My walls curve up and then about eight inches into the ceiling the ceiling recesses about an eighth of an inch. It looks nice. Since a recess would be hard to accomplish, I would either paint a border pattern or install some type of moulding on the ceiling. You could also put a picture rail up about a foot from ceiling height and paint your ceiling the same color up to the railing and then paint below it a different color.

I think what you might want to do here is paint the wall that is curved. That way it doesn't look like your fighting it and instead looks like you are just going with the flow.

I would drop the ceiling's white down to the base of the curve (as if you had some serious crown molding) and tape off the wall color to there.

For the a/c, maybe putting ceiling to floor curtains to the sides of the window will give some depth to the wall that might help camouflage the presence of the a/c a bit (but not cover it up at all.) If the curtains were predominantly white, that would also help the a/c blend in a bit more too.

This is going to sound silly, perhaps, but what if you choose two colors that are very similar in tone (perhaps even an eggshell and a semi-gloss of the same color) and put foot wide horizontal stripes up the curved wall, and then the lighter color would continue solidly on the ceiling? Does that make sense? It could be a neat way to take advantage of the curved wall -- just don't go too bold and contrasting, as it might start to look like a circus tent. ;)

As far as the AC unit, could you construct a frame to attached to the wall with a removable fabric cover? That way you can take it off to wash it every once in awhile. Choose a light fabric that breathes easily, or if you are handy with a sewing machine, create 'slats' of fabric that will more easily allow the air to escape.

Good luck!

Laura
http://www.justalittlebit.net

If you don't want your ceiling to be bright white, here's a tip I read, probably on Apartment Therapy: If your ceiling is 8' high, dip one finger into your blue paint, then add that "fingerful" to your white ceiling paint. If your ceiling is higher or if you want more color, add more fingers. I haven't tried that trick yet, but I *have* played up architectural details. You're fortunate to have one! If I were painting your wall one color and your ceiling another, I'd draw a light pencil line, using a level. then paint to that line. Funstraw's molding idea is a good one, too. If that were my A/C, I'd accept it as a necessary (but wonderful) evil and ignore it. Hooray for air conditioning!

This is sort of a variation on smellofsawdust's comment. I would paint the wall that curves into the ceiling a lighter shade of your predominant wall color, e.g. dark slate (or whatever color you like) on the short wall with the A/C and a lighter gray on the curving wall/ceiling. As for the A/C, almost anything you put over it is going to impede your air flow when it is on. A louver/shutter might work and you could direct your air flow down. Or do a removable panel like suggested above and take it off when running the unit.

I would add picture railing about a foot and a half from the ceiling use that to stop your color from going all the way up the wall.

just put a black frame around the air conditioner. it will look much better

What you have is a coved ceiling. Like Comicgeek says, the traditional way of handling it is to put a picture rail to deliniate the cove from the wall. If you don't want to put up a picture rail you could paint a faux rail/molding to seperate the wall from the cove.

I have the same curved walls, and was thinking I might paints some gold, white, and silver shimmering leaves (not huge bunches) coming down from the curved area, which would be a pale blue. But I like the idea to do a drop molding too.

It would be more work, but if you could add some up lighting onto the ceiling I think it would look awesome. Maybe use crown molding placed at the bottom of the curve, the slip some of the rope light or something similar in the top where it's not visible but would gently illuminate the ceiling.

I think that would accentuate an interesting architectural detail while brightening it and keeping it from feeling like a cave.

A quick search turned up a couple of links:

http://www.invitinghome.com/Indirect_Lighting/Indirect_Light_List_A.htm

http://www.rensmond.co.za/HT_Images/pic_1.jpg

Homebody is correct:

Tape off a line below the curve and paint up to that line - The space above is the ceiling color.

I'd take the plunge and paint the whole room, ceiling included. But pick the next-lightest (or two notches away, even) color to the one you are considering. All four walls, and ceiling, will amplify and deepen the color.

