SFGate

decoenthusiaste Can you post the DE colors you're thinking about using? I notice your carpet, FP surround and sofa undertones are very pink, so keep that in mind with your color selection.

Nancy Closson I have 22 foot ceilings and I used a deep khaki. Its looks wonderful and warms up the room so much. I like a pale blue for ceiling (not baby blue) but very paile blue. It reminds me of the sky.

uuuu1234 I have a story and a half home too with cathedral ceilings. While I don't have the same furnishings or color scheme, I did the largest wall as an accent wall w/ darker shade of Venetian Plaster and painted the balance a lighter but similar color tone. Ceilings off white.

chikku Love the color actually; add a nice mantle over the fireplace and vertical wall arts, tall plants etc to the room.

Phancy Design The hallway/landing at the top of the stairs is crying out for BLACK! You have large windows in front of the area and small windows on that wall, the height AND the generous size. If there was ever a time to make a statement, this would be IT! Pale grey ceilings, rich blue-gray walls, creamy white trim...oh my!!! How fortunate you are to have such a lovely space! Enjoy every moment!

Gayla Simons_Ersler Too much white! Paint crisp, clean light toned gray. It will add interesting drop for all the white blinds and molding, staircase. Add in some throw pillows that will tie in sofa, rug and gray color selection. Loves Pier One for pillows!

djb10 Love this space! I have a two story great room and have dealt with similar challenges. The concern that catches my eye is your fireplace- which is far too minimal for this space. Perhaps add a mantle, or build up a faux stone look up the wall. To me, the fireplace should be a grand focal point.

ViVi Koo Just an Idea..

arlys baker So sorry to all of you that have effected by that terrible storm and lost your beloved house. We here in Australia send our best wishes and hope the recovery is quick.

e90fleet This is a color i was planning to paint the walls. Do you think it's too dark?
Handwoven, DE6200

cflorov The light color on the wall dances to the light projected in the room. Our team at Home Market Deals agree that the addition of more accessories like paintings and art works would add color and interest to the room. The fireplace however would be dressed up to the ceiling with interesting stone or glass tiles to reflect and dance with the light.

wvflowerlover First of all, what a wonderful space to work with! I think an accent wall where the fireplace is in a sage green. You could even carry that sage up on the wall in the alcove at the top of the stairs. I also agree with the other opinions about having the fireplace making a definite statement, perhaps using some stacked stone or slate and taking it up the wall for a bigger impact and adding a mantle. I definitely
would consider pulling the gold out if the rug and the pillows to pull the room together with the rest of the side walls.

Custom Home Planning Center Here are some more faux painted rooms that can make the room more cozy. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Image+faux+painted+great+rooms&qpvt=Image+faux+painted+great+rooms&FORM=IGRE

jingstad It is a beautiful space....but sorely lacking in drama. Place a wide molding strip above the windows and fireplace ending where the half wall ends. Then build frame around the fireplace as in picture. A wide molding strip the width of the top of the half wall could be placed from that half wall all the way to the ceiling. Paint all the molding pieces white. Then the walls of the family room could be painted a taupe and the walls of the hallway and stairway a slightly lighter shade of that same paint. You would have drama and delineation without separating the spaces. Also, paint the rails black. I believe that your fireplace is lost in that large space. Perhaps, a large chair that compliments the sofa would be nice in that corner , in place of the plant and console table.

By Design EK I agree with Jingstad, just painting a darker beige will not have a dramatic event. You also did say add some color but are sticking with neutrals in your choices. If you don't want color on the walls I can understand in such a large space but I think it is important to figure out where you will add in color and what colors. Pick your artwork or accent pieces before you paint, even if you don't purchase them, and make sure whichever nuetral tone you choose complements those pieces as the back drop. As far as darker or lighter color...in such a large space I think more really is more. When I worked in Florida we usually added a lot of color and texture with faux painting and always something different on the ceilings. If you are going neutral and lighter on the walls definitely chocolate or coffee on the ceiling. Don't forget some window treatments with pattern will really add interest to the room. Also I really agree with adding trim and something architectural around and above the fireplace.

