Boy, that view down the steep looking stairs makes me dizzy! is there a light at bottom & how about wiring it to come on with the ceiling light in stairwell so it’s not a dark hole & seems safer? Or, would a hanging light shed more light at foot of stairs?

Copy that! You may be able to keep what you have in place, but I would certainly make sure it has dimmer control so you're not over-bright in laundry. One additional idea for this laundry space would be undercabinet lighting (so simple now with LED strips or pucks) that's also dimmable. That might give you more targeted task lighting while working out a stain or soaking items in your utility sink without needing to reach for the overhead light. Alternatively, it could be helpful to consider moving the switched box location from overhead to the far wall (rt side, from in front of laundry units) that could help provide a beam angle into the laundry units over-shoulder for sorting and transfer, since there's less wall surface behind from that perspective that isn't shared with the hall area. In tall, narrow stair halls like this, I often recommend a plan of wall lamps that uplight the tall vault and bounce the light down into the pedestrian area versus directional beams down from overhead. When placed at the right elevation over and above personal height, they don't have to interfere with traffic clearances even in a super-tight space. Hope that helps, cheers!

We love Biscuit SW 6112. It goes well with sage, black, and light cream.

I don’t want to make the space smaller by building it out ??? You build out the top portion; the floor space remains the same. Or you frame out the entire wall and use the space to add more insulation. Which is a positive. It isn't a space like a bathroom or a kitchen where every square inch has to count. I’m tired of always seeing board and batten and two tone walls You don't have any board & batten but you do have two tone walls. Why?