Just try to imagine what you are going to do to cover that massive wall up there. Just paint and nothing else makes for a big dull wall. And if the plan was meant to have it open, you may have created a dark long hall. I totally agree with hating the 2 story room with a catwalk (what we call it). But closing it off may be pretty bad also. Decorating a 2 story room is a challenge and closing it off adds another huge bland wall. Consider getting rid of the 2 story room completely. It looks grand and gives a lot of light. But has so many downsides that will live with the house forever. We have a 7 yo and like "The Walking Dead" - just another consideration beyond noise. When we happen to hear his door open (almost never), the run to the remote is fast and furious. But hey if you absolutely never watch things that is inappropriate for kids.....

I love the view from your patio door. It was suggested by an interior designer that I hired to close off an entrance for more wall space, forcing traffic through the kitchen to get to the living room. Instead, I switched my dining furniture with the living room furniture so that I have more space for the area I used most and which had the nicest view- I have one long room for both similar to your config. That closet might have been added when the kitchen entrance was closed. I think the doorway to the living room would be much better where the closet is now - giving you more wall space for the TV. If you could redo the entry way I would think about making a built-in wardrobe where the living room entrance is now to give you space for coats etc.- if workable take a few inches from the back of the wardrobe to have a inset for the TV and other components. Move the entrance to the living room to the end by the front door. That would allow you to move sofa and loveseat down and allow more space to dining. If possible have the new opening to the kitchen with a view framing the left side of the patio slider - for a few extra inches to the wall with the stove. I understand that it would be very costly, if opening that wall means you have to monkey with flooring it might be worth fixing the closet.

Stewart Colley, If it make you feel any better we have 2 doors that open into our hallway and they are almost directly across from each other so not only can the doors block people, they can crash into each other. The door on the left is a powder room. To make matters worse the light switch in that powder room is opposite of where it should be. What was the builder thinking! I go along with the others who say get a door with glass in it. It's great to be able to see if someone is in the hallway or stairway.

Here are the Colorographies for all 3 colours from The Land of Color .com These colours belong to the Yellow Hue Family. Light French Gray will offer the greatest contrast in terms of Hue Family location + Value + Chroma, to Shoji White. But LFG also has a greater potential to colour shift blue in certain light situations too. So check & see if you like its appearance in the shadowy areas as well as in the light. (You may like the blueness should it occur for you, but you don’t need it as a surprise.) Repose Gray offers a more subtle contrast. It has a very similar Hue Family location. It has enough contrast to distinguish itself with Shoji White, but in a more gentle way. Note though, that Repose Gray has the potential to shift purple in certain imbalanced light. So again check how it appears on different walls in the different rooms, so you onow which side of its character you are likely to see. 🌈