If you are talking about the wall going up the stairs, I would do a photo wall.

I wouldn't do too much more. I'd leave it as is...

I like this one:

wall decor and definetely lighting

it 's almost 20 feet tall at the highest point and about 16 -18 feet long. I would have to do a lot of photos for it to look balanced. That's why we haven't done a chair rail or wainscoting across from the rail. We though it would look like too much, too low on the big wall.

I agree that a photo wall would be nice.

For a little more finished look, you may want to trim off the top edge of the ‘planter wall’ with white crown molding (to match up with white trim at the base of the railing). The area just to the left of the landing!

I like the idea of a photo wall, would you do only assorted sized white frames?

If a photo wall is not for you, think about a vertical strip on the wall. Using the blue you already have, paint vertical stripes in the same blue in a satin finish and you give the wall some definition.

I'm not sure that I understand. Would you do the crown at the same level as the 2nd level floor all the way across the wall? If so, what could we do when the wall ends at the base of the stairs (see the "before" photo)

Are you talking about the open wall to the far left or the one that descends to the right above the staircase. Photo galleries are tricky in that often a lot of small photos are put up with edges that don't align and they look messy and poorly conceived. Staircases can be even trickier, so if you want to run a photo gallery up that wall, look through Houzz pics about size, spacing and placement before jumping into it. There are very few good books on hanging pictures well out there. Doing it well s very tricky and having a great example as a guide will help. One thought is to put the focus on the upper landing by adding in books, a great piece of art on the wall to the left and a comfortable reading chair if there is enough room. Then you could leave the staircase wall alone as a place for the eye to breath.

Add a large piece of driftwood on the ledge or beach related items..surfboards, picket fence, or kite. However, it really doesn't look like the beachy look is your style if not well, never mind.

I’m only suggesting a 4 foot (or so) piece of trim to the left of the landing (over the china cabinet). Looks like a nice area to put some decorative foliage and such!

TJP, that's a great idea now that you point it out. There was a pretty abrupt stop to the molding at the edge of the landing.

Thanks, we were originally thinking of taking the wall out next to the bookcase, extending the stair railing to the outside wall and making an open loft area. That whole closed space on the 2nd floor is just a very large bedroom closet, and we can put a new smaller closet into a storage area off of that room. I think we have changed our minds now and plan to convert the closet area into a small bunkroom off that upstairs bedroom, and make the existing small loft area into a computer station with a small desk and chair. Does that make sense? We did have items on the bookcase and a large print on the blank wall next to the bookcase. We took them down when we painted.
*We did think about a pair of old wooden oars at one point, but even they would look lost on that wall.

Thanks for explaining further TJP I now understand about the molding, and agree! That will be an easy fix.

We eventually hope to take the wall out below that area and open the kitchen up to the great room with a large island and columns. The living area is very large since an old screened porch was converted to living space. The "great" room is almost 42 feet long and ranges from 24 feet wide to 18 feet wide. That's why the blank stair wall is such an issue.

Okay, to break the expanse of space, you could put white wainscoting running up the staircase wall and/or buy some large black frames and do a series of several black/white photo enlargements you love (family, local scenes/ architecture/ nautical images) and hang them at regularly spaced intervals going up the staircase. I'd buy some different frame sizes and hold up against to the wall to see what seems to work space wise best. Or get some green painters tape and try marking off the frame size and layout first to see what size works.

Thanks, great ideas!

Gallery walls are a classic, yet modern look. I've got tons of vintage art prints that would look great mingled in with your family photos.

www.GraceArchives.etsy.com

There is a restaurant in Hawaii that has a wall like that, and they used it for textured things like driftwood, surfboards, stuff like that to add interest but doesn't interfere with the walkway. I like textures on large blank walls for visual interest but also because the echo is intense from such a large flat surface.

You can find art prints, sailboat models, ship wheel and much more for your nautical theme home http://gonautical.com

I would do the banister all white, add white trim around the bedroom/bathroom doorway. Maybe take the ceiling fan down a little lower and use a great room fan with big paddles.