Hi both, thank you for replying. Minnie - I love that pale grey, don't suppose you know what it is?? I have some grey undercoat which is dark so I could always try that on a test patch to get an idea although I think paler would work best in this hall. It's south facing so gets sun in the morning but is fairly dark in the avo. Yes I plan on hanging some pictures to balance out the large expanse of wall up the stairs as it looks too bare now. Re the dado - I was only going to run it up the stairs really and not around the rest of the hall, although this might be a no no. It was mainly to break it up and give people something to hold/touch when walking down the stairs

Hello mcmonkeymcbean, That is rather nice fabric actually... If you choose a really light stone colour for walls or be bold and add an ochre on the window wall (it blends the curtains in and is another way of dealing with bright fabrics.. and whitening for the ceiling and above the picture rail.. I think it could work beautifully. Or alternatively keep the walls lighter with stone colours as I mentioned first. and have the curtains and golds as accent colours... It entirely depends on what you want to create... Serene and opulent or dramatic and extravagant! For woodwork have a think about something that pics out the gold... Also a brassy or gold mirror would accent the curtains and the lamps... With regards to your furniture... painting them could be an option and charcoals are lovely with golds and the cream. Duck egg blue is also nice as minnie said for wall with gold elements and if you like that don't paint the furniture.. If you want to consider the furniture then, really chalky matt charcoal for example could make the furniture quite a focus and give the room the added dramatic feel it needs to bring the look together, so it isn't bleurgh... Love that word! : ))

How much are you able/ prepared to do on the stairs? You could have the steps re-tiled, or carpeted, laid with wood and a carpet runner, and you could install a new handrail if you have a larger budget. However, if you want to work with what you've got, I would focus on the tiles. I don't think the handrail itself is a problem- it could do with a lick of paint, but the tiles are a little dated. You can paint floor tiles but you'd need to be very careful to make sure that they were done safely to avoid slips on the stairs. Alternatively, you could have a stair runner fitted, to cover up most of the tiles, and then put some colourful artwork on the wall at the back to draw the eye upwards and away from the tiles. I hope it goes well- post us some pics when you've finished. Best wishes, Kate www.TheHomeDesignSchool.com

Hi, This is a beautiful bathroom, really luxurious! At Bloc Blinds we have a couple of stylish solutions you might be interested in. As daylight is essential in a bathroom you'll love how our blinds fit neatly into your window's recess optimising the amount of light flooding in. I would suggest a dim out roller blind in a clean crisp white fabric. This is a great option for allowing in daylight and the view of the trees whilst creating a privacy barrier between you and your neighbours. Image below is Frost White, swatches; Flower White, Spring Twig White. Here's a link to our full range of whites and simple looks with our award winning Fabric Changer Roller Blinds. We also have a wide range of Bloc Out fabrics to give more privacy should you wish. Our unique award winning Fabric Changer Roller Blinds allow you to change your look in an instant. For further advice or support on how to install don’t hesitate to contact our team at info@blocblinds.com and we’ll be happy to help. Good Luck! Sile