@Ninigret and pink_peony, the changes we've made are ones we have wanted to do for years but every time we had the money saved to do it, something more urgent came up that had to be tackled. Then, the contractor we had lined up to do it moved out of state. It has taken us months to find someone who could get to us because we are in a hot market/economy here which hopefully equates to us selling quickly and for top dollar ;) The step railing goes in tomorrow morning (snafu with it today) and professional photos after that. Hoping to be listed by Friday :)

I like it, just the way it is. I would work with it, because trying to correct it, will just give it a flat solid painted look. Also a hint for you. Buy some poly. Not regular oil based poly, since that will yellow it. I used the polycrylic in semi gloss from minwax, and put at least 3 coats of it on the top of your hearth. You could use satin finish too, if you want less shine It dries very fast, so you can put 3 coats on in just a few hours. It will protect it. I worried that the great grandkids would scratch mine with toys etc, and then, I was the first one to scratch it with a simple coffee cup. I touched it up and put the polycrylic on and its been a long while now, and kids have played on it, my beagle climbs on top of it with his nails, and various things have been dragged across, and there isnt a single scratch.

Painting is the last step in any reno project. Generally, paint color is chosen to work with the fabrics and upholstery. I would drywall over the wood walls for sure; that angled wood style is really dating things. In a new to you home, there can be lots of hidden issues to deal with. Foundations, plumbing, roofing and HVAC can impede the functionality of the home, but you can live with the form as it is for a few months while you work out any glitches, test out the kitchen, and see how your own furniture looks at different times of the day. I see a few items that I'd deal with right away. The railing on the loft appears not to be to code, and I would replace it with a pony wall or close that area in completely if it is to serve as a bedroom. Noise from downstairs will rise and disturb anyone sleeping there. The lighting throughout needs an upgrade. Back to paint; it is said (and you can test it out yourself) that a view shows best when surrounded by a dark frame. You might get white and black poster board, tape it around a window and check for yourself whether the view is enhanced by the color surrounding the window. That could be an influence when you get around to choosing colors, but don't neglect the fabric/textile aspect of the design. I understand that tile is the best flooring to conduct radiant heat, but you can also do that under Marmoleum, and Warmly Yours can install a product under carpet.

Good info Juliet. I think I'm switching sides and getting aboard the stain train LOL. I just looked and there is in fact a wide range of masonry stain colors/ opacities - even some that look a lot like the light grays and blue grays in OP's pics above. The difference is it reads more like real brick vs. the thick paint coating on top which obscures the texture. BTW Ive always considered these forums to be a community-wide discussion, and by participating (commenting, reading responses from others, looking stuff up to be sure I know what I want to say) I often learn stuff too as much as the OP does, if not more so. Posters should not expect a one-on-one consultation - you will get whole gamut of opinion! But thats the value of this forum - some new direction might come up that you wouldnt get by talking to only one person. As maddening as Houzz often is, it really is a good resource!