I would paint the lower ceiling too in the terracotta and decide whether to paint the inside of the smaller alcove/window after. I think the white border around the patio doors looks effective in the AI image and will be repeated on the pillar between the two openings.?

Hi - thank you for you feedback which is very helpful. I like the idea of painting the ceiling but none of the "lines match up" - see marked up image where I have added grey lines to highlights the changes in surface - I have three possible edges for the terracotta. the ceiling overhangs the doors

and on the opposite side, do you think like this? with just ceiling and back wall terracotta? I will get rid of the blue blocking here. To note the rest of the "white" walls will be an almond colour, more complementary to the terracotta

Yes I think that will work well with just the back wall and lower ceiling.

You could still have the wall behind the sofa terracotta inline with the ceiling too maybe?

The picture blocking could be almond on the terracotta and vice versa

I’m not sure about the open alcoves looking into another room. They look odd and a big distraction. I love your mock up of the orange wall, very cosy but the open alcoves look odd, unless I’m missing something? Here’s a couple of terracotta colour drenched rooms. It does seem to sap the light in the rooms quite a bit.

I think colour drenching is a trend that has lost nuance. It works when done in a subtle way such as a pale or mid value colour all over, and woodwork in a similar colour at times. However, when you look at Sonia's lower image I can't help but feel that those beautiful windows, coving and ceiling would have looked so much more timeless and better painted a paler colour. I would put money on it that in two years time there will be articles saying we've moved on from Colour drenching. I love your Terracotta colour on the mock up, it looks amazing. I've just painted a bedroom in Arizona Sky by Graham and Brown and I love it. It's a dim downstaris East facing bedroom that looked bleak and dead when a pale colour, now it looks warm and homely.

Thank you everyone, I've decided to go with the back wall and ceiling in terracotta only, creating a line at the alcove which goes into the kitchen, keeping it white. Also painting the part of wall above the ceiling in terracotta so when looking directly into that zone at that elevation you get terracotta on one direction. I will share when done 👍

Looks warm, rich and cosy

Very cosy.