Don't fret too much about the AC for now... finish up the decorating of the room, and you might find it ends up being a non-issue. In the meantime, though, I'd consider using a wall-mounted paintable cord cover for whatever is plugged in below it! :)

Molding can work in some homes, but if you don't have much molding elsewhere it can look sort of "tacked on." Keep it clean and go for the taping technique already mentioned. Check out the before/after living room photos here to see an example in a 40s California bungalow.

The room seems to date from the 20s-40s, when it was "modern" to paint the walls, ceiling, and trim all one color. That was hep back then, and it's definitely an option. Rooms were also wallpapered, ceiling and all.

If you don't want to do that, I'd paint the walls a light shade, such as your blue, up ONTO the ceiling, taping off a big white square in the middle of the ceiling. The size of the square depends on the size and shape of the room, the ceiling height, and the ceiling light fixture size/placement. Put easy-to-remove tape on the ceiling, moving it around to see what works, then put up the serious painting tape. I should add that working on ceilings is really uncomfortable for the neck, shoulders, and back, so take lots of breaks.

I would not add molding; it looks like the ceiling is too low for that.

The big white ceiling square doesn't have to be white, of course (heck, it doesn't have to be square, either). If you make the square smaller, it could be a bright accent shade. But all that depends on the ceiling fixture (is there one? is it something you want to highlight?).

Hanging something substantial on the wall below, or near, the air conditioner might distract from it. I wouldn't cover it up.

I like this idea from Amy Helfand that AT posted last month:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/amy-helfand-home-style-110372

I recently painted our study walls and ceiling the same color. The ceiling looks like it's a lighter color than the walls, but it's exactly the same (Glidden Wishes, flat), I suggest doing the same thing. The edges of the wall seem to melt into the ceiling and the room looks taller and bigger.

Oh, but I just looked at dwelement's link to the Bungalow with curved walls and it looks gorgeous. Genius!

what about a screen over the ac? build out a nicely framed box and create a screen that would nicer to look at?

My dining room is like that. It also used to be wall papered and then was painted over with a taped line - ceiling white, walls green. I stripped the wall paper, primed and painted the whole room a pale pale green.

I'd paint a faint silvery blue on the ceiling that fades into a lighter shade on the bottom. I think a picture rail would make the ceiling look lower, don't like it.

You can buy very pretty metallic screens for use as radiator/heater/air conditioner covers at the hardware store- frame the sides with wood, very simple.

Similar maybe:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tSGOcFKOoqI/S8ToRMgErsI/AAAAAAAAEqk/SyS8Kk-SifM/s400/Beach house 1.jpg

This is probably too dramatic for your taste, but you could reverse your color scheme--paint the wall that curves onto the ceiling, and the ceiling, the color of your choice (blue, or a second try), and then paint the wall that has a defined border with the ceiling white. This would also slightly reduce the noticeableness of your airconditioner, as it would no longer contrast with the wall as dramatically.

Reversing the color scheme, as DrLBennett said is a good idea. If you can afford, I'd suggest a recessed ceiling of about 4in deep ending 1in from the walls. That will separate the curve from the ceiling, but the curve will appear to continue and the room will be lighter.

A crown molding placed at the bottom of the curve, as Ether Gnat suggested works wery well. Paint the ceiling in white mat (never paint a ceiling in gloss finish, it will enhance every finnishing flaw) and paint all the walls with a stronger color. I like to use satin finnish for the wall paint. The crown mould is important to create a border between the walls and the ceiling. It works better than just changing the colors.
As for the Air conditioning, you can frame it or you could build a shelving unit with the sides closed.

Post photos here when you have finished the room, ok?

Best regards,

Gustavo Petinati, architect.

Oh, by the way, if you'll do as I suggested, paint all the walls with the same color.

Yeah, I have the same ceiling in my living room; there's a picture rail, though, which delineates the ceiling from the wall.

Oh, but you know what would look cool and would be almost impossible to implement? OMBRE!