I wish you would have put a opening or two through the lower walls into the living spaces. Anyway, I love stripes. You can evenly stripe both side of the lower stairway then put the upstairs wall color on the top stripe and transition to the lower wall color on the lower. Just continue the stripe around the one wall for an accent wall.

They are two very different spaces for a reason--they are two different levels. No need to transition, just decorate the stairwell to compliment the rest of the basement because from your photos it is in the basement. 8~)

Thanks for the ideas!

Dress the steps up with some low-pile dark brown carpet and then add a french door at the top of the step. Decorate the stairwell with decor to complement your main floor. Make a nice transition. What is the lighting?

Pepe’s Cantina has stripes, and it looks great. The brick, now that’s another story.