The last photo is the problemaric angled/vaulted ceiling - why i dont want to trat the entire ceiling in that spacw.

A big fat - NO!

Bring in some color with vases and bowls on the end tables.

Really???????

Im going to share some photos from the kitchen about why that ceiling needs warmth

I say no to wood panel on the ceiling. For more warmth in your room install curtain panels on the windows.

It’s more the warmth i’m looking for when i walk into my kitchen (the view from the last two photos). not so much while IN the space. does that make sense?

I had been toying with the idea of doing wood garden doors there {here is the mockup of that} but then limed the idea of a wood panelled ceiling. So really a NO to a 2 foot wide strip on ceiling wih waterfall sides?? 😭🧐 anyone have a different suggestion? Maybe i do entire ceiling no waterfall? thank you all.

The wood garden door looks nice. As suggested add the curtain panels as well and this should give you the warmth that you're looking for.

But adding that stuff to the ceiling - please don't.

Okay. I’ll try some more mockups with curtain panels. Thank you for chiming in!

For more warmth and depth to the room I would add some wallpaper, maybe a nice neutral grass cloth.

thano you, @chispa - i have thoight of grasscloth, but it’s not a separate room. it flows into all areas of our very open—concept home.

Again, side curtains on the windows...

The 2 pictures of your kitchen posted 1 hour ago seem different. What are those wood panels with rods coming down?

Okay. Just trying this for fun. Thoughts? As you can see, I really love the wood look. lol.

@lisedv - the rods were "resistance poles" or whatever they're called used to hold up some sample wood ceiling panels so I could get a sense of the whole ceiling being treated. Is that what you were referring to? I'm just not the biggest fan of drapes/window treatment. I prefer clean.

@lisedv - just had a closer look at the drapes. maybe.... am i doing mini-rods (not extending the width of window?)

Sorry the wood accent ceiling idea does not work. Currently EVERYTHING is white- yes you need color and texture in the room. Start with a more interesting rug. Curtains. Color. Slapping random wood bits on the ceiling is not what this room needs- as you’ve noted it already has a complicated ceiling.

@BeverlyFLADeziner thank you for your ideas! i am going to try moving things around based on your suggestions. as for drapery, worried about the fact that these are 80’s windows {don’t run to floor level} and it will look wrong/outdated.

Thank you @HALLETT & Co. - its not so much IN the room that feels stark, but rather walking in from my mudroom with the VIEW feom kitchen into that room. thats what I'm trying to address. Because we dont have modern windows {aka floor to ceiling height}, i worry drapes will just look wrong + outdated.

Most windows don't run to the floor because anything lower than 18" above the floor has to have tempered glass and that's a big expense.

These windows don't go to the floor but have full height drapery panels.