I love the first and last stripe! I like the way the line draws your eye up and the last one is simple enough to not compete with the rug or the armoire. the one I picked was tough; there were so many that had your colors in them at Horchow! That one seemed to go more with your rug (which looked red, gold and brown on my monitor!)because it didn't have any green, but in the end I was thinking it had a subtlety that might work. having all of the colors represented is probably your best bet, though- it definitely brings your eye all the way around the room in a nice way. IMHO, you can't make your walls look too tall. Drawing the eye up is almost always a great thing. And I think some height will balance out the weight of the armoire as well. but only you can see how things look in person! clearly you have great taste!

plants in a dashboard? Ha! I love it! Well, I don't want to sit here and keep defending the look. Like I said (and the reason I started this thread) is I was iffy about it...but it has caught my eye a few times and because of that, I wanted to consider it. I just don't think retrieval of books has anything to do with it. You don't *have to* put books behind the picture. I don't think it means you don't like books, or you are illiterate, if you do something quirky with their display. Kind of like the kitchen forum...discussing pot racks. Some people might say, "Oh, I must have my stuff out in the open, I *really cook,* I need easy access to my tools." It doesn't mean that others that keep their pots and pans in a cabinet don't like to or cannot cook. They just choose a different look for their kitchen. It's really a matter of whether you like the look or not. I get it, you do not like the look!

My husband wanted to put up this ugly reproduction of a horse race painting that he found at a garage sale, I told him "give me a week, I'll find something better online!" I wanted a modern look, some realisitc photography, but I didn't want black and white because we have so many b&w prints in the house already. I finally bought a color print of a park scene (some park in NYC, I'm not sure which) at a web site called Brooklyn Prints. Every mantle is different, of course; I had just enough space to put up a 16x20 print in a wood frame. Our fireplace is for decoration only, so we didn't have to worry about heat damage to the frame or the print, but it is something to think about too. Here is a link that might be useful: Brooklyn Prints

Thanks so much for all of the thoughtful replies. You've really helped me start looking at my options differently. I agree with those who said that whether art "goes" the best or not, it should evoke an emotion and bring us pleasure to have it in our space. I really appreciate all of the links and suggestions and I'm looking at each one. The framed piece from my bedroom is back where it belongs. Although I still like it, I also felt that it was too small, too subdued, too fussy, etc. The blank wall is just fine until the "right" art comes along. Annz... I'm going to find more info on Robert for you. I misplaced his card so I read his name off of the picture (possibly getting the spelling wrong since it's somewhat hard to read.) I've emailed the organizers of the art fair where I purchased his work. I need to find out if he's finished the companion piece since I planned all along to buy it as well. Allison0704... I'm happy to hear that your daughter liked the PB chandelier enough to buy it for her room. I turn it on, day or night, whenever I'm in the room for more than a few minutes because I love it so much. Olychick and Snookums2... Thanks for the great idea to enlarge a framed piece. I'm filing that away for the future. Miz M... That looks beautiful over your tub. The colors are perfect with your valance. And what a clever way to store your hair supplies! Pattyxlynn... I love that picture! Although I really hope to bring color onto that wall, I am really drawn to that artist's work. Bronsynsmom... What an interesting thought... that one would stop seeing art after the initial flush wears off. As I think about this, I completely agree! Of all of the art I've had, there have been some pieces that I never tire of and smile each time I look at them and then others which become invisible after awhile. I think it goes back to choosing art for the emotional connection, something with personal meaning, rather than fulfilling a certain design criteria. All of your input has been hugely helpful so thank you! We have dinner guests coming 3 out of the next 4 nights so I need to put this aside for a little while. I'll post some options when I find them. Hmmm...maybe I can even get my 14 year old to show me how to photoshop the images into the picture of my room!