I'm not normally a fan of braided rugs, and I'm not normally a fan of white walls, but I saw this house featured in houzz.com today and I really like the look of the wood with the white walls, and I think a braided rug can work with this look too....sort of shaker style...minimalist which can lean toward a more up to date look.

[Rustic Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2111) by Chicago Architects & Designers jamesthomas, LLC

[Rustic Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2111) by Chicago Architects & Designers jamesthomas, LLC

Annie- While I absolutely love those rooms, I'm not wanting white walls. I do have color in my other rooms and I have an antique pie safe that would get lost against the white walls in the dining room. I'm also thinking a pale color is just not going to work in that room. I may be wrong though which is why I really need suggestions.

This was the second photo of a dining room with braided rug that I found on Houzz. I think such a color would be a great direction for your dining room.

[Rustic Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/rustic-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2111) by Portland Media & Bloggers Julie Smith

I love your braided rug! (I have one in my DR - they're coveted on Cape Cod).

With all the pine and that rug, I'd paint the walls a light bronze. It'll bring out the golden glow of the pine, and the rug will look fantastic against it.

Wonderful colors might be:

BM Decatur Buff

BM Powell Buff

Darker: BM Mystic Bronze

SW Believable Buff, Whole Wheat, Camelback, Baguette (all on the same strip, light to darker).

Shelbourne Buff might be nice.