Hi, another "ignore the rugs" person chiming in. :-) But do as I say, not as I do. Even though theoretically I ignore rugs, I always lend half an eye and try to play along, at least when piling more than one rug into a room. They usually have to be a similar style...tribal + tribal, for example. And I do admit to buying an orange chair to go with an orange stripe in the last house. Call me a hypocrite! I think you should revisit the gray idea. And I think that the way to love gray is not only to find the right one, but to use either full spectrum paint (Ellen Kennon) or maybe Farrow & Ball. Now that you seem to be fully into the paint addiction thing (welcome!) I feel comfortable suggesting that. You talk about "glowy" and that is exactly what you get with one of these more complicated paints. If you could find a warm gray or a greige in a paint that has a lot of life in it, I bet you would really love it. If you don't have it, I suggest sending away for the F&B free color card. There are a couple dozen really interesting neutrals that might be fun to explore. Yes, these boutique paints are not cheap, but if you're willing to spend the $$$ to change the rugs/furniture, fancy paint will feel like a bargain! I worry about using the deeper colors, particularly blue, on a thirty foot wall. That scares me a bit, but I don't know the space. In that regard, my guess is that a mid-tone would be better, but a mid-tone blue? I just don't know. I love the rugs and think the pink sofa is really refreshing. I'd hate to see the wall color take over, IYKWIM. How's that Georgian Green looking today?

Wow...are you sure a question like that doesn't require a site visit? Seriously, if you don't need coverings for practical reasons, don't bother as the room is beautiful. if those are single glazing, you might wish to have roller blinds fitted against the window and hidden by trim work painted to match the window trim. You would lose a few inches at the top but a talented trim carpenter could make them look almost like a part of the window trim. I could see custom made radiator covers that would mimic the wainscoting would turn those obstructions into a desirable feature. For the top use the same profile and dimensions, at the same height, as the window sills. Columns on the ends and probably three panels of approximately same proportions as the existing ones across the front of the radiators would work well. Do some research on radiator cover design as you need to have good air flow coming in from the bottom and exiting at the top and a properly designed cover will actually help, not hinder heat distribution from the radiators. Despite the term, more heat comes from convection than radiation and channeled air flow will increase the heat transferred to the room. Let me know if you need a link to info about radiator cover designs

I like trimming out the window with similar trim used in the rest of the house and then tiling up to the trim....that way no raw edges of tiling will show. But I do not like the edges of tiles to show but some people do...either way works just select what YOU like the best unless you like your designers ideas more than your ideas as you will be living with this a long time and you do not want to be annoyed every time you look at the window. That said I would personally prefer Damiarain's pictured look.

He could have cut and fitted a skirt board at the stairs, wrapped it in aluminum, flashed it, put a continuous J channel at the top, and have the siding die into it on the angle. That would have taken more time and probably wasn't in his bid. It's not too late; siding unzips easily. Offer to pay for it. Your window detail is ugly, but I don't know how much better you're getting vinyl to look.