Is there room for a small upholstered chair there? You need art on the wall. Or a trunk with art above, a tall larger art piece that is framed in the doorway as you approach the room from down the hall. Even with the plant you still need an art piece; a dramatic one would be nice.

I think the entire hallway is gorgeous, and the 'parlor palm' you chose is very dramatic, especially in the traditional sense. You really have a gift for placing the right furniture and accessory in the right spot, IMO.

A couple of tips on keeping the palm healthy and thriving....take it outside every three or four weeks, gently hand-wash the fronds with a bit of Dial soap, hose it down well, leach and water the soil by repeatedly running water through the pot. A dusty plant attracts insects and disease and will be slowly declining and on its way out....

Oh, and by the way, I notice you did not take an earlier poster's suggestion of raising the decorative ironwork above your bed. I really think you should....

threedgrad, I added the chair while it looks ok in the room, it doesnt look right to me from the hallway. I took some pictures. I think art would make the spot too crowded, you dont think so?

begoniagirl, thanks for the compliment. I was hoping for something more dramatic, and less work. I have tried palms before but they keep dying on me. thanks for the tips, I really love the look of them.
I need to keep the ironwork above the bed where it is, I lost a bet with DH so I need to keep true to my word :>(
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I cant help, roseabbey, but want to tell you your hall is lovely & you have done a great job with it.

I do agree with the others that a poster-size picture would look wonderful. If it were that large you probably would not need a chair or other furniture under it. Could you prop one of the pictures from the hall against that wall to see what a picture that size would look like? Taking a pictue would give you a good perspective rather than just looking at it.

I think I'd move the dresser that is on the other wall into the space and maybe put the plant on top of it. I do like the chair in the corner, though. The plant just doesn't work there imho.

I really like the chair there and also think adding some artwork above/behind the plant would look great.

Another option is to use a japanese jandinier pot for the plant, with a wooden stand. The pot could be one that works with the colors in your room.
I find the white pot distracting and the metal legs too lightweight.

Here is a link that might be useful: Just an example.......

The link above didn't work!

Here is a link that might be useful: an example........

Working with what you have, I would swap the palm with the chair and place a piece of artwork above the chair (perhaps that picture above your bust in the hallway).

How about a mirror with a small bench or stool under it?
source: Sarah Richardson
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Wisteria
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Pottery Barn
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Ballard
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Rose, have you considered moving the dresser by the door to the wall where the plant, smaller nightstand and chair are now? I think one big piece on the wall rather than three smaller pieces would look so much better. Adding a nice lamp and artwork over the dresser would seal the deal.

First of all, you have a lovely home and beautiful hallway. That spot in your master bedroom seems a good spot for a nice chase or chair plus ottoman. Something more substantial than what you have there now since your area is spacious.

kathleenca/vampire, thanks I am considering putting a picture there.

sasfara/deborah thanks, If you look at the picture of bedroom inside the room, the night table with lamp is right there, I dont think the dresser would look nice there when you are actually in the room, too heavy in that spot IMO

annz, I actually have one of those pots, I will try and see how that looks, thanks

kimm, I have a bench in the room already. I think adding a mirror would only make the hallway seem longer but thanks for the thought.

valinsv, thank you. I have a chair plus ottoman on the other side of the room by the windows.

Seems like I could have so many options but for one reason or another dont seem to work in the spot :>(

I agree that the palm needs to be in a larger and darker jardiniere. The small white jardiniere is a distraction even though your trim is white.

You could also try to swap the chair and palm location to see how it looks, but I think a more substantial container for the palm may do the trick.

It's been said before by many that you have a beautiful home and great taste. A common thread on this board is that we agonize over color, placement, furniture, accessories, pretty much everything in our nests. So important to get it right, if there is such a thing.

Thanks begoniagirl. I have another jardiniere, I will see how it looks in that. I might have to move the palm. Even though the room has 3 floor to ceiling windows, the palm is about 15 feet away from them so it might not get enough light in that spot. I might be back to square one again looking for something else there, oh well, its funny how we women agonize over our nests.

You have a beatiful home and have done a wonderful job. I agree with you about not moving the dresser, not having a chair there, etc. - all the things people have suggested.

So, here's one more suggestion that I think would look good down the hall as well as in the bedroom. How about a piece of sculpture? A large piece (about 5' tall or so), would be dramatic in the hallway as well as beautiful in your bedroom.

