Into the blue

I have another itch. This just isn't doing it for me...

The stairwell wall/art ledges

It's too bland, and with the painting of the banister to brown velvet (like the bathroom cabinets) I'm thinking of painting this whole wall a rich shade of midnight/cobalt. Some inspiration...

sources (from top left): Isabella and Max Rooms, Emma's Design Blog, Pottery Barn, Decor 8, Isabella and Max Rooms

What's great about this shade is that it works so well with gallery walls. I love this example  from West Elm because it really shows the elements I would incorporate - varying light & dark wood tones, white baseboards, gray tones & art collages...

source: West Elm

I picked up these Valspar swatches from Lowes. I'm leaning towards Motor City Blue. What do you think? I used their online painting tool to see what it would look like...

I'm also a little torn on what to do with this large wood section lining the stairs. Brown velvet, like the railing or white like the baseboards? I'm leaning towards white I think.

Perhaps I'll also add a backsplash of the color next to painted linen cabinets in the nearby hallway.

 

After missing out on this picture lot I was lucky enough to find another one. Mix in a couple of photos and I have a pretty good gallery wall here. The wall up the stairwell is 8 feet wide so I think it will yield the dramatic feel I'm looking for.