Nice flat, and long posts sometimes are the best ones to help us understand the space, the context, etc.

My first thought-please no faux brick. I've yet to see it applied in an oridinary urban apartment (not former loft or anything) in a way that doesn't say "hello I'm faux brick and I was applied for interest, and I didn't want to be, so now I'm going to make everything more miserable as a way to avenge myself"

Granted your inspiration photo is beautiful-but it's just a detail of the space and it doesn't seem faux, it looks integral, like it was there and is integral, they just covered part of it. I've no idea whether I'm right, it's my impression only-but I think it'll look very different in your place, and you don't need that additional "interest" for the sheer sake of it.

You did a nice job, truly, and I think and hear from you you want more color and texture. (Love your surfing boards. I'd take inspiration from them. Pity they don't look great in that column space, you wouldn't have a photo, would you?)

Custom piece is always great to have, it's a question of your budget. I'd do lower part and open part, and then I could use it as a bar, or as a bar plus book area, or..however I like.

(I would check whether the AC unit can be covered. Whether used or not. I frankly don't know enough about it. Hopefully somebody here will know. Shouldn't pose a problem, but I'd ask, just in case. Maybe you did that already.)

So as for the style-I'd go with wood. Wood brings warmth and texture at the same time. You can get color from everything that goes inside, on the shelves. Colors, different finishes like warm metal, etc.

Or. You can do shelves.

You can wallpaper behind them-something cool and modern, funky, whimsical..lots of what to choose from. You can even paint a small mural if you're -unlike me-talented and patient enough. Or you can paint the inside your favorite color, as a backdrop too. Almost any color would work.

And then you put books on the shelves. Or books and mugs/glasses. Or books and a plant. Or any combination of these. Books are never ever boring, imo.

I'd never paint the outside of the column though-I don't see any reason to accent it more, accents work well when they make sense. I'm not against accents, I use them myself and they can be cool-but they should have their reason to be there..Otherwise you'd get tired soon of it, like of faux brick.

I've other small suggestions about decor, but as my posts tend to be too long whether warranted or not..thank you if you made it till here))

I like the bar idea. And I would definitely go with painted cabinets in a rich color to liven up the space. Everything you currently have is either espresso brown or gray, and that gets monotonous pretty quickly.

How deep is that space? Because to put a wine/beverage fridge there, you'll need at least 24" but preferably 25" of depth.

Here's a bar we did for a client that does not have a wine fridge, but has painted cabinets with glass shelving:

Portola Valley Artist Haven · More Info

Their place is decidedly more rustic than yours, but it just gives you an idea of what can be done.

Or you could do something like this with a tile backsplash and open shelving:

And FWIW, it doesn't have to be a built in. You could find a nice tall bar cabinet that fits in the space. Like this:

Nevada Tall Bar Cabinet · More Info

Are the cabinets surrounding the TV free standing? If so, try moving one of the taller units to the opening.

Hi Kevin - I think you have the right idea about making the column space a point of interest. I recommend doing a wall unit like this to make a dramatic statement. This is a little pricey from Roche Bobois, but you may be able to find something, maybe at Ikea to duplicate the look.

PIXL bookcase | Roche Bobois · More Info

3d wall paneling.

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors Thank you very much. Yes, it is the idea. I like both photos you submitted (I dunno which one i prefer).

However, "And FWIW, it doesn't have to be a built in. You could find a nice tall bar cabinet that fits in the space."

=> Then i would have space on either side of the cabinets = not that great looking, is it? Or are there solutions to fix this issue?

@aprilneverends

Thank you very much for your reply. And yes i did read everything.

Thanks for the input on faux-brick, i'll take it into account ;)

I also think i should go with wood (for lower part and the shelves).. If i get tired of it, i can always repaint the inside another color (no, not talented enough for a small mural haha)

I think the bar is a fantastic idea, but I would definitely skip the refrigerator/wine cooler as it is expensive and your kitchen is steps away. Why not go with the beautiful color of your inspiration photo?

I would do some local investigating to see if you could get someone to build it for you.

I worry you will end up very disappointed in the faux brick in that space. Is your duplex in a brick building? It is very odd for me when I walk into a structure that isn't brick and someone has a faux brick wall. It's jarring, even more so if the space is sleek like yours.

PS you didn't ask, but I wouldn't leave the mirror in the kitchen. Have you tried that over-the-sofa artwork on that kitchen wall instead of the mirror? While you are getting prices for the built-in blue bar, consider asking how much a carpenter would charge to put thin floating shelves above and to the sides of your TV to display your comic book collection if you think that would look good.

I forgot to answer the column color question

I would leave it all white all the way around but on the built in bar side of the column facing the living area I would ask the carpenter to frame the built in so that the bar's edges of deep heron blue completely covered the open white frame of the existing structure -- hope my description is comprehensible.