CPartist sorry I delayed in my response. Lost track of things. So much is going on with the house now things are absolutely crazy. I told the guy to do the balusters like the last pic. The posts are in but the rail won't be installed until next week since the painter wants to get his work done first. Here is are updated pics: Michael: Like chartist said you will get more help on your own thread since the experts will write. I'm a novice. If you want my personal opinion I do much prefer the new layout to the old one. The diagonal wasted a lot of space in the entry and also seemed a bit off. My husband and I love the 180 deg turn stairs like you are now showing. We would have used those if they worked with our plan. The basement (?) door and closet door open into each other now which doesn't seem ideal- will you be using that closet a lot or rarely? I see you added the entry closets by the door like we did. If you want to see how that ends up looking:

I wanted to update this thread for anyone else with a safety issue with stair rails. My SIL used Lexan, similar to plexi but better. He measured and had all pieces cut to fit, rounded edges, etc. We made a few taller where it was needed. He then used white zip ties to secure it. You can hardly see its there (except where the little dirty handprints are) and we feel so much better. We still have the airy open feeling, without the danger of our grandkids climbing and falling. One item done and lots more to do! Thanks to all that chimed in!

The fireplace is wood and composition. This was in the late 60s and these may have been juggled around in the same house. But many historic things are grandfathered here and our codes are not nearly as stringent as CA. The woodwork is all painted as it would have been. The elaborate gougework on the arch may have made you though you were seeing grain. They did not stain millwork in America during this period. The floors would have been raw wood as some of these are. This color is one of those things that may have been mistaken as "original" much like the palettes of Williamsburg VA, where faded and oxidized colors were assumed be closer to original. My house was 30-40 years younger than this house, but detailed much the same on the upper floors. My LR was the 3rd floor of the house and it looked much like this room, but with corner blocks and black marble fireplaces.(The main floor was much fancier in the modern Greek Revival style). The pocket shutters had one layer of paint on them (they had been sealed back in the wall probably in the 19th c.) and that layer of paint was this goldish color. Inner layers of the plaster cornice were much this color. It was probably originally an off white, buff, or stone color, much lighter (pure white was apparently really expensive) and over the years the paint oxidized to this darker color.

I like Mohawk SmartStrand broadloom. A loop and cut pile gives interest without too much pattern if you want a neutral look. Here is a nice one with lots of color options. Don’t be afraid of going light in tone for nice contrast with wood. Not sure what colors are going into your adjoining rooms. Be good if you know wall colors at least.