I have an open floor plan in my townhome, with no mouldings, doorways, thresholds or trim work to define logical stopping points to change to a different wall color. I am ready to change the bronzy-brown color in my stairway for something fresh. However that brown color continues to the second floor and into the open loft that overlooks living/dining room with gold-painted walls. The gold is staying, so I want to compliment it.

What could I do to make a color/pattern statement in that tall stairway and the open loft? Use the brown as a background color and do a large scale geometric stencil over it in a contrasting color? I like to have a lot going on with color, pattern, and texture. Definitely not a minimalist.

There are no predominant colors in the loft yet. My Moroccan rug in the living room (which I love) is the piece that all decorating revolves around. I love oranges and greens and high contrast. The fireplace is now complete with travertine tile and the living room floor is oak. The artwork on the stairway wall is staying. I am getting new carpeting on the stairs and upstairs that is a dark bronzy-gold - not unlike the existing bronzy-brown paint that I want to change.

Any ideas?