What about a large Native American woven rug? Something like that would tie in well with your many beautiful pieces of art work.

I've been thinking about that, Lynn. I'd love to have a very large Navajo rug to display on the wall, but they are so cost-prohibitive. I'll keep my eye out though.

I vote tapestry, you have a lot of art pieces so a tapestry would be different but still have color for that area, something mirror wouldnt do unless it was reflecting one of your art pieces.

For some reason mirrors don't seem right for that space. A tapestry, or more than one, seems vibrant and more interesting than mirrors, and at the same time softer.

Maybe you could find a more affordable Kilm rug that would work in place of a native american or navajo textile. I love rugs and tapestries hung on stairwell walls and think that would work perfect with your style and decor. Have fun finding something fun and beautiful!

Thanks so much for the ideas! I tried to get a better shot of the space tonight, but it's really hard to get it all in. I'm usually not big on hanging things in a staggered formation, but it kinda feels like it would need two tapestries or rugs, the bottom hung lower than the upper one going up the stairs. Hope that makes sense ...

Here's a tapestry I used to have hanging in an old office, but I sold it when I moved to another office and didn't have the wall space to hang it. It was just one of those that you'd find somewhere like art.com - mass produced - but it was actually pretty nice. It hung on an iron rod and was weighted at the bottom to drape nicely. Wish I had it back now.

Yes, something similar to this would look great on your wall. I've done the same thing, gotten rid of some things I wish I had kept. It's my attempt to keep from having too much to store. Oh well, we get some great finds and we give some, too! :-)

Honestly, you have a lot of great art pieces going on in the foyer area. I think hanging a big, woven, colorful "thing" would be just a smidge too much. I always like some blank area for eyes to "rest" when there is a lot to look at. FWIW, and this would be something I'd consider waiting for since it is an expensive route, I'd put some architectural interest on that wall. I would do well done painted paneling (like judge's paneling) or a simpler style if that is more your taste. You might like stained wood which could be lovely, also. It would be a really custom statement.

Thanks for the additional thoughts! It's sort of a strange wall because of the windows. In looking at it some more last night, I did start to wonder if putting anything there (art-wise) would be "too much." Still pondering.

I remember when you first moved in and started hanging artwork. You were pretty adamant about not creating the same "filled wall" look that you had in your previous home.

If you could find them large enough, two or three Native American mandalas. They're round, usually woven and would work well with the rest of your art.

I was going to say the same thing as CindyMac. But you might try taking some large brown paper and taping it up on the wall with painter's tape just to see if you are going to even like something hanging there. I'm of the KISS camp myself for that space, but could just maybe, maybe see a rug or textile as suggested.

To hang, you need a ladder with adjustable 'feet', so that the up-stair leg can be adjusted to the stair height and remain level.

A large paper "test run" is a good idea.

I'm going to keep looking and pondering. We aren't in any rush, but this is on our radar and we'll continue to mull it over. I do like the pretty molding in k9arlene's home, and wonder if that's a possible addition once the stairs are already in place?

(N/M: Just Googled and I see that it can be installed post-stairs.)

quick mock up. You have a beautiful space btw. I love all your décor.

Thank you, and thanks for the mockups! I do like the tapestry there. I'll show that to DH. I proposed sunburst-style mirrors, but DH nixed that idea. I really don't see how we could make larger mirrors even work here, so that's probably not the way to go.

There's a large version of the tapestry mocked-up above - 76" x 53". That's pretty good size (and must hang vertically to display the design properly), so now I'm wondering how that would look hung more towards the top of the stairs, between the two windows. I think that would fit that part of the wall nicely. Maybe do a different but complementary tapestry that's smaller and hung horizontally down below?

I like both of these ...

I second Lynn's Native American mandala idea. Cohesive with the other elements and softens all the squares and rectangles. 3, like these possibly:

I like those mandala designs, but they don't appear to be actual items, do they? They just look like graphics to me. The only mandalas I've seen have fur and/or feathers hanging down and that would definitely not work with the cats. They (mandalas, not cats) do look really cool though.

I have been corresponding with someone who is selling 14 Edward S. Curtis matted/framed photographic prints (most of them shown in the pic below). While I said a gallery wall was out of the question, now I'm starting to reconsider - although I doubt DH would go along with that idea. If not on the staircase wall, then I think I may try to find a place for these elsewhere in the house. I have long loved Curtis's work, and have one of his prints in a frame that my dad made. Surely I could find a spot for the rest of these. They appear to be custom framed, and each is 11 x 13, although there are 3 that are landscape orientation, not portraits ... still trying to get a few more specifics about them before agreeing to purchase though.

You have lots of lovely art, but I'd be careful of your home beginning to look like a museum. I think making a gallery of the above prints on your staircase wall is a bit much.

Take your new door into consideration too. It's more ornate than the other and a work of art in itself.

Went to look at the prints last night. Very long story, but the young man selling them decided he'd rather hold on to them and do some more research, as he thought they might have more value than what he had advertised them at. It was a very long drive and he said he "felt bad" that we'd driven so far, so he allowed me to take one of the prints of my choice. My initial reaction was to be utterly pissed off, but for a number of reasons I found myself feeling very compassionate toward the kid instead. When I got home, I was able to deconstruct the backing on my frame sufficiently to see that the print is actually a page that has been pulled from a book. I assume the others are from the same book. The value is really in the custom framing, and some of the frames are a bit scratched (nothing that couldn't be covered with a wood scratch filler though), and although I left with only one of the prints I'd like to have the others. Maybe hang them in the hallway upstairs, gallery-style, or even in the library where the sepia tones would work well. I wouldn't hang them on the staircase wall after all.

Did you change your name again? If it wasnt for the photo I wouldnt have recognized you.

Yes - see the Convo side. :-)

I have a couple of friends who collect Hermes scarves. One has them beautifully framed, and hangs them.

This one is 36"x36", silk twill, and it depicts kachina dolls from the Hopi Tribe.