Deep gray and all the other accents in silvery old wood and cream. This will add drama, allow the other elements to bring ion light and set off the concrete wall as a true feature. If you want light instead of drama, then go for a very pale beige stone. It will echo stone colours in both the concrete and rocks...

Carpet has come under fire because of the allergy/asthma reactions. Carpet can hold dozens of pounds of human skin/dust/mites in it. It can never be fully cleaned nor can the dust be completely removed. Because of this, many people are looking for solid flooring options which reduce allergens, reduce asthmatic events, are easier to clean and last longer. High end carpet (the stuff that is worth more than hardwood) still has its place in high end homes - often times in luxury bedrooms/luxury appartments (noise issues have to be taken into consideration) but on the whole, the general public is shying away from wall-to-wall carpets. Cork flooring is seeing a huge increase in sales because it "takes over" for carpet. Soft, quiet, warm, easy to clean, hypo-allergenic, antimicrobial, instect resistant. It is the "go-between" type of flooring for people used to carpet who need to move to solid surfaces for their health. As Canadians, we love this flooring because it is so warm.

We have been renovating an 80's home with a vaulted roof in the living/kitchen/dining area, something like your picture. We needed to make the space look bigger so we opted to hang our tv from the roof using an Adtec tv bracket in white, pretty nifty unit, all wiring, aerials etc go up the mounting pole and through the roof. The unit also swivels 360 degrees which is great for any view point in the room, including our outside area. We had a tv unit custom built by Jarramar Furniture which is like a rather large floating cupboard. The unit has 2 draws and one cupboard. All the cords etc come down the wall in the adjoining room behind the door, neatly packed into duct and back into the back of the floating cupboard. It's very neat and tidy, keeps everything off the ground and makes your space look bigger. Both Adtec and Jarramar have websites where you can check out their stuff. You just need to ensure your tv weights are ok for the Adtec unit your wish to purchase. Good luck with your design.

Joanna Gains style is fun! What you choose for lighting and surfaces will determine the amount of reflective light in your stairway. The Architect is right in what he is suggesting "a decorative wall" could bring more light into the space. I believe you could apply this on principle....for example you could do a feature "Architectural Mirror"or lots of mirrors on the wall in the right position to reflect light in "Joanna Gain style" then in the same style add an eye catching pendant or wall lights depending on what is best functionally. Remember what you use on the ceiling & walls is important too every surface counts for your situation. Try a satin finish with a cool white like Dulux "St Clair Quarter" or Resene "Black White" Maybe Nancy's suggestions of a skylight is an option for your situation if it allows ? Natural Light is always great. Heres some inspiration...All the best!