Hard to tell from just that view. It looks like wainscotting around the wall. This is usually a darker accent colour to wall above.

Or wall darker. Here are some white photos for you

Thanks Kate. Decided to keep the wainscoting the same colour, the base is just a slightly more glossy finish to differentiate. Wanted it to be a subtle feature

white corbels and black mantel

Btw...the walls and current surround colour is Dulux Dieskau (light grey). Cornice and archs are Snowy Mountain half

Keeping it all the one wall colour is more modern as per the pics. My earlier comment was more traditional.
Either mantle or mirror or pic frame above could echo kitchen. White corbels.
But rather than wall colour for mantle, if you aren’t going black, I’d match the architraves to help it pop just a little. This would be my preference.

thanks Kate...Im thinking that's what I'll do. White mantel and corbels and bring in a black framed mirror/art to mirror kitchen. thx for the help@