What color white for the foyer walls/all paneling going up the wall — BM white dove or BM simply white?

Which one's a soft white with a hint towards cream? In a matte finish? That's the one I'd choose.

I don’t want it to be sterile.

Agree. That's why I'd go soft and matte. Softer is more friendly, less hospital-like. Remember, too, you can bring in color, texture and personality through other items.

Should we replace the foyer floor to something more elegant (i.e. large format marble or porcelain look marble) OR would it be weird having three different floors?

Hard no. Marble is slick /not friendly for people coming in with wet feet. It's also cold looking. Finally, hard no to three different floorings.

but hate the black railing.

I agree, but that price is prohibitive -- I'm sure 10K could make a bigger impact elsewhere in the house -- given that you're just talking about a change in color.

You're talking about sanding and restaining, which is real work. Would it be cheaper to replace the railing? Still, if it's perfectly good /you just want a different color, it doesn't make sense.

What I'd do is bring in a bit of black elsewhere so the railing doesn't look so stark /out of place. Perhaps a black table? A rug with some black in it? Take down the chandy and paint the silver black? Be careful because a little bit of black, which is such a strong color, goes a long way.

If you don't like the black handrail, have you thought of painting it white?

To me it sounds like you are tackling individual items and not looking at the house as a whole. You need a cohesive design for the whole house, so you don't make individual mistakes.

I would be ripping out that tile floor and adding matching hardwood, for a unified floor throughout the main floor.

White color? A soft white, not a bright white. Lean toward a neutral warmish white.

Foyer floor? Same wood as in other rooms.

Staircase? Considering painting the black parts to match the white on the rails. Or, add black in other places so it doesn't seem so stark (runner, artwork, rugs, etc.)

@chispa Don’t want to do this as the hardwood in the other rooms is Maple. Honestly not the biggest fan of it, but I think getting it to at least the right color I want it will make me happy. That’s why I didn’t think to add it to the foyer. If it were white oak or red oak, I would definitely be considering replacing the tile with it.

@S J I do not like black and won’t be using it anywhere else, that’s why it wouldn’t make sense keeping this color. If I liked it, it would make my life a lot easier lol. And foyer floor the only reason I’m not considering wood is bc in the other floors the wood is maple. I don’t love it, but can live with it in these areas that will have furniture/rugs covering it more. But because I don’t really love it I can’t see myself spending thousands just to match it. That’s why I was thinking maybe replace the foyer tile … but it seems like consensus would be to do the foyer + kitchen tile all as one if so.

@lisedv I did think about this but I feel like since hands will be touching it it will get so dirty and there just won’t be enough contrast with the walls and steps

I would use paint to address the staircase -

FWIW - I think larger swatches of the paint colors would help (I would first prime the walls so not comparing the color against the existing wall color)

Every room and home needs a touch of black somewhere.

Take a good look at your posted photos...maybe too much picture frames on the walls? Do you need a chair rail in the foyer?

Keep the tile. Paint the stairs the while of the walls (B.M. OC 151) using eggshell on walls, semi gloss on treads on risers. Mix in another neutral with the tile floor.

I was going to suggest running the wood floor into the foyer in order to match the flooring you have in the rest of the downstairs (except for the kitchen). The tile that is currently installed looks more casual compared to the what you are doing to the walls. I would also want to change it. However - since you don't want to extend the wood since it's maple, I guess that won't work (I've only had oak floors - I'm not sure what is wrong with the maple floors that you have installed currently).

Why do you not like your maple floors? Color? Lack of graining like white and red oak has?

If you want to use tile, then I would want the tile to match the tile in the kitchen - but not the tile that is currently installed.

I would put a bookcase then I would a whole it the wall for the dog that so he can fit and make that his little hang and sleeping area or for the dogs toys

I would do all the same floor. having different floors is not a good look.