I think your home is very elegant and tastefully decorated! I agree with others that the white of the planter isn't working. I'd either repot the plant or glaze over the current one with a darker color to subdue it. The plant should get the attention rather than the planter. Other than that, I'd call it done! I'm the type who prefers some empty space to rest the eyes and don't think anything else is needed at that spot.

holleygarden, thank you, as a matter of fact I do have a scuplture of a woman and child that sits on a pedestal about 4 feet high, which I havent put anywhere. I will give that a try. It might not be wide enough or tall enough but thanks for the suggestion.

Sharon midtn, thank you. I am considering changing out the pot if I leave the plant there. I am also with you on preferring some empty space, I dont like if a room has too much stuff.

The nightstand is really too small and too low for the bed.

Why don't you find a new home for that, perhaps beside a reading chair, and put in a console table there that would act as both a nightstand and a good filler for the wall space. You could put a lamp on it closer to the bed (but the table shouldn't be up against the bed, a few inches of breathing space is good), add a plant on top, a piece of art over the table, a pretty candle, perhaps even a desk chair angled out a bit from the table to act as a desk if you like. If you don't do the chair, then you could do a low planter under the console table.

Your home is quite beautiful. I like the idea of the palm tree there, but I would like to suggest not that palm tree. I think one that is much bigger, and would fill up the wall space more would look great.

I'm not sure about the chair in the corner, it seems to be bordering on "lining the walls" with things.

So my suggestion is a bigger tree, and maybe even some cool vintage suitcases to add some texture near the palm, maybe stacked? Or forget the suitcases if it looks too busy.

Maybe one of the photoshop experts here could stick a big palm tree in there.

Good luck to you.

les917, thanks for your suggestion, but whatever I put there needs to be centered with the middle of the transom so it will look right from the hallway. Your suggestion would look good in the room itself but not from the hall.

beekeeperswife, thank you, yes, something probably taller would look better, but might have to move that palm anyway from that spot, I dont think there is enough light in that location for it.

Roseabbey, I have to add another 2-cents. I still vote strongly for leaving the palm in that location....BUT I would get a dark square pedestal that stands just 4-6 inches below the height of your nightstand. Then get a larger darker jardiniere for the palm. That seem more in the scale of your hallway art and table. The palm is great but container and stand just too wimpy. You may have to move the chair or not.

Judging from your photos, the palm will be happy with the light. They can live in darker areas, and your corner doesn't look all that dark, as long as you keep them groomed, clean, and leached, as I said earlier.

Because you have the bust on a pedestal in your hallway, it makes a beautiful transition in your style to a pedestal with a parlor palm. And don't you think that plants really warm up a room?

I really love your home!

How about a leaning floor mirror?

Here is a link that might be useful: Floor mirrors

beongiagirl, I havent had a chance to try the japanese jardinier I have and see how the palm looks in that. I do like the idea of a dark pedestal as you mention but I wouldnt want it too high. I have a round pedestal I could try. I really like the palm in there, as the room already has a tropical feel to it and the palm just accenuates that feeling. I will try keep the poor thing alive!

I posted a message to you on another post you sent to teacats about seeing more of your kitchen. From what I can see in the pictures, it looks quite beautiful. Can you post more picture please.

charliennj, thanks for the mirror suggestion. I think it would elongate the already long hallway.

Hi Roseabbey....As far as the pedestal for the palm, as I said earlier, it should be a few inches lower than your nightstand, IMO.

I wasn't planning on posting photos of our kitchen, but since you asked, I'd love to! It's raining like crazy here in Socal.

I think I'll start a new thread on this board with a few of our kitchen photos which I just shot.

And please post some photos after you get the palm in place so I won't have to wonder about it anymore while I'm in the shower!!

Here's an article that might help.

http://yourdecoratinghotline.com/10-hallway-decorating-ideas/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2010035327_interiors10.html

begoniagirl, i look forward to seeing your beautiful kitchen pictures. I tried the japanese jardinier, it was too colorful IMO, sort of competing with the bed. I will have to wait till spring when new pots come out in the stores to find something else. Thanks for all your thoughts.

kimmieb, that was an interesting link. I like the idea of the big piece of art with a picture light, that would have been very dramatic at night. Thank you for that link.

I don't know whether the ticking would bother in the bedroom, but what about a really beautiful wall clock or grandmother clock? Personally, I find the ticking of a clock comforting, and you can turn off the chimes. Here's a really pretty one.
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: Wall clock

What if you used a desk perpendicular to the wall w/a lamp and then you could use small art above--move the chest from the wall in your bdrm and use it as a nightstand if space permits, it not, use nightstand, but don't return the chest to that wall--use elsewhere.
Actually I would like its weight in your foyer instead of the console.

