The optimal, although pricey, solution to the heating of a two story room is radiant floor heating. Both forced air and radiant systems invariably create air movement which allows warm air to rise. Since the warmest part of the room is at ceiling level, that energy is wasted (unless you're hosting bald NBA players). With radiant floor heating, the heat is evenly distributed all over the floor. It can't rise because there's no way for cold air to get underneath it to replace it as it rises. Consequently, the floor is the warmest part of the room and the ceiling is the coolest. And since your extremities are the first thing to feel a chill (especially as you get older), your room "feels" warmer than the reading on the thermostat. We have a two story living room and radiant heating throughout the house. The previous house I built had a two story great room without radiant and that's why radiant was a must for this house. Incidentally, it saves energy in rooms with ceilings of only 9-10', too. That said, recognize that in most places, you'll still have to install forced air ducting for A/C (and may want to install a furnace to deal with radiant's lag). One final thought on high ceilings. Lighting shouldn't be a problem if done correctly. Our ceiling has cans on dimmers in a box beam ceiling. That plus accent lighting works great (see below). Bob

I have a feeling that the shelves with pictures and objects on them may be a passing trend, one that I personally have never found terribly attractive. I do think that more could be done to make the living area more attractive. I'm afraid the rug in the dining area is too small, and the little round rug in front of the couch looks not quite right. I would get a large rectangular rug that covers the whole of the furniture area and find a warmer color that harmonizes with the furniture rather than picking up the cold gray color of the fireplace which doesn't really harmonize with the color of the adjoining cabinets. I would choose different rugs for the living and dining areas. With larger rug areas the sound level in this huge area would probably also be dampened. The picture with the yellow sofa has a much more modern vibe which makes more sense with the shelf arrangements, and probably would look blah without the yellow couch as an interesting focal point. Your colors are all very safe and neutral if you will compare them to the photos of high spaces posted above. I think more lively colors, beginning with some bolder choices of rugs, pillows, etc. would keep the focus on where people are living rather than the high walls. You have a beautiful space (love the windows and views), and to have the furniture turn its back on the view seems a pity. A lot can be done to resolve some of these issues, and perhaps seeking some professional help would be a good direction to take.

You can still do tone on tone with blues, as suggested earlier..ground a bit with a touch of dark...very light touch-say something hidden in art? Accent pieces? White, you have plenty, but white and blue together gives you huge choice in accessories-ceramics, fabrics, you name it. It won't read monotone at all-yet still will be calmer room, with a very luxirious feel..add a touch of metals..Art, that goes without saying. Can take time-well so what. Or maybe you already have something you love. Switch to a chandelier..it's a big room, you're very free -or, to put it differently, you're not that limited..)) Maybe by budget, that, i wouldn't know. Would help to know a bit..say a sofa..if the room is as big as it seems to be from the photo, you can go for shapely seating in here, the room can take it. Rounded lines, repeating windows and arches of the mirror etc. Something that looks great not pushed close to these windows. Many interesting silhoettes right now. Obviously better to check how it feels before you buy, and what is the fabric (say cotton velvet will look very cool and real deal, but poly velvet will be very easy to clean..) Depends on an attitude of course too (some people worry more than others), and how one lives..if I wear something white much more chances for me to spill something on it. Other people-they somehow get away with everything white much better. Then my DD-almost lost cause, in terms of keeping white white..I can still hope white will be intact.. I don't know where you/family fall on that scale, but you know. Leather is most foolproof of all..and can be very beautiful..the better it is the more expensive will be..and comes wit its own minuses What is the climate you're in? Will the carpet stay? I agree-better to have a general plan for the room first..what's going to be there? The main things? How they'll relate to each other? A seating plan? Then, you narrow down to such and such pieces. It's almost a parallel process, but general picture still comes a bit earlier

Iowa, you must have a basement and returns could be "easier" to relocate. Hopefully, those are just returning the CFM required for that room and not the entire house. Be aware that with 18' walls there will be blocking somewhere above those vents or something framing in from whatever's on the other side of that wall which might prevent you from raising the vents up higher (at least easily). A well-advised HVAC designer (not equipment tech) can review the size of both stud space openings through the floor for each vent and possibly find another location/combine a couple if you can meet the CFM flow. The location to the left of FP is too close to the floor register IMO anyway.