An old elevator would excite me more!!

I really like the idea of concealing the screen. TV's, when off, leave a black hole in the wall to me. I don't watch or own a TV though, so I guess they'll always stand out to me. I also like how concealing a TV "repurposes" the space. It's no longer the focus of seating arrangements. I really like the sliding art panel and wouldn't it be great if it automatically slides over once the TV is switched off!

I had a very similar staircase in a commercial building -- if anything it was worse -- there was a 20 metre long hallway leading to it , all with light grey walls and white ceilings , polished wooden steps and handrail . The hallway was concrete floor , painted a mid grey . I own the building , and wanted to lease it out , and didn't have much money at the time ( I still don't haha ) . I did black onyx tiles on the hallway floor ( I realise you aren't doing the floor ) ; 40mm x 8mm varnished pine 'rail' along the wall 1200mm from floor height , and wallpapered from the skirting up to this rail in a burgundy and gold striped wallpaper ( the gold was in 2 stripes of different widths , so I guess you'd say burgundy wallpaper with gold stripes ) . The hallway already had LED downlights , I added a 800mm diameter gold and crystal waterfall chandalier up the stairs , and to finish , I added several prints in gold frames ( I purposely used different sizes ) along the walls ( screwed on as it is acommercial building ) . I thought it gave the place a lift , cost around $3k and a week of my time , the building was leased to pretty much the first business that viewed it , they are still there 8 years later , and they even got a sign made that is halfway up the stairs , with all their details and logo , in gold lettering on black background , with a fancy gold frame around it ! Got a bot off track sorry -- but yeah , I'd do a 'break rail' at least on the wall without the handrail , and wallpaper down to the steps . I guess you could paint , but I wouldn't .

The bar and stairs area is really dark, awkward and pokey. I'd price up your stairs idea first, (could be horrendously expensive, but it would be lovely). If the stairs have to stay, and you don't use the bar, it would be fairly easy to gyprock in and convert the whole under-stair area into a storage room, and add a load of built ins. I think I'd do that if it were mine. Your brick is quite a nice colour, luckily. I'd keep some or all of it. I wouldn't mix painted and non painted brick though; so if you wanted some white walls I'd gyprock them. The doors are a yellowy brown, that clashes with the reddish brown brick, I think. I'd paint or restain them, (maybe a charcoal?) and the brick would look a lot better.