Wow Steve, it looks great.
I like the exterior door color too. In my opinion the trim would look great in that color.

Wow, you did a great job, Steve. It feels so much better with a rich color on the wall. Really pulls things together. How do you like it? I'm still wondering about that back kitchen wall, but can't really get a feel for it from here, without.

I'll try the door trim color on for you, but it won't be tonight, haha.

Love the color, love the white trim. Very crisp.

I'm curious as to why you left the vaulted part white?
It seems to shorten the room, in my humble opinion.

Have you thought about bringing that door colour in to the wall with the opening at the door?

Personally I love it - especially when you look at the before pics.

I played around with painting all the way into the vault, but it just didn't work on the other wall and I was trying to cut down on the amount of "red".

Yes, I'm thinking about bringing that door color (Amber Leaf) into the room. I haven't decided if I really like the bright white door frames against the stark red. going to live with it a while; besides, I'm really tired of painting right now (can't figure out why).

LOL Steve, I just can't imagine why you are tireed of painting! I would think you'd want to paint the rest of the house and then onto the neighbors houses!
I agree that not painting the gabled end was the best way to go. It looks awesome.

What an amazing transformation, Steve.. and so fast! I agree with homemaker. I really like the white trim wth the red. I think the Amber leaf is a great color and I love it on your door-- but I think the white trim is what keeps the red from being too dark in your space.

Really a great job!! And Squirrel did a great job helping you to see and develop your vision. You should both be proud!

LOVE the wall color, but I definitely would have painted the vaults - I think that would help accentuate the very cool small wall angle at the entry area, and not make the room feel short.

I would leave the trim white - I think the Amber, tho a great color, would muddy up the look as trim, and if you are going to have the stark white ceilings, I think the white trim provides some balance.

I would, however, consider the Amber for the hallway. If you do that, you could also consider painting the vaults amber - but then I would also do that to the short wall in the entry.

I would also think about moving the TV down to the short wall where the lone leather chair and painting are. Then move the couch to the end wall of the room, and put the two leather chairs side by side with a table between them where the couch is now. Be sure they are all the way on the carpeting. I think it would be a better use of the available wall space.

I think Les's suggestions are all great ones, she has such a special talent for spacial planning and design. The white vaults do make the room look "short", for lack of a better term, and I think you'd get more height if they were done in the red.

Overall, though, the room is strikingly different with this painting transformation, and much more attractive this way! Great job!!

Unless you wanted to paint the doors, I would leave the trim white. But I would like the amber on the short wall with the passthrough by the door, and in between the windows in the bay. Is that all trim between the windows or is there drywall?

I don't know about painting the vaults - maybe squirrel can do a mockup for you? The white vaults do make the walls look shorter, but I don't know about red. Maybe after you paint the one wall (and the hallway?) amber, she can show you how the vaults look amber?

Kudos to you for going with the bold color!

Leave the trim white...

Wow - I would have putzed around with this idea for months before starting painting, so to see these "after" photos so quickly is amazing.

My opinion: leave the trim white, paint the vaults, and paint the entry way wall.

White trim

I vote for the white, too, as it might get kind of dark/muddy in there, but maybe a bit can be worked in elsewhere. Of course, we have a different aesthetic out East and are more accustomed to something like white for the trimwork. Maybe think about a softer, warmer white? To take the edge off if it bothers you.

You might also work that color in things other than paint, if you like the overall hot coloring of the combo.

My problem with painting the vaults is the end of the room by the hall. To me it looked like some kind of 'wedge' sticking out. Although I have to admit it doesn't look so bad with the kitchen painted. I couldn't match the color extact, but you get the idea.

I also kind of like this picture with the white trim strip at the bottom of the vault. What if I painted the vaults and did that at the bottom of each vault on both ends?

PS: what if I juat paint the vault at the end of the room opposite the kitchen?

I would be consistent with painting the vaults. The white vault doesn't bother me. With it painted, I lean towards the white trim piece if you're up to it. Then you could get a wood stained beam installed, along that peak, haha. Actually, in that virtual, I was playing with trim above the peak, also, and around the room. How far does the wedge over the kitchen wall project? It's not apparent in the pictures.

Any thoughts to a rug (not too small) under the dr table?

This is only one vantage point, but I just looove this. This is a creamy white on the trim and the ceiling painted a warm white also (I know, you're tired, but it's awesome!). The beam is a great investment piece if you ever sell down the road.

{{!gwi}}

Here's a warm white trim (less than above) with the white ceiling and golden peak/hall:

{{!gwi}}

It's funny, but a long time ago I kind of put it in the back of my mind that one day I would put a beam and maybe some down side beams in that vaulted ceiling - but that is for down the road.

I'm not painting the ceiling, and I really am not chomping at the bit to paint all the trim.

Personally, having the vault a different color doesn't look good to me; but having the vault painted with a white stripe separating the vault from the lower wall does kind look ok. I'm still stuck with the look of that "wedge" sticking out of the one vault over the entrance to the kitchen area.

Hot to trot, and awesome with the warm ceiling and beam:

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

This is like a monster I can't get away from. What if I painted the kitchen vault, kitchen ceiling and hallway that tan color? That seems to have possibilites; but I don't know about adding a third color or having one vault red and one tan or whatever.

Thought you weren't liking the vault in the golden/tan color?

So here's the red peak with a creamy white trim, and the bright white:

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Okay, chiming in here a little late because I have not read parts I and II.

