About the colour scheme thing. Why not try for feature type colours for each room? For example, choose a light shade for all the walls, then a bright colour for one wall of each room area. For example, you could go for blues, or reds, but I've got a feeling you might be a magenta and orange kind of girl.
It might sound crap, but the result can be stunning if you split up the different rooms slightly by using free standing screens or situating your furniture appropriately maybe.