Jen, I think this rug in DH's study is from Tierra Wool in Los Ojos. It's what made me think of the Chimayo weavings . . . or Los Ojos. BTW, the rug is not faded on the one side, the sun coming through the window is shining on that side of it.

" I considered the very large Buffalo Robe painting for the spot, but it was too distracting so it went in the library instead."

So, anything of considerable size under that window will likely also be distracting, no?

I agree with taking a break. Enjoy your new home and don't feel like you have to do everything NOW. My philosophy is to take my time and find what I really want. I'm not one to "settle" for something else usually, because in the long run I will not be happy. So, don't rush. If there's something you really like that is a bit pricey, just wait a bit and save your pennies.

Paint petroglyphs? Seriously. Or look up native American wall decals. You'd be surprised what you can find.

Lynn, that piece is gorgeous! Those colors are just divine!

Thank you all for the excellent ideas - and the repeated suggestion to just "step away" and leave it be.

Re the busy-ness of the display on top of the china cabinet - yeah, that's a lot of baskets. But somehow, when I'm in the space, it doesn't feel like it's overload.

I may go ahead and get the dance shawl and just use it elsewhere. I have any number of places where it could be folded and draped over a piece of furniture - or even hung to display in one of the empty spaces upstairs that I haven't gotten around to obsessing over yet. ;-)

You must be experiencing "decorating withdrawal" LOL

I don't think you need anything there because of the glass block. If it were a solid wall, then yes. It will start to look busy hanging things below the glass block and my first thought was the same as Lynn's....there's too much black in the shawl and it is harsh looking.

Your house will start to look cluttered; not every blank space needs décor. Take a break, you've earned it!

Ditto!

I agree with the others who suggest stepping away. While I really have no dog in this fight, I remember you remarking how much you enjoyed the calmness of this new place in comparison to your former--I balk at using the word "cluttered"--over-accessorized cottage home. I subscribe to Coco Chanel's philosophy of taking off one item before leaving home.

I like the type of textile that Lyn posted, if it really bothers you to have the space open. But the more I look at it, it's great the way it is. I wouldn't feel compelled to get something for it at all. One thing you could do is to push the chairs out slightly from the table. The chair would be closer to the wall then and would occupy the wall space a little more than it does now.

Thanks again, all.

It doesn't really bother me that the space is blank, but I keep thinking about it and feeling that I might just hit on the perfect item to display there one of these times. Of course, the perfect solution may very well be leaving it just as it is. That's a decision I have yet to wrestle to the ground.

Noooooo! I think the blank wall space should stay uncluttered. You already have enough things there to keep the eyes moving around the room. Stop while you are ahead :-)

Take the money that you were willing to spend on "something to put there". Put it in a glass jar in the cupboard or even as a centerpiece on that table. The room looks finished already. One of these days you will see something that you HAVE TO HAVE and it will be out of your price comfort zone. Use the money in the jar plus whatever it takes to buy that wonderful new shiny object and don't feel guilty about spending so much on it.

The thing to do in that spot might be to cut the wallboard there and create recessed nooks.

I was going to suggest a decorative application of some sort. Southwestern pattern, tone on tone. But then I read all the suggestions to just let it be, and I agree the room is very calm now. I am not a fan of the glass block so I would hang a window treatment. That would be fairly flat..and even if hubby ran into it, no harm would be done. I also think I would like more color in the room but I seem to be in the minority.

I would give it a rest. That wall runs into the kitchen and so you already have lots of eye-clutter when you look at the kitchen/DR. The dining room really isn't separate, it is in the same visual space as the kitchen so look at the whole space and treat it as such.

Two ideas which you won't go along with include wallpapering that wall in something tone on tone or textured if you really want to do something with it or put in a hanging plant in the corner between the kitchen and DR or doing a hanging ivy off the cabinets in that same corner. I really wouldn't do anything with that bottom wall section.

It's hard for me to think of anything that wouldn't seem to hang low under that window and behind the chair or be something that might be bumped into.

Have you considered simply painting the wall an accent color -- a chocolate brown or other warm color?

I think the problem is the china cabinet wall is so busy you feel the need to even the field on the other wall. Why not try a mock up under the window using a few of those baskets?

Or mock up a wall accent color as Lascatx suggested.

