Let me make sure I understand. You say the "box" has to stay because there is plumbing and duct work inside. Yet you also say you don't need the heat duct, and you don't use the tub. It sounds to me like the duct work and plumbing could be eliminated. Along with the tub.

It would help to see the rest of the floor plan, but I would think about putting some shelving there - deep enough for towels or baskets for storage, and then you would have about half of the ledge space as counter.

Have you searched Houzz for bathroom pictures? You might also get some inspiration there.

BTW, I agree with "what was the builder thinking". LOL.

I would stop thinking of "useful" and think something you like....you like plants. I like silk plants and I like ferns in the bathrooms and there are some out there that looks really nice for silk. I would set it right in the corner, maybe with a book with a fancy book mark or a vase or a combination of both. My problem would be picking a fern the size to get.

One of my favorite things to do is look at the decor in furniture stores. I get a lot of ideas in there.

I think most things you might do would just call attention to the awkwardness. I like the idea of plants and while I don't love silk/fake plants, what I did in my own house is mix them with real plants for a fuller, more lush display.

I'd move that metal shelf and the medicine cabinet, center the art on the wall and fill the shelf with plants. I'd get some large real or fake ferns for the back and fill it in with your real ones, maybe a blooming orchid or two.

IâÂÂd say it has to stay because I am not ready to tackle renovating that room. Down the road, maybe. But compared to other things, it is not a huge priority, not enough to deal with the headache of the pipes and ductwork.

Numbersjunkie, or others, like what kind of shelving? Baskets could corral some of my stuff like bottles. I am having trouble visualizing what would look nice.

Once I come up with a design I am thinking of including a really dramatic vase (I already own a lot), or a terrarium. A friend gave me a fern case, like a mini greenhouse for ferns. IâÂÂd have to build some kind of stand for it, or incorporate it in some way.

I would like to see all the med/vitamin bottles go into some kind of storage, maybe a box on top of the wall cabinet or something. The little shelf can go. Take down the picture and replace with a tiered plant stand. I love indoor plants, too, it would be so nice to have a dedicated display for more plants ;-)

It is so easy to let unused/seldom-used toiletries spread out into open space, but I believe that with self-discipline and reminders, you can get into the habit of keeping the area clear and only letting plants hang out there.

Edit -- IDK the dimensions of the space, but I'm certain you could find a stand that will work!

Here is a link that might be useful: tiered stand

This post was edited by melle_sacto on Wed, Dec 3, 14 at 12:13

I think some sort of tiered corner unit in that spot would be great. But I would get rid of the wall cabinet so that you could get something fairly large. Then I'd get some sea grass baskets to set in front of the corner unit to hold the contents of the wall cabinet :)

Oh, maybe something like this corner bookcase I found at PB? The weathered pine is on clearance. It's 29.5" along each wall, so would fill that space perfectly.

Where is your natural light, and how much do you get? I could see a tall plant (tree? palm?) in the background, your Wardian case (fern enclosure) in the center, and some small plants like African Violets in the foreground if the light is right for them.

I really like these ideas! The medicine cabinet I want to keep. I really do use it and putting its contents - which are really small - in baskets would not work. There is no other open wall to move it to.

I do have good - though mostly indirect - light for plants in this room. I took this photo at night, but if you look at the mirror on the left, you can see a reflection of the window, which is in a 1 foot deep box bay. There is also a skylight which is about 6 feet away. This room also has a tall ceiling, so even raised up on this boxy thing, I have room for a tree. Funny how I have never thought of that. It is winter here now, so I will probably have to wait on buying one, but I could start looking now for the tiered shelf. That stair one is really nice, and an interesting form for this square shape.