Two-Story Living Room & Painted Stair Rails — Hixson, TN

Two stories of wall space rise to a pair of arched windows in this Hixson living room, and we used that height to anchor the room. The fireplace wall carries a deep charcoal-brown finish that frames the white mantel and window trim, while the surrounding walls and crown molding stay a light warm gray so the space still reads bright. Overhead, the loft balcony fascia got a slate-gray band that links the upper level to the accent wall.

The staircase was the detail work of this interior painting project. Handrails, newel posts and the curled volute at the foot of the stairs were painted a soft pewter tone against white balusters, and the same scheme continues along the loft railing and the wall-mounted rail. Our process shots show the mantel wrapped in plastic before the accent wall was cut in.