Need painting ideas!! (panel, paint, ceiling, stairs)

[ljd1010]

Let me preface this by saying I love color! We've recently moved into a new home and I've already decided on some paint colors for downstairs. My questions are more about trim colors. Our new home has some beautiful features such 2 recessed wall arches in the foyer, coffered ceiling in the foyer and living room. If I painted the foyer a warm soft yellow, what color would I put in the coffer squares (the beams are white and there is white library panel on the bottom half of the walls)? How about the recessed arches...same yellow or a different shade for drama? In the master bedroom, we have a tray ceiling with crown molding all around it. Do we paint the tray the same as the walls or go for a different shade(s) of the same color? I'm at a loss...we moved from a very typical older New England colonial that had none of these features. I wish there was a site I could go to and look at some samples! Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[fisher33]

it's hard to help without seeing what you're talking about, but i like it when the coffer squares are painted the same color as the walls and the beams are left white or cream. i think it highlights the coffers. here's a photo: http://www.dannylipford.com/images/e...-ceiling-3.jpg

the recess arches would be really nice with a slightly different shade of yellow i think and in the master bedroom i would paint the inside of the tray the same color as the walls like w/ the coffered ceiling and that way it's consisent and also accents the tray celings. here's a photo: http://www.duluthbudgeteer.com/gfx/p...s/Ceiling1.jpg
this is different but really pretty too: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-08/0405traysmall.jpg (broken link)

i'm sure others will have lots of options and opinions. there's a lot of photos online too. so many options!! it sounds like you have a beautiful house to work with! i'll try to post some more photos for you to see. hgtv has tons of photos, house beautiful, traditional homes, just google coffered ceilings, tray ceilings, etc. and you'll get tons of stuff too.

[ljd1010]

fisher, thanks for your reply! Great pics! I love watching HGTV but never even thought about looking at their website. Thanks again!

[grannynancy]

We painted our trim a color once and I have seen trim in colors. But really, I think white looks the best for trim wood.