What about three plates/baskets to either side of the window?

I had thought of just painting the wall an accent colour but the OP seems to really like shawls or rugs which are both textured hence the suggestion for textured wall paper. But either choice - or what about painting both the DR walls an accent colour.

How about a narrow shelf just below the window, painted the same as the walls. The shelf could hold some of your beautiful baskets.

Can you put any of the straw plates from the china cabinet on the sill of the window with the glass blocks? Might balance it a bit. And get used to seeing some colour on that side of the wall...maybe you need some, maybe you don't.

I see the glass block window as not only an interesting architectural detail but almost a piece of art in itself. I think it must look very different depending on the the light and I'd enjoy it as THE feature for that wall.

...at least until you happen upon the Perfect thing ;)

I really am standing down on this now! I tried hanging three of the baskets below the window and it was just too much of an "all in a row" look. Thought about putting them on the window ledge, but I don't want to block the window. I do like it very much.

I think the comment made about needing to treat this space as an extension of the kitchen is starting to make a lot of sense to me. As you can see by how the wall flows directly into the kitchen, the two spaces are definitely connected. Doing an accent wall (or wallpaper) wouldn't work because of that.

I'm now thinking that maybe all I need here is a green plant trailing slightly on the left side of the window ledge. An ivy with a very small leaf perhaps?

Maybe someday I'll consider a Lakota horse dance stick to hang below. Maybe. :-)

The horse dance stick would be fitting. Would it get bumped by the person sitting at the end of the table?

If you wanted to paint the wall an accent color, you really could carry that on into the kitchen above the cabinets. Looks like you could carry it over the stove too -- don't know where the wall goes from there to look at stopping though.

See, now I could totally see a dancing horse stick there!

How about trimming the window out and then adding ceiling to floor sheer's with some sort of interesting border?

I like the horse stick too and think it would be flat enough not to get bumped.

I really don't want fabric on any of the windows in the house. Got so accustomed to them being "furtains" in our previous home that we decided to only have shutters in this place and to leave the glass block windows uncovered.

I think an accent wall would break up the space too much. Really, I am totally leaning towards a plant on the sill. Or a horse stick. :-D

I like the idea of the horse sticks. How long are they? You could hang two of them, but hang them beyond the window frame. They would stay high enough so as to not get hidden behind the chair and be delicate enough to not overwhelm the wall.

You could hang the reddish one in front and the brown one behind. They would look like they were racing and the reddish one is looking behind to see where the brown one is. :)

blfenton, I love that idea! The horses aren't very big at 19" long by 7" high, but two of them hung as you describe would be so cool! It would also be close to $600 (yikes!) so I don't know when I could do it - but I like it! A lot!

Laser Creek, you have some lovely pieces.

glad you like the idea, with your existing decor I thought the finished look of the products wood be a classy addition to your dining room and give you the flexibility of choosing a design of your choice. I shared the horse designs because I thought it would give a good example of the look of the products. We have a lot of other design work to choose from. If your really interested in adding something like this to your dining room feel free to email me any ideas you want to pursue. Also, thanks very much for the kind feedback! Much appreciated!

Oh try a few ivy plants or other trailers on the window sill! They would be a great use of the window itself and wouldn't interfere with the backing of the chair. Some greenery would be nice. Little investment too--if you don't like them there, you can move them to another location.

That is just so wrong on every level.

Jen, since you are determined to put something on the wall, those arrows you posted a while back would probsbly be better than the dancing horses, and you already have them.

Have you considered putting a picture on the wall space between the window and fridge? A trailing ivy in a colorful pot on the ledge would look good too. All that said, the room looks great as is.

I woke up thinking about this space. Ha! Remember the brain that wouldn't turn off? :-)

Is there a particular reason that glass blocks were used on this wall rather than a traditional window? I'm wondering if the incompleteness that your eye is reacting to is that the window is stopped so high up. The header is already there, so a window that would come down lower could be installed at some point. Until then, some kitty friendly plants would look nice along the window sill.

Another option would be to put shutters, moldings, and a faux sill below the glass blocks that mimic the ones on the other side of the room, turning the glass blocks into a feature, sort of like stained glass, over the shutters.

Attempting to turn brain off now, LOL.