Now for lighting, because you'll have a lamp on the desk, you can't use one on nightstand/chest too, because they would be too close to one another--but what you could do is add swing-arm or wall lamps on either side of bed or maybe even just one on that side over the nightstand/chest.

Use chair w/desk.

Jim.

dee/jim, thanks for your suggestions but for now I think I will stick with the palm.

begoniagirl, here is the picture you asked for, I did centered it but after I took the picture. I did try the darker jardinier but I prefer the lighter one. What you dont see from the picture is that there is a white fireplace, plus 3 sets of windows with white shutters on the other side of the room. The white pot bring some of that white over to this other side of the room nicely. I did however change the stand as you suggested to the darker one. I like it the way it is right now so I think I will keep it that way for now anyway. Thanks for all your suggestion, even while in the shower! I did see pictures of your gorgeous kitchen, loved it.

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Eva

roseabbey, I know you nixed the idea of a floor mirror leaning there (several times), but I'm going to try again. What if you leaned a large decorative mirror there, maybe even one with antique or distressed looking glass, BUT you also put the plant in front of the mirror. That way you get a reflection of light, the plant appears twice as big, but you aren't overwhelmed by the hallway appearing twice as long. If you hide a small uplight beside the plant it will create an interesting, sculptural texture/pattern on the wall & ceiling. You could get really creative and drape a beautiful piece of silk or something over part of the mirror as well.

My second choice would be a large scale piece of artwork.

Just a thought. And, btw, I also think your house is beautiful. Love the hallway paint color -- can you tell me what it is?

Thanks & good luck!

Forgive me if I'm repeating a suggestion, I just sort of skimmed above (lack of sleep). Have you considered a different palm? It looks so pretty there, and if you have high windows across the room a palm requiring only moderate to lower light should be just fine. Here are results of a quick google search for low light palms.

Am I the only one picturing a suit of armor there?

Your house is beautiful! Hope you can find something you like.

hudson, I am keeping the palm for now, see how well it does in that spot and then if not well, I will have to get more creative. Thanks for the suggestions.

moon, I was looking for a lady palm, but the only kind we have in our area is the majestic palm, which is difficult to keep, so we will see. thanks for your suggestion.

gregsmama, you made me laugh, I would never have thought of a suite of armour, lol. It would look interesting from the hallway but not so much in our bedroom which has a tropical feel to it. Anyway I already have a KNIGHT sleeping next to me in bed! LOL.

roseabby - Can you tell me what your paint color is?

Laurie

Love the changes!

Perhaps -- in the future -- add a lamp or two to the various tables that we can see in the photo? Always nice to have additional lighting options ....

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

mrose, the wall color in the hall and throughout my house is Behr Harvest Brown, a mid tone taupe color.

teacats, thanks! Had the console in the hall been a chest I would have put a lamp, the cords would have been hidden. Visable hanging cords is one of my pet peeves.

I know you've decided to settle with the palm, and I don't blame you, and I don't want you to feel you have to patiently and politely respond to me - ignore me, I thought I'd post for any lurkers or people who just want to think about this problem as an academic design exercise! I actually think the plant looks pretty good and I'm just exercising my brain here.

I too would take away the night stand, and put in a long low dresser that functions as a night stand and also fills most of that wall - a nice 6 or 9 drawer unit would be my choice with a lamp by the bed, a plant or something else in view from the hall. One reason I wouldn't make it a table is that there are getting to be too many legs in sight as you look down the hall. I would also like it to be evident that you're looking into a bedroom and not just a bend in the hall. And just a vertical accent just adds more linearity to the view; my brain wants to add something horizontal.

Notwithstanding that, I love the knight - the idea, and the real life interpretation :-)

KarinL

KarinLl, I dont mind responding, we all learn from each other. I wanted something that would be centered to the middle of the transom, that is why I was having such a hard time finding something. I know I will find something when I least expect it. Thanks for your thoughts.

Absolutely love the hall decorating. I'm sure the palm will grow into that spot beautifully. The large canvas hall pictures really caught my eye. Were they purchased locally or online? I've been looking for such pictures for my front hall. Any info would be appreciated!

lowjo

Hi lowjo, I bought those pictures at The Bombay store about 4 years ago, they are one of my favourites. Thanks