Christene First of all, take down those paintings. All of them. They are not to scale.
Second, do a texture on the wall.
Third, paint it light if you like but put some gold in it to warm it up.

ViVi Koo another idea for ceiling ..

Carol Mr. Kaschak, ID, mentioned a color named linen white, being diluted...what brand of paint is that? I am having a new home built with vaulted ceiling, live in the Pacific NW. I wanted a white or cream color for the base color, wondered about this one. Would you put pure white trim with it? Thanks.

Carolina Photo To Go LLC I loved viewing your ideas Mr. Kaschak. I particularly like the rooms with the photography!

ideahuntress I have similar lay out to yours . What I would do is pick a palette of colours you like with one strong accent colour and mix them up within the room. I would do the low wall which is part of the stairs one colour maybe match this with the entryway then another colour up on the landing/2nd level, then do the other walls a nuetral colour and would you then consider maybe doing stripes down the higher walls in the accent colours? I know this contemporary feel won't go with the furnishings you have now but maybe something to consider in the future. I really feel you need to break it up with a few colours. Happy decorating ! :)

yomarg1 I have a great Dunn Edwards paint in my living room called "travertine"; a warm terra cotta shade.

ideahuntress I'm sure you'll agree that accent colours don't have to be all bold colours - you can have a palette of co-ordinated muted tones that would break up the space without it being overpowering and one bold colour . Those walls , in my opinion, are too high not to break up with colour . If all neutral tones are used it would be like , what I term , " living in bland land " but everyone differs which is what is so great.

Pauline S When my house was new and painted bright white, I felt like the cathedral ceiling was going to fly off the house. My accent color and decorations are cobalt blue--its a beach house--so I painted the one wall (your fireplace wall), continuing up the stairs and along the upper hallway with Duron's Velvet Coat in Admiral Blue. My color won't work with your decor, but what I am getting at is you can add a feeling of intimacy by using a dark color, sort of like a torso and arm creating a hug of the area.
Additionally, I agree with the posts suggesting fireplace mantels and built-ins. That would make a huge relational difference.

ceilsan32 Check out:[houzz=
] has some ideas with dark ceilings, if you're daring, try painting the ceiling to match your stairway handrail...

Another Dimension Design What a wonderful room. May I suggest that you should really look at rearranging the furniture? The room should be situated around the fire place. Pull the sofa off of the wall and add one or two lounge chairs on the sides to create a seating group. Place the console table behind the sofa and add a lamp or two. Draperies would add a lot of drama with texture and color. I agree with other comments that you should add some architectural interest with a mantle or some kind of trim detail on the fireplace wall. I would place a large mirror above the fireplace and use the art on the lower stair wall. I hope you will post a photo of your results!

marniecw We have a similar family room and decided to paint the walls white and ceiling sky blue. We love it! We did paint the stair hand railing black as well.

marniecw We have a similar family room and decided to paint the walls white and ceiling sky blue. We love it! We did paint the stair hand railing black as well.

bamamom Has the original poster been helped at all?

e90fleet Yes, i got a lot of help here, thanks to all who replied

Duane Kaschak, ID Good, I sure hope so.

ideahuntress @e90fleet would love to see pictures of what you actually end up doing as it is a gorgeous space .

e90fleet Thank you, i will definatelly post the final result.

e90fleet Thank you, i will definatelly post the final result.

LeChocolatier Houzz administrators: Is it possible to delete the bickering portions of Duane and ideahuntress' postings? It's quite unnecessary and distracting to the rest of the Houzz audience members who are seeking advice; we don't have the time or energy to waste on their personal issues. Thank you...

ideahuntress @leChocolatier They have been deleted on my part except my original opinion and agree that they should be gone , I am new to Houzz so didn't know you could delete comments . And believe me I hadn't the time or energy either , thought this was a place you could leave your opinions and if they helped they helped and if they didn't so be it. However it seems no place is immune from the curse of the internet ...

LeChocolatier @ideahuntress...your design efforts and opinions are appreciated. :) Thanks!