It's lovely! As for the paintings, I prefer the second over the sofa. Why? The proportion is much better, IMO, for that space . . . and I like the softer colors of the second better. They work better, I think, with the softness of your new, beautiful room.

Thanks to you both. I agree the shape of the second one is much better, I just love the "drama" and presence of the other bird! I can return either one, but I'd like to find a place in our house for the darker vertical print.

tibbrix: I have the darker print propped up to the left of the sofa as you suggested. Hmmmmm--that might be a great idea! I'll have to decide after I get the other print hung. I'll be taking it to the frame shop tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Diana

Post pics when it's up and with the other propped so we can see how they look. I think with that green plant right there, seems like a perfect spot for that pelican, no?

Lol.

Maybe just for the sake of dissension, I'll say that I'm hoping for your first bird to be hung on the left balanced by 2 new pieces stacked over the right side of the couch. The new pieces could incorporate black and maybe the line-drawing texture of the (paris map?) over the credenza to lighten up the solidity of the bird a bit. I don't think you'd find the 'right' pieces soon, but it would be a matter of watching and waiting, so the horizontal pelican does offer immediate gratification b/c he does fit.

Too neutral for my taste but I notice with lamps on it warms the room & with the tall pelican with golden beak/pouch & couple of bright gold pillows & maybe bowl same color would give it a warm feeling during time the lights aren't on. Any time I watch a decorating show on TV they always pick out a fairly bright color for about 3 items to be placed around the room to pull it together & add warmth. Most green garden will have something in them to add a surprise "pop" of color, whether a flowering plant or a piece of statuary.

OH First one! I love him! Where did you find him? I'd just hang him now and wait til you find the right partners. He is bold enough to go it alone. He looks like art - the other one looks like just decoration.

I really like the vertical piece. My first thought is to hang it above the left half of the sofa, as you have it propped and hang two identical dark (black?charcoal?) framed mirrors stacked, over the right half of the sofa. They would reflect nicely from your windows and wouldn't compete with the drama of your art piece.

I adore the vertical piece. That fellow has character and, as much as a pelican can have it - attitude! I can see the temptation to hang the larger piece over the sofa because it fits, but I'd use only the vertical one (unless you just have a thing for pelicans - ;-)), even if you put it somewhere in the room besides over the sofa and keep looking for something else to fill that space.

Once again, thank you all! You've given me much "food for thought".

olychick: I really like your idea of balancing the first print with two matching mirrors on the right. Right now, I'm leaning in that direction!

missymoo12: Thanks--I love him too. I found it by googling Audubon bird prints--at Target of all places. It was even on sale ;} I was actually looking for some items for another room, and there he was, in all his glory!

sunnca_gw: LOL-you're right, it is very neutral. I'm a little weird about color--if I used "pops of color" in that room it would drive me nuts! Even the tiniest little accessories can't be too bright. I find the neutral palette calm, restful and soothing.

lisaam--your comment about instant gratification was right on, and helped me realize I was going for the easy fix if I chose the second one.

auntjen--he DOES have character, doesn't he? I think he needs a name………..

For now, I'm going to hang that bad boy on the left side of the sofa, and wait for the right pieces to come along to join him!

Diana

What about turning your favored pelican into a triptych by flanking it with canvases painted black, like this:

How about doing what cawaps has done, but instead of plain black canvases, use mirrors? Plain canvases seems odd to me (sorry, cawaps) but mirrors would be pretty, in a charcoal frame, maybe, or antique silver? Sort of what oly was suggesting but a different layout.

I like the one you've chosen. But I'd hang him on the right. To me he needs to be looking toward the center of the sofa and not out from the end of it.

Perhaps a pair of shutters on either side of the vertical pelican?

Now I'm envisioning a pair of really pretty tortoise bamboo-framed mirrors flanking that Bad Boy.

Along the lines of ...

I like the pelican, too. There are many ways to fill the space, but I would like to see him in the middle, one long piece on one side, and then two pieces (horizontal) that, together, would match the length and would be the same width of the pelican and other long piece. I would not use mirrors unless you have something great to reflect, but I would find similar frames, or something to connect the other art-- could be color, theme, matting, etc.

I love the tall, upstandin 'young man', such presence! I could see something on either side, or olychick's idea of 2 identical mirrors. Groupings make a focal point more interesting too. 3 is a good number with a large picture.

So many great ideas! I did some window shopping today--but came home empty handed. I'll try to be patient and keep looking for just the right look.

I did mail the other one back today--I'm sticking with my favorite "bad boy"!

Thanks so much……...

Diana

PS: auntjen: I LOVE those mirrors! I'm sure they are way over my budget, though ;{

I'm so glad you kept Mr. Personality. Now you just need to tell us his name. ;-)

auntjen--I'm thinking he's a "Percy", short for Percival, of course!