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.

OH! THANK YOU! I am so loving ALL your ideas and suggestions, and believe me, I am seriously considering each and every one of them! OK... so I cut out some sheets of paper the sizes of the pictures we have been considering. The 4 pieces of paper on the long wall represent the four 13.5" Sturbridge ("4 Seasons") prints. I think they fill the wall nicely! The 2 pieces of paper above the toilet represent the two 8" x 10" Warren Kible prints (the cat and the pig). (Boo seems to approve!!!) THEN, I'll change out the toilet seat (probably a plain white one... or maybe black???), and maybe replace the magazine holder with something like this... ... and call it *DONE*!!! So, what do you guys think?! And remember, you can be BRUTALLY honest!!! Really! ;o)

I agree that you have a lot going on, but it's wonderful so far. The thing I would avoid is having too much stuff or detail on that mantel and let the fireplace be the statement. I saw this and thought it looked great, but am not sure if you can reach the mantel to light candles or turn on battery operated ones. I think they make some remote control. The other option I'd consider would be a large painting there with nothing else on the mantel. Not sure what to do with the niche. If you don't do candles on the mantel, then I might do some remote control ones in the niche. [Contemporary Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by Woodinville Interior Designers & Decorators Interiors Okay, maybe cows aren't your thing, but something bold like this :) [Traditional Porch[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-porch-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_726~s_2107)

I was hoping some others would have some more suggestions (as I'm sure you were, too) because maybe they have some brilliant ideas. Honestly, I think you just need to get some mock ups up there and see what works best. For me, the only thing that would keep it from making me crazy (the placement of that chute and toilet) would be to incorporate it visually in some kind of arrangement. Use brown paper, or wrapping paper, or cardboard and try different things. I'd probably, if there is enough room to the left of the toilet (can't really tell because of the angle of the pic) try a larger vertical piece - or a stack of 2 or 3 things that come down at the bottom close to the back of the toilet. Then work my way right with a few pieces to surround the chute and fill the wall. I don't mean fill, as in packed with pieces, just eliminating as much blank wall as possible to detract from the chute. Kind of like if you pretended the chute was one of these chairs and the chest was the toilet - but also carried further right. An asymmetrical arrangement that isn't too busy, especially with too many small pieces. I think this looks great because of the similar subjects and framing, plus all the light background against the light wall. I don't think I'd use the shelves on this wall, but maybe someplace else in the room. Or would they fit on the wall that juts out in the pic? Or maybe just ignore the chute and try something like this: