Antique.. I wouldn't consider a dark color, as I'm already worried about the porches making it darker inside. Hate to hear you had to learn this thru experience....ugh...painting ceilings is so hard!! Hartwood, I never thought about it coordinating with the inside color scheme.... but very good thought since I have transoms above all windows & doors. I love GW and am so thankful to have "cyber friends" to get ideas and advice from!!! I'm in north central AR and we've had a snow storm, so that essentially shuts everything down. Us southerners aren't used to it!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Lori- you picked up on the main source of my concern about the color - the part that comes down from the ceiling- I feel like it needs to be dark to blend in- it is bugging me! Advice? When color drops like that down, from the horizontal ceiling to the vertical wall, it creates a cap or lid effect. 10 inches is a lot, it's a big lip. Too much to paint it haint blue IMO. Alternatively, too much to paint it a "trim" color and then the ceiling only haint blue. Because it will create too many lines of color, 3 colors wall/trim/ceiling is too much visual clutter. My mantra is edit and simplify as a rule which is why I'd choose a light, natural stain color that makes sense with the other elements in the space. And I'd make sure the product whatever you choose to use is non-yellowing.

If you posted a picture, it didnt post, so please post again. Make sure there is a good picture of the tray ceiling.

I don't care for the tan either. I like the naturalness of it in the rest of my house (but maybe wouldn't reselect the same shade when we repaint). The whole room needs to be repainted- so I was going to pick another neutral for where the tan is. If I do paint the entire room-- do I paint the ceilings the same color? Or do I do a traditional white ceiling? I wouldn't mind the entire room being a color instead of an accent wall- but the colors I really like are dark or at the very least saturated. Which doesn't play well for the entire room. My favorite color is green - and all the inspiration I see online is minty or pastel. I agree a kids room can be fun - and I would like to have her room be beautiful and special-- but not like a unicorn puked on it :D Thanks. My "design" definitely doesn't scream child- and I'm not a huge decorator- I know what I like but have trouble putting things together. For the chest- it's a family chest. right now it's lid is very heavy and is just hinged. My husband recalls many times smashing his fingers. We are going to be fixing a leg on it, and adding easy open / soft close hinges before shes able to open it. We are planning on using it as a low shelf instead of a chest she will regularly access. Bummer for the table. I just love it and think it's the sweetest. My mom also mentioned it may be a hazard as there is no way to secure it, so it may just have to wait until she is older. Her sheets are white, and once she is in her crib (still in bassinet for another few weeks) she has a very light pink sleep sack. So no "bedding" just yet. Here is an example of a color I really adore. But my home has no detail like this and it reads a little stuffy even for me. I'm definitely Transitional leaning traditional. Appreciate the guidance! You have me thinking!