Sorry, I just don't see the craftsman style working here, windows OR door. I'm not coming up with a door that would permit you to look outside. I see a solid door or one with two rectangular lights at the top -- you'd have some light, but couldn't see out (and no one could see in). Think twice about hanging shutters too narrow to (visually) completely cover a window. If you are going to paint the door, don't spend a lot on wood good enough to stain.

Thanks everyone! I had been trying to find a low-maintenance door (at the suggestion of pretty much everyone), but I think real wood is the only way to get what we really want. Which makes me happy, because I think that's what I really wanted all along :-) Stained it is. aktillery- Thanks! We went with mostly Integrity windows with a few Marvins worked in where sizing made it necessary. We went with the ebony which is technically black, but it's not a jet black. My dad thought they were bronze when he saw them in the sunshine.

I just lost my reply -- let me try again. I agree with not painting the stairwell and ceiling all in navy. I think that it might be possible to pull off something like that, but I think you'd need to do a lot of planning and behind the scenes kind of work to do it. (Keep in mind that the LR photos above have lots of white trim, light wood floors, and furniture to break up the navy -- a stairwell doesn't have all that.) I think you'd need to put in additional lighting for starters -- along the stairs, in the risers, runway lights, path lights -- something to define the steps and avoid serious injuries (yours or a guest's). And they'd probably have to be on all the time -- day and night, or at least anytime anyone might be on or approaching the stairs (motion detectors nearby -- and what happens if they don't work?). Definitely would need more overhead lighting too. I'm about to flip from design to lawyer/insurance mode. Just don't do it. LOL I think you can do one wall and carpet navy and the other wall and ceiling either in the pale blue or white -- just make them both the same. Don't do a white ceiling and light blue wall. Make it a clean 50/50. I like the idea of white if there isn't a reason you need the light blue to continue there. Look forward to seeing the carpet installed.

I think if you leave the angled ceiling white, painting the walls darker won't matter as much. You could also add a piece of vertical trim somewhere to the left of the hanging textile and stop the new paint there. Maybe at the bottom of the stairs that continue to the left? Hard to say without seeing it. What about something like this for lighting? I was looking for something with 3 bulbs and a clear shade. These are both Kichler: I think they now make LED Edison bulbs, too.