Hi Darbuka - thank your for the thoughts and suggestions.
Responding to your comment on the ceiling:
"Gotta ask…how do you reconcile keeping that ceiling, with a heavily patterned, high end stone? A blue, cloud filled ceiling is more appropriate for a kids bedroom."
Yes, the ceiling is unusual :) In this case, it was hand-done by a sibling who is handier with a brush than me. No templates; came over one weekend to sketch out lightly in pencil, I got the paint colors she requested (1 each of primary red, blue and yellow, a pure white, and a pure black); and she blended as she saw it over the next few weekends to create the sky. I think the largest brush I saw her work with was maybe 2 inches wide.
Everyone's who's seen it, including our professional paint folks, have all commented very positively on the view and the quality of the work. She has fans now.
In addition, DH and I both have aviation as our non-work hobby, so it has special meaning for a couple of pilots to always have some blue skies. The only thing we'd probably change, is to possibly add a small, almost imperceptible airplane in a corner someplace :)
Q