So this is not the furniture you are using? That is where you start, color will come from your furniture.

are you more comfortable with modern or traditional? you could go either way in this space. are your kids school age or have they moved out yet? is this a kid-oriented home or adult-oriented?

I am okay with the color of the walls. However, the same color should be painted on the ceiling. The white ceiling takes away from the warmth of the setting. It will make all the difference in the world. Then you can go from there. The first thing is to get rid of the pillows on the sofa and place a throw there and find a neutral color rug similar in color to the walls. Take away the little nick nacks off the tables.

Kids moved out FINALLY!! Love the soft comfy couches. Light rooms. Definitely not traditional.

How would you feel about painting/staining the wood on the rails and steps a darker color? Maybe even espresso? Would give the room a whole different feel.

I would not stain any of the wood a darker color. You need to soften things up a bit. Drape a quilt (and there are many modern ones that are a work of art) at the top over the stair rail. Kind of right in the middle of the top stairway. Also, going up the stairs just as you take the first turn, the wall is a focal point and I would put a tapestry or some other type of artwork underneath the light on the wall. Get rid of the white goose and clear the tables of the clutter.

The square footage of this room combined with vaulted ceilings will require attention to scale as you decorate this space...the existing delicate brass coffee table looks dwarfed.
I love the relaxed, "kick your shoes off" comfort of this inspiration room.

Again, what furniture are you using in the space?

Color on walls begins with the furniture and what is your style. You mentioned not traditional, are you modern, vintage, industrial, classic?

Michiganmemom, I love that pic. I have it in my idea book!

This is a multi color paint jib, and it is great height. I am going to give you two palettes, bright and a little darker. I do not know where or how much sun. I always like to visit the house at different hours to get a feel for the light and shadows. I get being family.y feel here, country and mountains, I could be way off and you can be on an island off Rhode Island.
In the picture that is looking over the balcony to the left side I would paint the wall
a dark green, Benjamin Moore Narragansett Green HC 157
This same color goes across the room by the staircase and around the bar? looks like bar.Next to it, below and on what duck is sitting on. Behind the red sofa there is a wall that has 2 windows that too I would do in this dark green.
Next, I would go the the fireplace and hopefully it opens to both sides. If yes, I would make it taller the interior and remove the side which looks like stone and have ir with an open and close glass sliding doors. I would like it to be a bit bigger and taller interior of the fireplace, but if not possible OK. I would use sliced limestone in 12" x 24" size staggered all the way the the ceiling and around the wall. I would get rid of the black and put another limestone, but this time all lined up with the width 12 and the height 36" at about 48" a very thick piece of deep mahogany rough cut irregular not totally rectangular, a bit s shape not straight funky larger on one side smaller on the other and this I would put around the entire wall. Both sides fireplace and side wall.
In front I would lay the slab to come out a good 3 feet for sitting in front of and a good place to put candles etc.
To the left we have two choices a fun dark green and beige heavy material with liner from ceiling to floor. The walls would be BMoore Moccasin 1059. I think you have two choices a Flame green and beige fabric very bold, or a simpler pattern not so overpowering Schumacher. Simpler to carry limestone over Origami

Move the dark plaid sofa away from the floor to ceiling windows! Also, move sofa out from wall. Use the fireplace as the anchor in the room. Place furniture facing each other projecting from fireplace. Also 2 sofas would work better than a sofa and a loveseat! Paint color would be nice if it was a medium natural green i.e. foliage color, which would give the natural stained railing a whole different appeal. After painting reevaluate the railing, etc. Replace glass cocktail table with something more substantial - maybe one that resembles a shipping cart on wheels i.e. Restoration Hardware look. You can pick these up at flea markets at a much lower cost. Also replace end table with wood ones and use tall lamps that have a thick base, something unique in size or design with color. Maybe use a floor lamp on one end and end tables on the others (beside sofas). Need art work over fireplace, something colorful and beautiful. Don't make the mistake of using dark brown or black furniture. Mix color with the earth tones so that the dark colors will not look like cookie cutter furniture grouping. On windows use some natural fabric shades i.e. hobble shades with a flat valance. One last comment, remove clutter upstairs. It shows up through the railing. Try area rug between the sofas, add some floor pillows that lay on the hearth when fp is not being used. Hope this helps!!

Hi, This is not the furniture, just a great big beautiful space. A

Ajike Williams Interiors- Firstly, your design style needs to be defined, I see alot going on in this space. Your furniture is under arrest it is all up against the walls. To define your space you can start with an area rug whatever the colors in that rug it will define your color palette, as well as your style, I see you have contemporary as well as traditional in that room and a neutral color palette on the walls. Decluttering that room also is a must. Your space is somewhat off balance due to your fireplace, however, the fireplace can still be a focal point of the room and you can have a wonderful floorplan build around the focal point of the room there is another focal point in your room as well the sofa in from of the large window is a wonderful focal point, however, only one focal point can be played up. All the best in moving forward with your design dilemma.

