What a cool house! Graphite blue sofa, huh?

Take a look at BM Coastal Path, recommended to another on here, and she loves it.

Then I'd paint the back walls of the book shelves the same color as the walls, Coastal Path, for example, and the outside of the shelves BM Elk Horn. They're a wonderful combination.

Elk Horn Trim around the windows and doors.

Paint the hallway ceiling white but leave the beams as they are.

Thanks, Tibbrix! I'm very excited to get moved in! The sofa is graphite gray, not blue. Sorry for the confusion. I will take a look at the paints you recommended. I like your idea of keeping uniformity on the inside of the bookshelves. I was also thinking of removing the shelving and popping a TV in there, since I don't want it mounted above the fireplace - too hot - and want to put a nice piece of art on the right side of the fireplace.

Or, put the TV on a wall-mounted articulating arm, either inside the recessed area where the shelves are, or on the wall on the other side of the FP and then put artwork on other walls. Looks like you've got plenty of room for artwork, including over the FP, and shelves are always helpful!

I think the articulating TV mounts are one of the better current inventions!

First, though, be sure you know how you want to arrange your furniture.

If the sofa is graphite gray rather than blue, the Coastal Buff and Elk Horn might be too warm. In which case, I'd take a look at BM Rodeo for the walls and and do the door trim, window trim, and bookcase in the Rodeo deepened by 50%.

BM Rodeo

What colors are in your artwork?

AnnieDieghnaugh, the colors in the artwork run the gamut. I'd say the majority are in the blue family (with silver, white and black as minor colors) but there are also some that have bright red and orange. All of the pieces are abstract. I've attached one picture as an example.

Ah, I'd also get a couple of sapphire blue chairs and an orange based Persian style rug, something with a busy pattern. Something like this?

Here is a link that might be useful: agra rug

BM Rodeo..soft, pretty, neutral

You all are fantastic! There are so many colors and designs out there that I wouldn't even know existed. I'm going to paint a large square of the Rodeo and take it into the house to see how it works in there. I used BM's tool to upload the picture of the entryway and apply different colors of paints, but I don't think that gives a very realistic image. I think it would work well for one wall, but the picture i have is just too complex to pick up the shading and variations on the color. I really do like the rodeo. Do you think a gray or charcoal plaster on that fireplace would work?

IMO, if you're looking for a clean, contemporary feel and look, I'd go rather monochrome, and then get your color and texture from your artwork and textiles, like the rug.

So do the whole FP also in Rodeo (or whatever color).

Butâ¦it's hard to tell from the pic. Does the FP, hearth and it's wall just out from the back wall?

Gosh, to be honest, I really like the yellow currently there. And I think that color would look great with your new sofa and your art. But I'm a fan of yellow and really dislike the current gray trend so YMMV.

this is actually BM Rodeo on the walls, but I'm sure it doesn't' look anything like actual Rodeo because of the yellow walls.

I know, lots of people are fans of the yellow and to be honest, it's not as overwhelming when you're in the house as I expected it to be from the pictures. However, it is just not to my taste.

Tibbrix - yes, the whole fireplace, mantle and chimney jut out from the wall; it is not flat.

I can see the rooms 2 ways. I can see it all done in a pale color and let the art work and furniture be the stand out colors in the room.

But with all the interesting architecture and niches and such, I would be sorely tempted to do color blocking to emphasize the architecture even more....

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[Eclectic Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2104) by Byron Center Photographers Photos By Kaity

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[Contemporary Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by Atlanta Interior Designers & Decorators Niki Papadopoulos

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[Contemporary Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by Portland Design-Build Firms L.EvansDesignGroup,inc

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[Contemporary Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by Little Rock Photographers 3wiredesigns

You may or may not like the color schemes above, but they are just to illustrate how you can use paint to highlight the architecture....the actual colors can be as soft or as bold as you like. Seeing your art though, I suggest some bold colors against pale backgrounds could be really smashing.

Play with color

Wish I could put that Agra orange rug down in that mockup!

AnnieDieghnaugh, the color blocking pictures are gorgeous. I especially like the 2 with the pop of reds.

Tibbrix, thank you so much for taking the time to do those mockups. I think the Rodeo would end up being much lighter than the mockups show. From pictures I've seen of others' homes in that color, it is beautiful. I also like what you did with the window frame, it breaks up the monotony of the large walls.

I can't thank you all enough for your ideas; this has given me so much more to think about! The previous owners have leased back the home for the month of January, so I still have some time to play around with different colors as you've suggested. I am hugely envious of those of you who have the "eye" for design. I know what I like, but I have such a difficult time pulling all the pieces together on my own. Your assistance has been invaluable!