ok, as I understand your description the high ceiling is over the LR and the low ceiling is the kitchen area, and you want to "bring down" the look of the high ceiling over the LR. Here's a link that shows multiple options for achieving that look:

http://www.houzz.com/vaulted-ceiling

I'd do anything before I'd paint it, but that's just me hating the smell of paint.

 

Slanted ceiling over both LR and K. Ceiling slants down from one side to another. Over entire rooms. Hope I explained that right. Appreciate that sight, wonder if there's anything less expensive.

 

Anything covering a wide expanse of ceiling is going to be expensive. That's why I'd probably try to do something like hanging a big light lower and making it the focal point. If you look around you might find a decent priced large light that could do that by itself and not have to invest in a lot of expensive architectural changes.

 

soulsurvior You're absolutely right. There's a light hanging in DR. It does bring eye down to where ceiling can be ignored. Thank you so much!

 

Looking at hanging lights on CL. There are some very nice ones cheap. Thinking I'll have to match hanging light in DR as much as possible. Any thoughts on that?

 

Without a picture it's kinda hard to say, but I'm thinking I'd go with the same lights making certain they're hanging at the same height. That would give the perception of keeping the focus continuous across the rooms. You have the choice of hanging pendant lights or using track types of lighting.

You can go to a search engine such as google and type in "sloped ceiling lighting" and get more information and video links. Good luck and hope it all works out great for you.