Hadn't thought of using a drill bit to clean the hole, and a little afraid I might make it too big! I'm kind of close getting through - but getting stuck... so think I'll pull it out and sand the dowel some. I've been the 'bigger hammer' route on some projects over time - and was hoping, if I have to, to go with a still gentle, bigger hammer...:) Thank you.. again, this process is new to me, and I like to learn to do things the right way.

Have you thought of a light green? I could see both light blues or greens in your space, @MomMom M. Anyway, just watched Sarah Richardson's paint tour of her Starlight Farm on YT. Her colour palette is all about soothing whites and watery colours and when she waxed poetic about Dulux' Chelsea Fog in her principal bedroom. "....a bit of green, a bit of blue, a bit of grey...", I thought of your post. She calls it a changeable colour (which means light can probably make it look totally different depending on time of day). She also has a great neutral alternative to white and grey that's not really beige (Glidden's Meeting House White) and talks about mixing warm and cool colours in her home. I think I've used Dulux in our powder room but have no experience with Glidden. Anyway, her little tour certainly piqued my interest in these two brands. @Jennifer Hogan's statement that "everyone has a different happy place when it comes to color." is SO true. It doesn't matter if we can't find online reviews on a paint colour. What matters is we like the colour. (Assuming we're painting for ourselves and not resale, of course. :)) Best of luck with your search. Hope you'll report back.

Depends on how the 2 materials line up. Probably a flat one if the are the same height. I'd also try to add some kind of handle, either recessed or a regular handle if it is close to the back.

In bedrooms IMO the bedding drives wall color so post pics of the bedrooms as for the hall and the stairs we need pics of those and pics of your furniture in the space next to the stairs on the main floor .I have to tell that is one color I really do not like at all so I really need pics to understand that wall color anywhere.