I say wall color, seems like it is part of a wall, so would be a good match. JMHO :-)

Same color as ceilings. This part is the "ceiling" of your stairwell.

Since it has trim on top and bottom anyway, I would paint it trim color. It could also be considered like a beam or joist since it visually supports the second floor. I guess that makes it one of each.

I would paint this 'weird section of wall' under the spindles the same as the wall color. I would not draw attention to the molding that is just above and below this little section of wall because it really does not need to be focused on. The crown and other beautiful molding you have will be gorgeous in the white. Were you wondering about the 'ceiling' part of the stairs going down too? That to me would be the same as the ceiling color. You have a nice house! I love the transom windows.

Here is a link that might be useful: paint color

I would paint all of it the wall color.

all of it wall color

I would go with painting the drywall portion the same as your wall color and the 'trim' the same as your trim color.

I'm going to vote all of it ceiling color, to avoid too many lines competing with stair rail + a "hat band" effect.

trim color

I would paint the wall under the trim/spindles and where it continues under the stairway "ceiling" trim color. I think it will look like a nice wide molding under the upper hallway painted this way.

The stairway "ceiling" I would be tempted to paint the wall color since it meets almost side by side with a wall on the right side. I think if you paint that ceiling color it's going to look a bit odd.

Also, with the other area painted the trim color, having the stairwell ceiling and adjoining wall the same color will make the area seem more unified vs. different colors on every wall.

I'm with kangell on this one. Wall color for the drywall section and molding/trim painted like the other trim work.

Thanks for all the feedback so far!

It's funny, because as soon as I posted this question and really looked at the pics, it became immediately obvious to me that I should paint the whole band white, like a big band of trim, and I felt kind of silly for even asking. But I thought I'd keep mum and see what everyeone else had to say, and it's funny that you are all so divided on this....I don't feel bad for being confused, and now I'm not so sure anything's obvious!

I'm still thinking that because the house is built to look like a 200 year old farmhouse, painting that section white like a big band of trim would be consistent with the stairwells I've seen in older houses (though of course, the area in front of you where it abuts the stairway ceiling is liable to look goofy there, since there's no trim band to separate it. Maybe I can add a little divider piece of trim if it ends up bothering me.)

My issue with making that section wall color and the trim the trim color is that I'll have a very small band (9" or so) of wall color with two white stripes above and below. Or are you guys not considering the corner trim as trim and would just do that as wall/ceiling color? The painter did not seem to think I should highlight that little corner trim and he's probably right - it's more utilitarian than pretty (and there's one going up the corner of the stairs ceiling too - would I paint that all white too? Won't that just end up looking very stripey and choppy?

Anyhow, I'm still reading all your opinions and taking it all into consideration - I've got a couple days to decide, LOL!

And if somebody out there wanted to photoshop a few different versions, they'd be my hero!!!

I can definitely take your suggestion to paint the stairwell ceiling the wall color - I thought I couldn't because it flowed into the 2nd floor ceiling, but it turns out there's crown molding up there to break the line. The ceiling and the wall colors are very close (I wanted to get the exact same color but the paint store folks talked me into going a shade up since the lighting on a ceiling tends to make it look darker (or so they say -- I hope they're right!).

I found some more pics taken in better light a few years ago (and without all the "in-the-middle-of-painting" mess). Maybe one of these would be better to photoshop, if anyone is willing.

Thanks, and keep the opinions coming!

I have the same situation and the section is painted the wall color.

Another vote for trim color. In fact at first I thought that it was big fat trim!

Our stairway is exactly the same but over 100yrs old and exactly where your 'wall' part is, my dark stained quarter sawn oak trim is that thick. If you'd take your whole section in question (including trim) and make paint it dark brown (which I'm not suggesting you do) you'd have my stairwell.

ttodd and lsst - got any pictures? I'd love to see them!

You know I never thought of it until I posted but I don't have any pics from that angle. Will try to get some posted for you tomorrow.

Great space and entryway BTW! Really just wonderful! Is your place new construction? Because if it is they did a great job creating an 'old' space.

Well I guess it's too late, but just wanted to say that I can understand why as soon as you saw the pictures you thought trim, because that's just how I see it too. Even though it's of sheetrock/wallboard, it reads "trim" to me. I think painting it the wall color would only lesson it's "look".

I have a similar situation and it's painted the wall AND ceiling color... because in the stairway my walls and ceiling are the same color! (BM Everlasting) If your wall color is light, you might consider doing the same thing.

Here's my similar section (Ignore the dust!):

I'd paint it the trim color.

Here's a crude mock-up of what it would look like as the wall color. I think it looks choppy.

Thanks all! Ttodd and awm, those pics really help. I think you are right - trim color it is. If I don't like it, I can always do it wall color later. In fact, I'll just have the painter skip it completely -- it will stay white like it is now and when he's done, I'll get the idea of whether it looks right in white or not. If not, I'll paint it wall color.

Thanks all! Now, if I can only get over my "issues" about hiring a painter in the first place. This is my first time hiring a painter. I've always done my own painting and really enjoy it -- I'm just hard up for time these days with a job and 2 kids. I tend to be persnickety about the final paint job and often do 3 or 4 coats because I'm not happy with the coverage of 2.

But I don't like ladders (or falling!) so I knew we were going to hire a painter to do the tall walls over the stairs and in a big open two-story area over the breakfast room. The painter we picked came recommended by a friend and his price seemed good ($300 for the tall stuff) so I asked him what it would cost to do the rest of the walls and ceilings that aren't done - he quoted another $800. Still seems like a good deal for all this space, but I'm having pangs about paying $800 for painting walls I can very well reach myself. Then again, I'm going to have my hands full wtih all the trim, plus we have two small kids who would probably rather be going places with mom and dad on the weekends instead of hanging out in the house while mom and dad paint.

And I'm worried that I won't be happy with the final job because of how picky I've been in the past. He says he'll do as many coats as I want (for an extra fee, of course) but the prices he quoted only include 2.

So anyway, I'm very nervous about how this whole experience is going to go...hoping I end up happy and feeling like the money we're spending is worth it.

Thanks for all the advice!

Good, lkp. Yes, painting it later DIY is a cheap and easy solution if you don't like it white. I think it should be the same sheen as the trim, though, because it really does look like part of the gorgeous trim in your beautiful home. In fact, I was a little surprised that you asked the forum about this because your design tastes are wonderful. I thought, uh oh, this must be a really tough problem if lkp can't decide what to do, LOL!

Awww, you're very sweet, but I can't take credit for all the trim and nice details...they were here when we bought the house!

And right now, the house is a total (and I mean TOTAL) wreck. Between painting and toy overload from Christmas and lack of cleaning (because I've bene painting) and stuff being rearranged from painting and a giant rug pad that I need to lay down but can't because I piled all the furniture in that room so I could paint and....whew.

But thanks for the compliment anyway!