Front each niche with a window. Leave lighting in the niche so that dark niches instead give impression of openings to the outdoors.

I, too, have a high entrance hall with only one eye level niche. It is doable and reachable, decorated with a spray of very real looking spring flowers in a tall burnished copper vase. Other times of the year I will put statuary, Christmas Santa, even leaned a large framed picture against the back. It, along with mantles, are the most challenging empty spaces.

As for your three niches, unreachable without a ladder, I suggest leaving them empty. Perhaps painting the insides, or the rims, or the whole areas a contrasting color, like the gray around the windows. Putting stuff in them is going to look so busy.

You could place Carousel horses in them ,like this one for example

What about adding something textural and paint it the same as the wall. Wouldn't really "pop", but yet would add a little interest. Along the idea of MaggiesVineyard's photo. Also like the painted or real wrought iron ideas. Again, take the contrast down a notch so it is more textural than color.

Mirror - with character, to reflect all the wonderful light you have from the windows! It could feature beveling, crackling, grids...whatever design you have in the rest of the room.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEN PEWTER SCREENED.

I certainly wouldn’t fill them in either. They’re part of the architecture of your home. A lot of good advice here. I would personally keep it symmetrical and simple, something that doesn’t show dust and due to the depth of the niches you’ll need something more substantial than what I have. My niches are at the top of a stairway. We also have very tall ceilings and to tell you the truth, I hardly ever notice the dust. I decided on tapestries. Finding 3 that had the same theme was tough and when I did they were very pricey. These are very cheap tapestries that I found on ebay. So find what you love that fits the style of your home. It may take a while but I think you’ll have a lovely accent to your home in a space that would normally just be boring wall space

YOU ALSO COULD ADD GATES WITH LOCKS ON THEM JUST AS A LITTLE .SHOW OFF. PIECE. OR WHATEVER IS BEHIND THE NICHES YOU COULD HAVE IT CUT OUT AND ADD STAINED GLASS.

COULD HAVE SOME WROUGHT IRON TO MATCH THE STAIRWAY.

There were too many comments for me to read all, but I would definitely wait till you found a piece of sculpture or artwork without too much detail as it won't be seen from below. You could highlight the area by painting either the back wall, or just the curved area to accent it. Whatever you find needs to be to scale of the niches. You don't need all 3 to be the same. Start with one, and add as you see something that trips your trigger!

Without knowing what this area is foyer? hallway? I would suggest painting the backside of the niche same color as the trim that appears a darker shade and do not put anything to draw more attention to them. If one is facing a foyer you may want to put a large piece of simple pottery and leave all others blank. OTHERWISE, fill them in - this is architecture overkill.

I love the interest it gives to what would be an otherwise big blank wall. If I had them, I'd have artistic tile work inserted to draw you into a place of interest. Tuscany, an Italian Villa, a woodland garden. Some place that makes you smile when you think of the possibility of being there.

Please take a look at what I can offer you. Our 3D product for interior is non-toxic, easy to install, fire-proof, and you can paint it any color you like. If your not into painting then we can supply you with an LED fixture and you can change the 3D walls color with the seasons...... take a look at what we do. Thanks,

Keep it very simple with some plants

Install some 3D art that plays off the lights and fills the space with shadow/designs.
I have seen niches like these filled with Italian type statuary and it was a big turn off for me.

That is a very serious looking house and personally would like to see a little whimsy. How about three manikin like figures (with moveable parts) dressed and painted as mimes (done well)? You could have one sitting on the edge of the niche, legs hanging down with elbows on knees and chin in hand, one sitting in cross legged position with hands out facing upward, one standing leaning against the wall - etc. Possibiliies are endless.

It would be so much easier if we could see more of your house...but barring that, I like many of the suggestions made so far, i.e. the wrought iron, the painted scrollwork, the tapestries, mirrors and wallpaper. They even make wallpaper that looks exactly like reclaimed wood! I think it's just a matter of what you like...since there are so many options. Maybe think outside the box a little? I keep picturing some rustic wood shutters for added character. Or maybe lighted wall sconces, something that works with the rest of your lighting? Two-armed chandelier pendants could look cool. Or maybe some giant candle sticks. Giant olive jars would look great. Or maybe brick or stone veneer? I think the niches are probably there to break up that huge expanse of wall, so I'd give them a chance before dry-walling over them. It's an opportunity to make a statement with something over-sized and dramatic. I'm attaching some inspiration images...perhaps they'll spark your imagination?

As a decorator- I personally lean to a more modern look. In my recent home reno, I have several cut outs and rounded edges that looked very 90's. What I did to save on some costs was worked with some by using the architecture of the space to accent with paint (using the insert to work with feature walls I did in direct prox. of them). On another wall I was planning to use for a wall mount TV, so I filled it in and changed the shape and added tile and color. Just a thought- paint is the easiest and less expensive options sometimes. :)

I would put a set of 3 pictures or sculptures in them. Just make sure the scale of the items it right for the niche. Also, you could paint the interior of the niche to set them off even more, and that could help if you can only find items that are a bit small for the space.

