With such a generous space you have the real opportunity to achieve a very elegant space. Of course, what can be achieved depends on budget, But this is what we would suggest: - re-condition the stairs, with better, lighter balusters, newel posts, a proper curled bottom step - Install a large lantern in place of the chandelier - replace the fireplace surrounds with something less crude and render; render or line its inner walls; recess the hearthstone; add a large mirror above the mantel, which will reflect the light of the lantern. - Paint all timber: the balusters, the double doors - if you paint the flat panel radiator the same colour of the wall and the double doors a contrasting colour, the radiator will become less noticeable. Radiator covers often draw more attention to it and dramatically cut down the radiator's efficiency, defeating the point twice. - White is not the only way: consider a warm gray or even a colour for the walls. Use contrast to your advantage. It will help to draw people's attention to what you want them to see (lantern, fireplace, stairs, double doors) and away from what you don't want them to notice (radiator) Here are some examples we have recently completed:

Oh - those hallways are better finished and decorated than some of the rooms we live in Here goes - floor is flag-stone tiles, set in a diagonal pattern. Lovely to look at - nightmare to clean. Half-painted, half timber panelled walls. A small pillar on which hangs all our holy objects - from holy water font ( Vatican), hand-made St Brigid's cross (school), stained class crucifix (Lourdes), Holy Family brass ornament (Knock), Hannukkah menorah (from north London). A beautiful hand-crafted coat rack, designed and made by my 16yr old for Woodwork exam. Here hangs that one-size-fits-all anorak that ended up in the back of the car some years ago and has never been reclaimed. Everyone can use it so no excuse about getting wet or cold when asked to go out to car or out to bin or bring in/put out cat dishes. A myriad of sets of keys that only each owner knows what they are for. Various school-bags, lunch boxes, kit-bags, boots, helmets, hurley sticks, badminton rackets, wellies, hob-nail boots take up temporary residence in the hall until the house-fairy offers to put them away for their owners ie throw them outside the front door where she can't trip over them (amazing how quickly the owners find a proper home for their goods under the threat of a night outside!) A second-hand side board that currently houses family photographs and trophies etc on top and a motley mix of household bills, badminton subscriptions and accounts, Greeting cards and writing paper and other stationery (no biros tho!) a drawer full of hats, caps, scarves, gloves, hi-vis jackets and dog leads. A lovely print of my home county which has 1920 b+w postcards of my town mounted around it. Then there is the oil PAINTING. It is a version of 3 Spirited Horses in a Storm. It is 6ft wide, 3ft high. Has a distinctive lack of colour - brown, cream + khaki - dust colours. OH dug it out of a skip in London in 1988 + delightedly rushed home to hang it in our abode. Except we lived in a 1-bed flat and didn't have any straight wall long enough to hang it on! Undeterred he hung it on the stair-wall. So no option but to look at it. It has followed us ever since and I am heartedly sick of the sight of it. Cannot get him to part with it. How I wish it could get damaged somehow .... Any suggestions ....?

Hi. It looks a lovely hall. I might look at warm yellow based neutral for the walls. I'd move the cabinet and mirror to where the coats are as I think it looks much more welcoming with your flowers etc ( I might potentially paint the cabinet as MATH said). I'd put a coat cupboard where the cabinet was. It may not be your style but I'd look at a pale painted French armoire with mirrored doors. I think a bench with cushions etc would look nice under the window and somewhere to perch. The rug looks great but agree with MATH it it sucking up the light whereas the wood floor is bouncing some. I also agree re the light as the shade is restricting light and perhaps look at the bulbs used. If in budget You could look at adding wall lights. I also agree with Kikiamack's comments.

Love that you are adding wallpaper. I did something similar to our understairs cupboard and added hangers and a rail.