It s too bad you cant pull out that table somehow, or change the direction, or get a more square or round table . ... and make space for a beautiful wood sideboard or something there under those windows. something that looks good with the cupboard and adds functional serving and storage space.

Sorry. I'm no help at all am I!

BTW I don't mind getting sucked .... errr, drawn into other people's obsessive decorative challenges. It takes my mind off my own!

I'm glad you decided against the shawl. Can you not just ignore the glass block wall? I'm not sure it needs anything, although I do like the horses. Assuming there is a house next door, hence the glass block, can you replace the glass block with something else? Do you need the light that comes through? If not, cover completely somehow.

kswl, I think someone mocked up the arrows perhaps, as I don't own any. Wish I did though. I still really like the horse sticks and the seller offered a 10% discount if I buy two of them - but that's still a ton of money for me to pay.

The windows are glass block on the south side of the house as these are garden/zero lot line homes and the house that will be built next to us will be in very close proximity. Blocks were used for light but maximum privacy. I actually love the blocks and would've wanted them if we had designed this place. It's clear that the design intended for a buffet to be placed beneath the window in the dining room but that will never work for us. Anyway, I don't think we'll be reworking the window in any way. Have only been here about three months and just can't imagine doing any sort of remodeling at this point. I want to find a way to work with what we have in this new home. :-)

I may go plant shopping today and look for a little live greenery to go on the window ledge. My concern will be making sure whatever container it's in is completely leak proof!

Thank you all so much for brainstorming with me on this! You're all the best!

I think you need something in the corner between the kitchen and dining room, What that might be I dont know though, a nice floor lamp, what about a planter hanging from the ceiling in the corner or the best idea maybe... large pillar candle stick holders.

I like glass block for privacy. And I envy the zero lot line ... after battling with my 1/2 acre for the last 11 yrs!

Jen, what about hanging up something you already have, just for a test run, to see if you like having anything there (before investing money in something else).

Re: plants .... cactus or succulents would look good. Or if you want something trailing, I have an ivy in a pot with no drainage holes, so no leaking, and it works fine (even if I overwater sometimes).

I think you need something in the corner between the kitchen and dining room.

I think that's it! Something tall ... totem poleish ... to balance out the oddly placed window.

I think I already know the answer to this, but is there any way you'd consider switching out your round table upstairs with this one?

Well, it's certainly not easy to find house plants in my area this time of year! I came home with a succulent called an ice plant that had pretty purple-red flowers. Plopped it in a reddish pot that's a tad bit too big for the sill but that will not be noticeable once this baby starts to grow.

It is just about impossible to get good pics of the glass block with either outside light coming in or ambient lighting at night.

I also couldn't resist this orchid for my bathroom. I just hope I can keep Penny from destroying it. It's so pretty.

Oly, you do know the answer to that one. ;-)

Jen, did you see this? Really good price! (I couldn't find your bookcase thread, sorry to hijack here!)

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/fuo/5305688059.html

ETA: Hmm, just saw the measurements--page wasn't completely loading before--it's smaller than I thought. Boo.

I guess I am the odd man out, I feel that the wall under the glass blocks needs something. Which is weird, because I am pretty minimalist when it comes to wall decor. I think one of the light colored shawls or a weaving would be awesome. I would get a very close to the wall curtain rod to drape a shawl over. A weaving could be hung like a quilt, with a hidden rod/dowel/board on the backside.

I think you need a tall plant there, next to the fridge. It would soften the edge of the window, balance the china a bit, and you could get a really nice southwestern pot for it.

MizGG! I used to own that very piece! Well, maybe not THAT very piece, but one exactly like it. It's gorgeous but my ex retained custody of it, darn it all! I wish it was larger and would fill my library wall. I would buy it in a heartbeat if only it were a bit wider. Well, a lot wider actually. Thank you for thinking of me!

I really am enjoying the dining room window with only the little succulent I brought home yesterday. It seems to add enough of "something" that makes the space feel more alive. I could bring in a couple more small pots of herbs and also use them to cook with. At any rate, that one simple plant has worked wonders to make me feel that the space is not so bare, as strange as that probably sounds!

Put a small shelf the same width as the window. Space the shelf far enough below the window, maybe 5 or 6 inches below it, and then put some plates on it. You might even use some of the plates above the hutch. This will make the window appear both visually larger and more interesting.