You have a lovely room. My first thought is to have a large basket with faux ivy trailing down around and onto the mirror a bit. This would visually "lower" the ceiling and the green would also give added color to your room. Another green plant (a live one) under your window on the left might be a nice addition.

I hope you won't mind my mentioning this, but the shelves under the mirror might benefit by having fewer and more cohesive items on them. The rest of your room looks very serene and uncluttered but my eyes instantly went to the shelves and the differing colors and shapes somehow did not blend in with the rest of the room. I say this with great good will, and hope you don't mind my comments.

I'd take that basket that you have in front of the window, stuff the bottom of it with books or something so that you could have it filled to the brim with some sort of dried arrangement that billowed out of it in all directions. I would then take the smaller trunk and put it in the middle of the bottom shelf. The secret of staging shelves is to avoid items that are the same height. Now that I think of it, do you think you could line the back of that box opening with a fabric that would match the color of your drapes? Just some suggestions, I'm sure you'll get many more.

I would run moulding that matches the moulding around the windows, starting from the ceiling, down the left side to the floor, then back up the other side. I would add moulding between each of the shelves as well. Where you have the mirror now, I would put in a plate glass mirror that would fill the space between the top of the three shelves and the cubbyhole up high. The whole mirror and the shelves would be surrounded by moulding so it would have a built in cabinet effect. Then I would add a wood sunburst pediment to cover the cubbyhole, so that it echoed the shape of the window tops, painted the same as the trim color. You could even add a pair of sconces on the mirror area to bring some light to that space.

THe sunburst pediment would look something like this:

sunburst pediment

If you want a simple solution for the box, I would get up there and add a false back with some painted plywood (or even painted foamboard) to make the shelf less deep. Then put in a trio of sculptural candlesticks (tall ones with some visual substance) and open the trunk, filling it with greenery to fill the space both upward and some hanging and trailing. I would still frame out the shelf with moulding, as I would the ones below, to look as lovely and finished as the rest of the space.

I would also think about shortening the jabots on the window treatments - they make the windows feel kind of squatty because they are so much longer and have so much presence compared to the windows. Or, add textured floor length sheers underneath to give a more vertical feel to the windows.

Take the trunk and move it to the left, and angle it diagonally into the corner of the niche.

On the right, put a tall bunch of ornamental grasses. Use a vase or not. Something like this:

I would switch to the two white ceramic vases that are nowing sitting on top of the entertainment center. Place them slightly off-center -- to the left -- and then add a soft white bowl (or a larger bowl in a similar color) to the right. That would give you some visual interest up there -- but not too heavy.

Would love to see a switch to a large round mirror -- any chance of adding a thick shelf on top of the three shelves to act like a "mantel"? JUST some thoughts!

How about an antique bird cage? I'm currently looking for one to put on top of my armoire in my master bedroom. Some of them are gorgeous, and they come in all sorts of materials and colors including bamboo, painted wire, and wood. You will find plenty through a google search.

As far as the shelves, I love the way these shelves are decorated. Another one is here.

If les917's suggestion to trim out the entire area is too ambitious for you right now, how about just adding casing to the shelving area so that it will look like a wonderful built-in bookcase. You could even add a ledge over the top, so you'd end up with a mantle for display. That could be very pretty. Then change the rectangular mirror to a round or arch-topped mirror and don't use the small adjacent prints next to it. You may also consider adding a slightly lighter than your drapes color to the wall (paint, paper or fabric) behind the shelves to make your display items pop..

The niche could hold your large basket or a series of smaller baskets (3 or 5) or 3 birdcages of varying styles if that appeals.

Well, here goes, from another visually oriented person who is definitely not a decorator. Your taste is similar to mine so I really like the overall look. I like both of the previous ideas of adding either that great basket or the dried grasses up there with the trunk. I agree something needs to be done there. The other things in the room that I would like to see change are the mirror and the 2 small pictures on either side. It may just be the way I see things, but I think something else would look better there--one large picture maybe.

Here's an idea...I would put a set of doors with German antique glass in the middle of the doors. Duplicate your molding that you have on the windows and French Doors. I think the opening could be narrowed up a little in the width, you can do this with the molding.

I love the ornamental grass that mclark posted and think that would look wonderful on the right side. I love that the grass looks very out-doorsy :)
For the left side, I would hunt for the perfect statuary (using the ornamental grass for inspiration) that is nature related like birds or bunnies. Also put a light inside. My idea is that is --is it a window to the outside or a cabinet? hmmm...very interesting!

The room is lovely BTW, I think you need a bigger mirror and it needs to be moved up several inches. You can use that mirror somewhere else in the house, mirrors are good, they add sparkle and life to spaces, good feng shui too!

Joann

Oh, I love the idea of a birdcage! Something tall and elegant, with lots of curves -- the airiness (airyness? airy quality?) would perfectly offset the short solidity of the trunk.

crown molding with a darker cieling would be fun in that space. I also like the idea of something green up in the upper nitch. Mayby open the trunk and have ivy hanging out of it. I would love to see lots of old books in the lower shelves with just a few nicknacks to brake them up. Its such a great room and you have done just a good job with putting the bones in that it will be easy for you to tweek it every now and then for a fun new look.

