certain finishes in our house, but when we painted the panelling a light colour, everything looked better around it.

Wow I think it looks beautiful. I agree with other posters, the paneling needs same color family and it will look nice. My other thought is that maybe you are partial to browns instead of the cooler grays and that might also be why you don't care for it.

The after looks better than the before. Paint the raised hearth and the paneling a lighter color and add a mantel. The lattice is probably a little too bright white to go with the rest of the room. Maybe it could be the wall color .

The whitewash is perfect. You need to lighten the paneling surrounding it so there isn't so much contrast.

I think it looks 200% better than the before. I agree paint the paneling the color of the room or whitewash it also. Not sure about the lattice next to it. Good luck

I’m not much help, because I like the new look! It might just take a little time for you to get used to it. I wouldn’t paint the knotty pine unless it is fake. Perhaps you could get some tall vases and put tall dried grasses in them, on each side, or anything that is tall and narrow. That might soften it for you.