I love this black trim from today's poll--- SO chic with the wall color. Using black on the trim will frame the views and make everything very crisp and uptown!

Benjamin Moore website has a fun website to look at colors. USA -> For Your Home -> Explore Our Paint Colors -> Color Gallery had some great color combinations. You have a black fire place, like light and airy and comfy. I'd go for a warm gray like color similar to North Hampton Beige. If you're not going to paint the banisters then choose a color that works with the wood.
In the living room area I'd put in overstuffed linen furniture. A couch and two chairs. A big ottomon as a coffee table which creates extra seating when needed. LazyBoy has recliners that look like chairs now. End table beside each chair unless you put them together, then one between them. A large rug to anchor the seating area.

I think I'd position a three seater sofa parallel to the fireplace and centered on it. So it is away from the wall and and someone could easily walk around it. On either end or just one side, I'd put a end table and a lamp. Then perpendicular and close to the fireplace in front of the windows I'd place a chair and a floor lamp. On the other side of the fireplace I'd put two matching club chairs. In the center, I'd put a large square ottoman.

If you like modern see Room and Board for great clean line pieces. My favorite is the Reese sofa and chair, but it also comes in a cool chaise, which work in front of the window. See: http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=3002&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuCategory=201&menuSubcategory=198

Of course an area rug in the center of the floor. I'd try for a square one with this arrangement - or almost square.

Your question is about wall color. If you get the opportunity, spend some time just staring at the room without any furniture. Most people choose furniture and then paint (seems backward as it's easier to paint without the furniture!). What do you want to stare at, year after year? How does light affect the room? You have great windows; the light will affect color.

THe color you have is a great neutral, but you have the opportunity to do things not ordinarily done, like paint the ceiling a "color". THat recommendation is good, and you will be amazed how it enhances the room. If you're not a fan of variations of beige, you'll have to make a decision about color scheme.

Whatever color you choose, I would carrry the theme into that smaller sitting room and what appears to be another living room behind the balcony. Is that fireplace double-sided? It looks like the facing goes around the corner into that sitting room. That wall alone would be dramatic and interesting if painted a different color and carried around the corner.

PIttsburgh, Sherwin Wms, Benj. Moore & Behr all have virtual painting programs to test combinations, but the colors will not be true on your computer. Buy test colors -- they cost about $3 (except from SW, which is $6!) and paint a patch on the walls where both light, shadow, night light, ceiling light, etc fall, so you can see how the color looks. You will avoid a bad color choice despite the time involved -- and the graffiti look! I spent $25 in samples before I found the color I liked for my LR -- but I"m really picky.

You could also choose 3 variations of the same color but unless you are really good at decorating and color, neutrals will work best, either in the tan or gray tones. FInding furniture will be vastly easier!

What a gorgeous, airy space! If you're definitely not traditional, I would either stain or paint the millwork a darker color to update it, and I echo the previous advice to find a large area rug that you love, and take your furnishing cues from it. Keep us posted!

i would paint the railing and other woodwork white to give a more modern feel

Everyone, this is not her furniture. She is starting with a blank slate.

I think large and appears to be vaulted ceilings rooms are difficult to furnish from my own experience. I'm finding furniture/artwork scaled to the room is helpful. However, I am not an interior designer so I think others would have better input.

Okay...go with monochromatic color scheme both with walls and furniture. Accenting in just a pop of a very muted maroon. Get rid of the white ceiling and go with either the same color on the walls or a slightly darker color. You need textiles in this area. Be careful with a mirror if she should decide to put one up. It WILL accentuate and draw attention to what is on the other side of the room. Be careful with trying to match the woodwork on the stairs because it will clash and it will compete with it if you try to do that. Maybe a painted piece but much larger to scale. Nice big hammered copper lamp whould be nice. There are different hughs so try and go with a darker one....this room needs to be grounded...everything will definitely float in this layout.

I would move the furniture away from the walls and place a couch facing the fireplace on the same angle. I'd also suggest adding some light weight sheers on the windows, and a beautiful tall piece of artwork above the fireplace. Balance this out with another tall piece on the opposite wall (the one that currently shows the red couch with circle above). You'll also need a nice area rug and textiles to help with sound absorption. Since the room is very open I'd suggest choosing a light neutral paint color and introducing pops of color with art and accessories instead. Lastly I think you could add a bunch of frames to the wall that leads upstairs. No need to hang them all at the same level, but instead as a sort of collage. I like the idea of using the same color frame but in different styles and sizes. This will add some unexpected interest. Good luck with your project!