I have some ideas for your front hall, but I think I see stained glass in the stairwell? If I do, then choices would be led (or "lead" as in stained glass, LOL) by that -- have another photo? I'm guessing the hint of a red chandelier I also see ties to dots in the window glass, but I'd be looking for more of a watercolor tone to play up from the window.

Some pics to inspire: it all comes together with the decorating!! http://houzz.com/photos/5225088

http://houzz.com/photos/193110

http://houzz.com/photos/971526

LOVE this one: http://houzz.com/photos/2487246

http://houzz.com/photos/2487249

Absolutely do NOT paint any of the original wood. They are the feature of the room. Paint the walls a soft ecru - so many to choose from. Wen you add furniture be sure to add some buffet lamps which will brighten up the room. If you still need more light, consider period sconces. Not sure if that fixture is original, if it is keep it. If not, you can grab more light that way. I'd go with no curtains, unless you need privacy. Are those leaded windows? House looks fantastic!

I also live in a turn-of-the-last-century home with lots of original, dark woodwork. I agree with Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design that these homes really come alive with color. White or off-white tends to look drab. In my experience, it is best to go with the "historical palette" of Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. The colors have a lovely soft feeling that looks beautiful in older homes. Many non-historic colors come across as too garish in these houses. Whatever color you choose (if you want something yellow, I recommend BM Windham Cream), keep the window treatments minimal. Add sparkle with wall mirrors, and crystal and silver accessories. Enjoy your gorgeous home! It is a real privilege to live in such a house.

Try BM Georgian Green

http://houzz.com/photos/118384

Ok here is ANOTHER with that gorgeous green textured wallpaper. I think it's a sign. These rooms are bright and beautiful. Take the great advice and go for some color! http://houzz.com/photos/3602361

Look at this wallpaper with that table! Would look amazing in your dining room. Although you should honor the period of your home, I don't think you need to be a slave to it when decorating. http://houzz.com/photos/31517

...or this wallpaper! http://houzz.com/photos/19551

And while I like the chandelier, I think if you can repurpose it to another area . . . I see a grand crystal chandelier hanging in that room.

While my first suggestion was off-white walls (which I still think will look fabulous) - I also like the look of the sage green - are you a wallpaper person? - wallpaper and murals were very popular in the 30s. Here are a few suggestions for your dining room:
Pic 1 - a tonal stripe with pearl accent
Pic 2 - a simple linen wall fabric
Pic 3 - a more formal paper of light soft tones of sage, cream and gold in a soft rich pattern. (this would blend in nicely with your floor.
Pic 4 - although not a wallpaper, this look can be achieved with a matte and pearl finish paint (BM carries the pearl finish) which is a simple DIY.

BM has a historical colour collection. I like the idea of a colour consultant. In this calibre if home it is worth to bring in the big guns.
It is not worth driving yourself crazy.
The home deserves to shine and make the caring new owners very happy

if you painted the woodwork you'd have to do the same throughout the house or it would look out of place - I think a nice shade of grey, with a lighter shade of it on the ceiling would bring the ceiling height up because the dark wood can make the room feel small. or even a shade of grey that has a subtle blue tone to it would accent the deep wood perfectly! and maybe paint the medallion a gloss gold to add some interest and colour

Ginamuto - you've received several great ideas - are you leaning toward any of these or are you going in another direction?

Call me crazy but I would do a rich, deep blue...Benjamin Moore, Van Deusen.

Go for it but I'd wouldn't do it without having a lot of light coming in. Dark blue might give it a funereal look.

How about a compromise? Keep the doors in natural wood but paint all the other trim white, as i did in this renovation:

Like before picture better - looks richer and more elegant with the natural wood. Sorry, but I prefer untouched natural wood, The look of the white one can be accomplished with cheap pine trim - the richness has disappeared.

Went with a white ceiling and dark pewter on the walls...and I'm just not sure. Why does the grey look so blue? I can't tell if I like this.............might have to go for a 3rd time painting this room :(

Are you changing the chandelier in anyway? I'd live with it for a while before you change it. I think it looks great!

I was just thinking about getting a white medallion.....?

I like it. Do you have a rug?

No need for white medallion. It looks great. It is nice to paint ceilings a color, a much lightened version of the pewter grey may reduce the contrast and thus the unwanted (but lovely) blue. This room will come together with the art, rug, furnishings-keep the pics coming!