Personally, if I introduced anything else it would be a cool tone - be it a cool white, a cool beige, a cool tan - something without a yellow tone to it. Look for whites, tans, beiges with a slight blue tint.

I see a lot of warmth in the room and that's great, and I'm not suggesting anything dramatic and contrasty - but if you're looking at introducing a neutral tone, hedge less neutral and little more cool. JMO.

Squirrel could you do that vaulted wall but use the picture that shows the other side over the counter. that's the pointy wedge I'm having a visual problem with.

I don't kow what that 'tan' is but I really like it. while I don't really want to repaint the trim, it looks really good. While I like the white trim, the tan does solve a problem in that I think the white sticks out a little toooo much. while the tan is still light to help lighten things up, it is not over whelming. and seems to transition well into the hall.

I prefer the knocked down white to the bright one. It doesn't have to show as warm or yellow, but can just be softer.

Here's the peak over the kitchen. I added some burgundy canisters to the left counter. If the red feels too much or is dark in there, you could always do the back wall in the light color.

Also the painted ceiling in the kitchen. Looks like the hall ceiling would be painted when doing the area under the peak, as I'd done.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Let me know which one you want to see with the image you posted, above.

Are you liking the darker golden color as trim or what I call the creamy white when you say you like the 'tan' trim? My off-white is pronouncedly not white. I agree that the white you have is a bit stark with your earthy furnishings.

OK, we are getting a little carried away. I looked around the room again and noticed that in real life the white trim is not bright white, but an off white color and looks really good against the red. I think the camera is distorting things a little and making the white look brighter than it is.

I'd like to restrict this to what to do about the vaults: i.e., paint or not to paint.

Could you take that last pic I posted and paint the vault, hall and kitchen ceiling with that tan? thanks.

Carried away, you say??? Noooo way.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Off-white trim. Amber vault, hall, and maybe kitchen ceiling? Back wall of the kitchen red (amber didn't look good with the cabinets).

OK, we are getting a little carried away. . . I'd like to restrict this to . . .

Oh, Spais, you poor thing, we are just warming up. LOL!

Here's the amber vault and another more neutral tannish one. With and without white ceilings.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Beware the Home Decorating Forum ; ) NoT for the tame of heart.

Nothing I've seen seems to solve the problem of that "wedge/knife blade" look on the right side of the vault. I definitely think the trim strip at the bottom of the vault needs to go on that end of the room. The below picture comes closest, but I don't know that it is 'better' than the way it is now.

That just looks like architectural interest to me (from here), which I would define clearly with the trim piece.

"wedge/knife blade" look on the right side of the vault.

Yes, it stands out in the photos. Is it similarly odd in real life? I don't see any way to make it go away.

One thing you might do is hold the eye in the peak with a round object, like the good sized ~copper bowl~ you've got there.

Or make it a clear triangle with trim, though I'd carry the crown around the room on all sides, not just the ends.

I've tried to minimize those distracting vents with paint. Sometimes you can paint the inside also so it's not so dark and obvious.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Here's lookin' at a rug in there:

{{!gwi}}

I got caught up in all of the changes done through photoshop but looking back I like how it is now with the vaults white. The tan looks nice but with the ceiling white and the trim white the vaults sort of blend into the ceiling now.

Maybe live with it for a week and see if you like it before you make more work for yourself.

Steve! What a transformation! And you did it so fast - and red always takes multiple coats. You did a great job and I'm sure you're super proud. It truly makes your place look so much more cozy, yet sophisticated. I love it.

As for the trim, I like the white. As for the vaults, the white seems fine to me (and less work), but I also like the tan. I think you got some good advice - live with it for a while, then if it still bugs you, you'll know you need to change it. The 'knife-shaped' wedge doesn't bother me at all - 'architectural interest' was a good way to put it. :)

Who can even remember what that looks like!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Definitely the plate in the peak. Get rid of the gecko? I like the trim at the bottom of the wedge, but the thing throwing it off is the angled wall going into the hall. May have to paint the hall walls red too? Dare I suggest painting the hall ceiling (but not the kitchen ceiling) red? Then I think you could paint the wedge and the kitchen ceiling tan, or the wedge red and the kitchen ceiling white, since you (will) have the off-white trim at the bottom of the wedge?

OK, I've made decision to stop and live with it for a while. I like all the white and leaving the vault, kitchen ceiling and hall does blend away that 'wedge' I keep talking about. I want to thank everyone; especially SquireelHeaven for all the comments and help - it has been fun and interesting.

One final comment. I gave up trying to cleanup that 100 feet or so of transition lines between the red and white. I painted (red) a small rounded moulding and ran it all round the whole thing. You can't even really see it and now all those lines are clean and sharp.

The paint was Sherman-Williams Duration Home (Fired Brick, SW6335 in satin finish)and covered in one coat.

I am looking for a rug to maybe go under the table, we will see.

When I look at the before and after pics it's absolutely staggering to see the change. Now my white tile counter tops don't look near so bad and there is a much better balance of color.

That sounds like a good move, Steve. Give your eye some time to adjust to the changes. If something bothers you, you will know to make an adjustment.

It is a staggering difference! Your space looks pulled together and doesn't look cluttered anymore, by having less contrast between the objects and walls. It looks very rich and so inviting now. Now you can relax! I hope you enjoy it for some time to come. lol, you'd better 'cause we know you don't want to paint again!

You're welcome : ) More than you bargained for, I'm sure, but you did an amazing job!

You did good.....I love the red....it is so much more interesting~~