Hi! I'm sure there's many people who would like to offer you their design advice, but they look in the "Design Dialema" section of our Discussions board. Try posting in that area of the site for better luck! Thanks, Jake from Houzz

Your second photo brings me right to the stairwell scene in Hitchcock's "Vertigo," although I realize I'm looking up, not down. It's really rather wonderful. I'm just wondering, looking to the upper left in particular, if it's been recently checked out by a structural engineer. As for paint, I'll be interested to see what others say. For me, who doesn't do a lot of white, I think I actually would stay with a white here. A muddy green might be nice as well, but you'd need to incorporate a bit of lighting -- perhaps uplighting along the beams unseen from below, with something amazing hanging from that cool, crazy peak you have. [houzz=]

You definitely want to use a primer first. Paint it one coat to be absolutely sure no yellow is showing through. A second coat if necessary. Otherwise you will find the everso slight tinge of yellow will upset the other walls

Find some fun throw pillows and use them for inspiration. You need some texture and pattern in there. Then spice up the walls with some artwork--have fun!