is this the space with the previous owners furnishings?

i could go either way, as these ceilings arent really dark dark. you already have the white boards in the front, might get too white boardy. putting in a light rug would have the same effect as painting the ceiling. putting in a light rug AND painting the ceiling would be sorta white box.

furnishings are previous owners. thinking about painting the walls something with a little more color. maybe white ceiling and taupe walls?

HI -- I just saw a room like this and they had darkened the wood ceiling and had the warm white walls .... it looked so rich and high end .

If the scalloped beam is not essential to structural strength, I'd remove it but other than that, I really like your wood ceiling and I'd leave the wood its natural look rather than paint it. Paint will not make it look bigger -- likely the opposite effect or at least just more average and less special.

I really like the room because it is unique. The wood ceiling is great just as it is. If it were white it would be just like any cookie cutter house. I also like the beams but I don't like the scallops. They are likely structural and can't be removed. However, on a recent DIY show, a house had similar scalloped fascia boards on the outside. Rather than remove them, the builders covered them up with a straight board. That could be done here.

The way it is now it feels a little like an Oreo to me -- the wall color sandwiched in between two massive wood "cookies." (Plus the wood fireplace surround!) Just an opinion, but I think a warm white on the ceiling would be great, then add more punch in the choice of wall color and finish up with an interesting rug.

Stain your ceiling a dark wood such as walnut. Even consider staining your floor and fireplace the same color as to make it consistent. It'll make the room look warmer and homier because the all of the furniture is light.

i have a dark ceiling DONT DO THAT! i wish we could afford to bleach it.

I have a similar ceiling and we decided to stain it dark brown. We did not like the effect it just made everything feel too closed in and dark, the ceilings felt so much lower. We ended up going with Navajo white which did open it up and because we also have the tongue and groove the ceiling still maintains some character. Looking back I would probably have bleached the wood instead, or bleached the beams and painted the ceiling. Here are some ideas: http://www.houzz.com/photos/query/bleached-beams

I would suggest leaving the walls as they are, but painting the ceiling to match. Leave the beams how they are though, it will give a nice contrast of color and make the room seem more open.

I would also box the scalloped beams and wire them to be able to hang a light fixture/chandelier from them and maybe even some 4 inch led down lights. If you go with a warm white paint for the ceiling you can use these surface mount led cans: http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/lighting/products/documents/halo/brochures/halo-sld-takeone-adv141157-bro.pdf

uplighting would be nice too.