Sophiesmom08, could you post one of the other photos you have showing the niche from the top of the stairs? It is an unusual niche and the decorating challenge it presents is not apparent in the two photos you posted here.

In the photos you posted the niche looks like a boxy hole. My first thought was to cover it with a tapestry and hide it. Then thought maybe shutters or glass doors on it would work. Your album is open and I was able to see the area in question from another view and of course none of these things would work.

Most people would wish to accent the height of the ceiling but you wish to 'lower' it. That presnts a challenge. I am thinking that you could put some large pottery on the shelf up there that is not too colorful. That would fill in the space yet not draw the eye up with the color. Some pottery like you have on top of your entertainment center might work in a different size. Something that is the wall color with some soft, pale, neutral browns in it. That way the space in the niche is filled in with something so it does not look like a hole, yet does not scream "look at me up here".

I would fill in the book shelves with lots of books to avoid the 'rectangular hole' look from repeating itself. Keep a little bit of open space, and a couple of the ceramic items on the shelf.

I would remove the mirror and get some wall art that has a random design to break up all the "squareness" that is going on with the niche shelf and the bookshelves. Maybe some wrought iron flat scupture type thing. It should be narrower than the bookshelf width so as not to overpower it. Using something the same width as the niche shelf and bookshelves would draw the eye straight up with the 'column' effect and you do not want that from what you say.

Probably not your style, but an example of a lightweight random design wall art piece that would keep the eye at the lower part of the room. They make wall art in more traditional designs too.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

My thought about your lower shelf was to fill them completely with books and I notice dilly-dally said something similar. For myself, I would try first to fill the whole space with only books. If you don't like that look, you can try adding a few favorite pieces that you have on the shelves now, but not too many. Putting family photos in different places around a room is not considered good decorating. A grouping of them, if you really want to have them in a public room, looks much more coherent visually so that your eyes are not constantly darting around the room. The idea of having light-colored pottery to fill up the rectangle at the top seems like a very good one. Having more objects and open trunks and grasses sounds contrived to me and will lead the eye away from the lower part of the room but I know others have different ideas. By the way, your doggie is so cute!

Maybe it's the mirror that's throwing me off, but it looks like a fireplace was supposed to be there. If you don't want or can't swing one, I'm with the folks who advised adding molding to the bookcase niches and changing out the mirror for something more substantial.

There is something about the mirror that is putting me off, I think maybe it needs to be oval. Even with the arched windows, the square mirror doesn't seem like it goes.

I would remove the two small pictures that are on either side of the mirror. Then I would replace the mirror with a larger one than goes almost up to the niche. The new mirror could either be the width of the shelves or the width of the niche. I think this would help pull the two spaces together. Then follow some of the suggestions for arranging objects in the niche and the shelves. Just remember that odd numbers of varying heights usually look best together.

The small mirror is bothering me too. It's just too small in scale for the rest of the grand and beautiful room.

I second what artlover says, with one addition -- I would have the upper niche drywalled over, and make the mirror above the shelves be much larger -- extending up into part of the wall where the niche was/is.

I would also trim out the three recessed shelves to look like it is a bookcase, possibly including down to the floor with an apron. then I'd put a lot of pretty books in there, and use just a very few of the larger accessories as bookends, or sitting atop a pile of books, etc.

It is truly a gorgeous room and very lovely the way you have it furnished.

After hearing so many of your suggestions, I now know that my concerns about the dreaded wall in my living room were legitimate. I really appreciate all the comments, ideas and helpful suggestions. This site is like having your own private staff of decorators at your disposal.

Parma is right, the space was supposed to be for a fireplace, but we decided that we wanted the fireplace in the family room in the basement. Couldn't afford both. Probably was a mistake.

I read your suggestions and looked again at my pictures and could see exactly what each of you meant. Things I had never noticed before.
1. The backs of the shelves do need color to make the display pop. Right now everything just fades into the background.
2. There's no cohesiveness to what's on the shelves and there is way too many things.
3. I have already taken down the two small prints on the sides of the mirror. What was I thinking?
4. The jobots are too long. I had never noticed that. Do they need to go to bottom of the window trim?
5. The mirror does not do justice to the space. It may be too small, wrong shape, something's not right.

First of all, I really want the upper ledge gone. The problem is talking my DH into letting me find someone to close it in.

I love the idea of finishing out the shelves as a bookcase. I think that would look wonderful. Do you think old books would look better in the space rather than newer books? I am a book collector and have many shelves full of novels in various areas of the house.

Les917: I really like your idea of the Sunburst Pediment and would like to find a way to incorporate it into the redesign of the space.

Any other suggestions or pics would still be appreciated because this project will take place slowly in the spring. Thanks so much in advance.

Since you want the upper ledge gone can you consider having them close in the "bookshelves" too? This would give more options for the room if down the line you wish for a new furniture arrangement by having a smoth wall between the windows. You can put a table and lamp on that wall or even a massive bookcase for your books.

