I think the first thing I'd do is remove the tile flooring in the entryway and match the hardwood. Will make it look soooooo much better and more cohesive.

Regarding the fireplace, I wouldn't do a stacked stone surround up to the ceiling in this house. A little too modern a treatment for the more traditional details of the architecture. I'd replace the mantle and the tile and go with something like this:

My Houzz: Calm, Crisp Neutrals in a Renovated 1887 Chicago House · More Info

The mustard yellow walls are not doing you any favors. Go for light and bright--fresh whites with vaulted ceilings always look great.

Regarding the staircase, I'd match the stain color to as close as you can get to the color of the hardwood and do it on all the exposed woodwork, not just the railing.

for a refresh now, I would paint the interior SW Alabaster

a warm white that will look pleasing with the existing wood tones.

I would remove the mirror from the landing, and the sofa table (if you need a table there, get something 1/2 that size.

the piano should not be by the front door. With a better photo of the space, can you move it to the Right side of the fireplace and back to where you took this photo?

Does the kitchen open to the living room? is the Fireplace centered on the kitchen?

I think Edgecomb Gray would work if you're not interested in doing something lighter like the other commenters have suggested. Be sure to sample a large area before committing. You can't judge from those small chips you get from the paint store. Check your sample against your floor and furnishings in particular, and think about whether you'll need to repaint the trim. But I do agree that a fireplace treatment to the ceiling isn't necessary. Just do a different surround and new mantel. You can do tile or get remnants at a stone yard cut to fit - a neutral marble or granite.

You have a lot of diff wood tones and brown colors in the room. going dark on the railing wouldn't be my choice. Besides, staining that wood railing, side panels, newel posts, risers is a HUGE job. would prob cost less to replace it all and just paint the sides/risers. All of that wood has to be sanded down to raw and stained. could you do a darker gel stain over it? maybe. but it wouldn't look very professional. Also looks like Maple? maple is very difficult to have take a dark stain.

how would you do the treads w/the carpet in place? very difficult to stain those as is.

I do like this look, but I don't think you'll get it w/the maple. you could replace the spindles.

or paint

If you want darker, just paint it.

If it was mine, I'd do it just like this. I know you said the carpet has to stay, but maybe when you can change it try this. Paint everything else white like you see here. go over the bannister and treads with a toner or type of whitewash to get this look

Fireplace. you want white w/that same wall color?

sorry, but I'd invest in a new paint color for that room.

for the fireplace you could just opt to replace that tile and either stain the mantle (looks like oak) or paint it. above it you could do some wood trim molding and paint.

see the trimwork done above?

if this is the look you want, I'd do a floating mantle (not this one) and remove yours altogether

If you want to keep that wall color and want the stack stone, use this slate color (Calif Gold) it will look nice w/your paint. instead of going all the way up, just do the wood trim (or MDF pieces)

slant is the opposite of your ceiling, but you get the idea. this is the Calif Gold slate/quartz ledger panels. they have one in black and gold too. this is the mantle you want

don't forget a nice chandelier

Your biggest albatross in that space is the white tile entry and the gold walls.

Before I did anything I would rip up that tile and lay down the same flooring through out.

Paint the walls. If gray is something you really want go for it but I would think about a nice soft white a few shades darker than your trim color. Especially if the furnishings shown in your photos are your pieces. Dark furniture and gray walls will really suck the light out of the space.

If you're allocating projects and budgeting to do this home in phases, honestly your fireplace would be one of the last things on the immediate list I would worry about. Simply painting the trim/mantle on it your trim color white will hold it at bay. It really shouldnt take precedence over the white tile entry.

Stairs. Well they are maple and maple doesnt take stain well at all. I would paint it all out white and then paint the hand raile black or a dark gray if your going the direction of gray.

Thank you all for the comments.

Paint - yes the gold is going. I already painted the FR edgecomb grey and it works well, want to keep the same color throughout. The house gets a lot of light. there is also a large skylight over the stairs.

Tile - it's actually more beige than the photo shows. Yes want to replace it, but it runs into the side hallway/laundry/1st floor bath, and beyond the entrance into the kitchen. So it all has to go. Planning to do it with kitchen remodel which we are not ready for yet. If I had endless supply of $ I'd opt to do everything now :)

Railing - I'm having everything done by a professional painter, and he will just lightly sand so new coating will adhere. I assume he's doing some gel stain or something to cover over the existing. He says he can protect the carpeting. I know should have stained first then carpet, but the old carpet was bad and we had it replaced before moving in.

I thought it was bad to paint over natural wood. Does that concept not apply to maple? i.e. maple it not that nice/expensive compared to other woods, and not a big deal to paint over?

If we just painted the post and spindles, and did something darker on the handrail, would we then leave the light/natural maple on the treads?

Fireplace - yes that's a far off wish list. For time being will prob just paint the mantle same are trim color. Right now it's a faux marble paint.

Piano - yes I don't like it in that location, but really no other place for it. Not enough space to the right of fireplace. If we move it to that corner it will block the fireplace. The piano really is a space killer but need to keep it, wife's family heirloom.

Furniture - eventually will replace. The console table will go, and the matching glass coffee table which is too big. Sadly everything fit well in the much larger house we moved from. It was really difficult to downsize from 4500 (not including basement) to 2800 sq ft

Kitchen does not open up to this space, it's on opposite side of the stairs.

Interesting idea about the chandelier. Right now there is no lighting at all other than the dining room. Seems like a big job to run electric up there given that it is at roof level. Another future project. Maybe some recessed lighting too?

Here are a few more photos of the space. Sorry lighting isn't best.

This single recessed light in the middle of the entry hall is all we have here. I'd like to remove it and have 2 lights, 1 more towards the stairs, and 1 more near the front door.

The little decorative birds and flower on that upper wall came with the house. they don't bother me, need something to break up that space. Any other ideas? I wouldn't mind getting rid of that wall and extending the railing upstairs, but more $$, and we'll likely have a low cabinet in the upstairs hallway against that wall (need something since very little storage in this house)

Some wood would be a shame to paint over. This is not that kind of wood. I would paint it no problem.

The decorative birds (and everything else on your walls) will need to be removed to paint. Don’t put them back up. Give yourself time to think about how to decorate your walls AFTER everything is painted.

It looks like the tiled entryway is a step up from the living area. Is that correct?

Beth gave you excellent professional advice about how to paint the staircase. Consider her last idea about the side skirts being white (or whatever color the rest of the walls are) instead of the darker stain. It will look better that way.

Yes the entry is a step up from the living area, and that level carries into the bed/bath/laundry area. Then it steps down into the kitchen/FR area. Don't understand why they built houses like this.

I like the idea of painted skirts vs stained.

Would recommend metallic epoxy installation on flooring and other areas.
Would look decorative & very pleasing.
Feel free to discuss
Cell/whatsapp:- +16479782153
Ali
www.chemsandcoatings.com

Canada chemicals, they're asking about redoing the bannister and you're spamming w/your "epoxy coat all your flooring" ? This isn't an advertising site.