Why not use a light to medium color that would make lighter hues of the wood work pop. Definitely change out the curtains to cafe cover the lower portion of the windows. A nice floral or even modern. This way you the privacy you want yet letting in a ton of light.

It also looks great w the kitchen floor. You are overthinking!

Which way does the room face? If it's a north facing room, warmer colours are the way to go. Sorry but I liked the beige you originally had better.

OMG, what a beautiful room. Now for the news, the room would NEVER have been painted white, ecru or any other neutral color, that is why it does't look right. It would have had wallpaper or very strong color such as green, blue or red. The color would have gone up onto the ceiling, so the ceiling should be the same color as the wall. Here is a sample of what will look right, brace yourself, it might need to be an even richer color.

some more colors

A mural would be gorgeous. See pic below

you have a lot of historic molding there. a deep yellow or gold would be beautiful, bring out the color of the wood and brighten up the place.

Or style appropriate wallpaper would make the room pop. Here are some ideas.

If you want warm glow, go with a gold ceiling.

Sage green without a doubt, beautiful with lots of wood, if you want to go a light colour BM silver sage.

Beige or ivory curtains would look good with the sage, especially silk

I would look at just going white It makes the woodwork the star of the show (as it should be!). [houzz=]. But a sunny sage would also be very pretty with the butter yellow and dark wood. [houzz=] but stay clear of the grey greens. I just noticed the pewter in your kitchen floor and I think the grey-blue is very pretty as well. If you really don't like the blue, go with white and work in the colors you love with accessories. Your home is gorgeous, and that natural wood work is amazing!

This is the kind of room that is just made for candle light and artificial light, because it is a room that would have been used most in the evening. So I have to say those reproduction historic wallpapers would look just stunning.

It looks blue because it has a blue undertone, also the red in the wood pulls the blue out.

But that's a good thing because I can picture the room with a greyer tone wall and it would look dull and muddy next to the wood. This color looks great with your wood and pulls the grey blue in your slate floor in the kitchen area - (nice transition).

Here are a couple of ways you can go:

1. Use white or off-white as your accent to lighten up the room - white upholstered chairs, white rug. Refer to first pic posted below. It looks sooo much like your dining room, so you get a very good idea of what your's could look like. I especially like the grouping of furniture in front of the window - just gorgeous and great for overflow seating or a nice lunch with a couple of friends.
OR
2. Use your slate floor as inspiration and introduce red into the room. Area rug with red and slate blue print (see pic 4). Grey/blue upholstered chairs (head chairs in red) and art with the same colors as your slate floors. This will be a heavier/ darker look than 1, but would still look cheery, especially with the bright red accents. It's a good alternative if you find white chairs and rug too difficult to keep clean.

I found a bigger pic of DR so you could see the detail - beautiful isn't it? It looks so much like your room - do you have the space for this type of layout? (Tap pic to enlarge). It looks fresh and modern yet it works soo well with the heritage look of your home.

@warddesigns I love that idea number 1. We do have a nice large window and although we don't have room for a table like shown in the pic, we have a built in wood bench than needs a cushion. I could do a cream cushion and add pillows. Thank you for the pics

Ginamuto -- I missed your post the other day. I love what you've done! Bring in that creamy white from the adjacent room in generous doses through art and textiles, and it'll be heavenly. So glad you were bold with the hue of grey that you chose, which ties back to tones of the stainless in your kitchen. Love it!

I would paint the ceiling a sky white and then look at painting the walls either a pale corn color or an pale granny smith color apple green or a little darker than a granny smith apple. I did read the comments and with all that wood a nice texture wall paper would really do a number on that room.

Gina, referring all of the advice in your thread (and successful choice) to another houzzer:
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/need-help-on-wall-colours-and-rug-dsvw-vd~2769108

http://houzz.com/photos/800688

The pic I just posted is an example of how you can go any way w decorating in a room like this, but the wall color is all wrong-you did the right thing by bringing in a great color. Keep it up! I want to see more of your great transformations!!

ginamuto - I'm glad you like the look of pic 1. And yes, a window bench with cream cushions would look great. So will you be going with that color scheme then? I think it looks awesome! Classy and sophisticated but not "stuffy".

Ginamuto: I love the gray color you've chosen for the walls! @Ward Designs: I think you are right on with your ideas and advice!