My philosophy on interior design

OK, so I am just a regular person who shouldn't HAVE a philosophy on interior design (and those who know me could have a good laugh with our mix of furniture, etc.) but here it is anyway.

Simple is best.

Straight lines are more appealing to me than curvy.

Light in a room is critical. Views from one room to another are important.

I love cozy but I require open. I love interesting details but don't like a busy, over-packed room.

I appreciate the Craftsman style. The Cooley house was not and should not be Craftsman style, but can contain some elements of it. Surprisingly, I was just reading (after deciding the above) that Farmhouse style often incorporates Craftsman design.

For example, I love oak and the grain of oak and we already have a Stickley arm chair and ottoman (leather seat & back, oak arms, etc.) and Stickley coffee table (two small tables pushed together) and a bedroom bureau.  Maybe we will splurge on an oak/Stickley love seat for the living room. 

My idea for oak kitchen bases would fit with this.

Older kitchens often do not have upper cupboards, that is why I am going with mostly bases and then upper shelves instead of cupboards.

Since the stairs will be exposed to the living room, I would love to do those in a similar oak (even though otherwise I am having white woodwork throughout), maybe white risers on the stairs to help integrate it?

The newel post at the base of the stairs in the original house was a simple square post with the top angled up on all four sides to a smaller square top (see photo). I’d like to recreate that except out of oak. 

I’d love to have the handrail be somehow special (ideas?) and the baluster posts as you move up the stairs be more interesting than the usual without going overboard…so a Craftsman sort of look…maybe two narrow square posts per step? Or a flatter oak board with a small simple cut out like an oval leaf and stem (one per step)?

Could the mudroom have an oak bench to repeat the use of oak?  Maybe an oak board that has hooks?

It is kind of strange that I like white woodwork and doors/windows, yet I want some oak included in the house.