One of the ideas I originaly had was to just hide the 'hole in the wall' shelving with a piece of furniture bookshelf/curio cabinet.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I think that Dilly is onto something. However, having a DH myself and realizing what HIS reaction would be to something like that, couldn't you just put a large bookcase, jutted up to the wall? If it was about the same width as your upper ledge, then things would be back in balance. Then the alcove would look like it had a purpose, in the scheme of things.

Sophie, I am also thinking that the upper ledge should be there so that the view from the top of the staircase landing is not that of a big white wall. The ledge adds interest, even if it is left empty. I think the problem area in this room, that needs to be addressed, is the tiny bookshelf cubby. A big, interesting piece of furniture on that wall will keep they eye down in the room and not wander up, and it is the height of the room that you say you wish to downplay.

I agree with you Sophie's Mom; if I had a big hole in the wall where a fireplace was supposed to go (but probably never will), I'd fill it in too.

Once you get the sheetrocking done, I'd try hanging some interesting fabric art. Maybe a tapestry or unique rug, hung from just above the arch of the windows, down to about the middle of where the mirror is now. It would be a shame to have those high ceilings and *not* hang something to take advantage of them.

I'm also with Dilly Dally, (I'm certainly being agreeable tonight), if you can sheetrock over them, I'd put a large, wide piece of furniture (bookcase or possibly a highboy) in front the existing shelves. You could stage a few pieces on top of that. The shelves themselves are, to my eye, too massive for the size of the space for the books. Why would they need to be 1/3 the size of the open space? They're holding books and decorative accessories, not motor parts and lead weights, and I'm not sure how trimming them out would change that.

As for what books you should put in your bookshelves; my personal rule is that unless you specifically collect first editions or all of your books are tawdry paperback romance novels full of heaving bosoms and handsome, dark haired men with a sordid past, I think your shelves should only have those books that you are reading or have read. Afterall, how can you have a fascinating conversation with visitors about how much you enjoyed the story in this or that book if they're only there because they match the sofa?

Because, you know, the most important element in a room is always the people in it. ;^)

How about hanging a rug from the top of upper nitch to right below where the mirror now sits? It would need to be as wide as the the nitch . A large vertical painting might look good there as well. Those things would be really easy to mock up with a trow blanket or some thing you have already around. Maybe someone here thats really good with photo shop could help . That way you could cover that upper nitch without giving dh a corinary and add weight above the book shelves which would balance out their thick shelves.

Sophiesmom, drywalling is not that expensive, relatively speaking. We had several things done here (TX) for about $150, plus having to paint over it. The idea of covering the bottom niche shelves with a piece of furniture is a good possibility if it won't crowd the room -- though that is a very wide space to find something appropriate, that you like, to fit. So I'm still sticking with my idea of the economy of trimming it out with a tall mirror over it, because having the "bookcase" indented into the wall will give you the feel of more space in the room.

Yes, for visual effect IMHO old books definitely and not paperbacks (or only a few if so). Just interesting looking ones. Books in themselves are a beautiful thing and they need not match anything or be precious leather antiquarian books, but a grouping in their different colors and textures make for a really nice, uh, for lack of a better word, accessory. Terrible to say, but that's basically what they will be, an accessory, LOL. But who knows, you may end up reading some of them, then you can have that fascinating intellectual conversation littledog mentioned. :-)

A good place to get interesting looking books is the library store that sells used books people have donated. I've gotten some lovely ones dirt cheap there. Sometimes ebay will have an old set of the Great Books etc. very reasonably.

It would be very helpful, as Madeyna suggested, if someone could Photoshop some images that show some of the suggestions made so far (niche closed up, larger, round, or arch-topped mirror, sunburst pediment and shelves finished out as a bookcase).

Unfortunately, I don't think the room is large enough for me to put a piece of furniture in front of the open shelves. It would make the room too tight. Otherwise, that would be a good option.

Bigdoglover you're absolutely right, books are a beautiful thing and can touch people in various ways. I love all types of books. I mostly collect hardback novels, but do have some paperbacks, too. I was thinking more along the lines of older books for the bookshelves in the living room for appearance sake. They seem to have a bit more character and charm. I'll check with the library and the Internet.

I am getting excited about the possibility of maybe drywalling the niche/ledge. $150.00 is not that bad a price. Hopefully, the (KY) prices are similar. I have also toyed with the idea of painting the living room.

When we built 5 years ago, I was put off by the immense wall space that flowed from one area to another (foyer, living room, up the staircase, and down the upstairs hallway). Add the 20 ft ceiling in the living room area and that's a lot of wall space. I knew I needed to use one color and was just too afraid to use the rich vibrant color that I really wanted to for fear it would be overwhelming to the space. Maybe it would be a good time to get brave, LOL!
Thanks again everyone for all this GREAT help. I love it!

I love your room and the colors you have chosen. Would you mind sharing the wall paint color?
Thank you so much.
Carole