I have them in my new home and feel they add a European influence. Mine are not cased, and don't think the look is particularly contemporary, but maybe that's because my style of decorating isn't. I've thought of painting the interior of the arches as well as an 8" border around the arches to define their shape. I would also add large shell plaster castings to the center of each arch. Paint color would be the same color as the trim(warm tan, 3 shades darker than walls)or possibly black since i've used a lot of black in other areas of the house. I've been mulling this idea around in my head since I bought the house, just need to make the decision to do it! ;o)

I have your floors also. I think they are stunning and I have cats. But I wouldn't complain because it is easy enuf to clean them - easier than keeping wall to wall carpet clean when you have pets. The beautifu floor makse me want to do something really pretty for the curtains. I havn't played with new curtains in years. I don't have your high ceilings and windows. They are outstanding. I hope you keep this look for a long time. You nailed it.

Ha, ha! I want this thread to keep going and going! I let The House tell me what it wants, but it's a little confused, I think. In some parts, it looks a little bit like a castle . . .as in, the dungeon portion of it (with some wall-to-wall carpeting that needs desperately to be ripped up, but at least it keeps the prisoners happy for now, ugly as it is). The kitchen is a traditional, remodeled-within-the-last-10-years look. Some parts of the house look a little Arts and Craftsish. One of the bathrooms is a nod to Art Deco, via the 80s. Since the dungeon (living room) is the area I most want to fix, I thought for a long time what to do with it. Nothing airy will do. I visited the Milwaukee Museum, where they have "model cottages" from Europe. (I keep meaning to take pics and show them here-- I will the next time I go.) A light went on . . .yes! Folk! I have dark wood trim (check), dark wood floors (in most of the house, but hiding under the ugly carpeting in the LR), so it would work. But, I am broadening the idea a bit, to folk-on-the-elegant-side, trying to bring in whatever works (not just European) I like, but connected via the color red. Here are my key words as I think: cozy (#1, always), Art Nouveau (because I love that style), Chinoiserie, brass/bronze, folk, handmade, handcrafted, embroidered, RED, collected, etc. When it comes down to it, though, it is really a collection of things I can afford from Ikea, Craigslist, Etsy, and Ebay. (And I still have a long way to go to make my vision come to life.)

Beagles - thanks so much! That's very similar proportions and we'll also have large moldings inside. Thank you for sharing your GORGEOUS room!!