If you don't have art pieces to place there you could easily paint the inside a different color that is a shade or two from the wall color

a few more images

Tough situation. As everyone has said, dusting a work of art, especially if it's made of glass, is a necessity that can't be ignored. Hanging anything heavy or breakable is risky. If you fill them in, that part of your entry wall will appear heavy and impose on the space below. Although I'm in the business of selling art, I can't recommend paintings or art to cover the niches for several reasons. First of all, paintings or tapestries would look terribly awkward unless you commissioned work that was made to be seen from below and at an angle. (Think of the Sistine ceiling). Secondly, the niches are so large with respect to the walls around them, a painting or a tapestry would have to be too large for each wall in order to cover the niche, back to the problem of the top of the space imposing on the entry below. I think the only alternative would be to take the above suggestion of Christopher Fortin to cover the back wall of each niche with a small, mosaic sized, glass tile that would reflect your lights when they are on and look colorful and interesting when not lit. Pick a color from your fabrics in the space below to tie the space together.

Looks like the niches have lighting! Get different sculptures (but in the same family) that are slightly opaque or transparent so it looks like the pieces are illuminated from within.

sparkle glass mosaic would really shine thru these beautiful nitches, you were very lucky to find this home ,it is very beautiful from just the little bit you show off.

There are a lot of great ideas, in the above..good luck

What's your thoughts?

I agree with the idea of mirror if there is a view to reflect. Maybe even an antiqued mirror.

Rather than pay to fill them in you could also just put the $ toward beautiful tapestries or other art to hang OVER them...

You could paint it a solid color and then put a wrought iron piece to fill the opening. I saw a nice example of this on The Vanilla Ice Project (remodel in Palm Beach).

Lots of good ideas. My favorites are paint it with a contrast color, put up textured wallpaper, hang a custom stained glass piece or display posed a manikin figure in each one (although you'd have to have the right personality to enjoy the last idea). The idea I don't understand is to cover them up. Why would you want to remove something that makes the house look unique (in a nice way -- it's not as though the house has an outhouse in it or something). Covering them up leaves you with a huge unappealing span of blank wall, and it takes away a feature that stops the house from being a cookie-cutter duplicate of a thousand other houses.

I actually think the water walls would work, too. They're designed to need limited maintenance, so I don't see why it matters that they'd be up high. They'd be expensive, though, and you'd have to run plumbing up there. That'd be kind of a pain.

I think the niches are beautiful, and I see they have a spotlight at the top. I love statues and would find one that would nearly fill the space that has a high gloss finish -- something that would look great under the lighting. I would coordinate whatever you put in them though, and not have totally different things in each niche. Sorry I couldn't make any suggestions on where to source such items. Pottery is another excellent choice.

What are you going to do? We all like to know,pics when done.

If you put any kind of objects in there keep a ladder handy for dusting and replacing light bulbs. I'd fill them in.

WELL YOU SURE GOT ALOT OF RESPONSE HOW ABOT SILVER FOIL WITH QUOTES OR JUST QUOTES, YOU WON'T GET TIRED OF THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT FINISHED. THERE IS A QUOTE SAYING, WE MAY NOT REMEMBER THE TIMES BUT WE DO REMEMBER THE MOMENTS, SOUND TO TACKY? OH WELL I TRIED. YOU COULD NOT PUT THAT ON ALL 3 NITCHES THAT WOULD BE BAD. DEPENDING ON THE REST OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN IT"S RIGHT YOU'L KNOW.

I would use it to keep some rolled up maps or blue prints in regards to the history of the house, it would add even more character.

You don't want anything heavy there to present a danger, and you don't want to have to go up often to keep cleaning whatever you put there, have it as a historical shelf. It would also be a conversational starter when guests visit.

You could also hide important documents up there in a cloth envelope and tie file. It will look great!

Don't block them as sometimes when you fill them up, eventually the shape of them will reappear and will not look nice.

Cleaning them should not be an issue, these days you can buy dusters with long handles that reach chandeliers and false ceiling even, I clean all high places at least once every three months.

I like them, they add character, they could be a house's selling point rather than a downfall , it depends on how you bring out the character of them.

Some other ideas:

Stencilling

Tile or stone would be nice to show off the architecture!

I would mirror the back wall of the niches. Hopefully there is some natural light in the space and the niches will look like windows. Simple, no clutter, no fuss solution. Good luck.

I think you should KISS these spaces. (Keep It Simple, Sweetie) The spaces seem tall enough for statuary, but they are too high for most people to notice, much less enjoy the detail of any art. Since the spaces are lighted, consider colored glass objects that might catch visitors' attention.

Well to comment again, I must first say that to give any reasonable thoughts on the niches I would need to know the home owners taste, and what has been done to the rest of the house. If It were mine I would hire an artist to paint a scene in the niches and the surrounding walls. Nothing else in the niche and this may not be popular, but to let a years worth of dust settle, unless allergies are present, isn't going to be the end of the world.

When is the action?

Have we had a response from deancoca? Love to see how this one turns out.

Just buy some finches, or other small birds, they will love to fly and will have a place to sit and rest or build a nest or two.

Love the niches but I would really love to know the paint color as I am building and love these two colors

Really do not like niches .. I would eliminate them. When we built our home 3 years ago, the builder's plans called for niches and plant shelves. I had them all removed.

Consult a local artist and have custom stained glass panels installed. You won't have to dust, paint, or otherwise secure loose objects. It appears they already have electrical for backlight. Just a matter of stained glass design with consideration for venting (lighting will put out heat).

Fill them in. They look like huge dust collectors.

Hi-

We recommend removing the recessed lighting and illuminating the space with accent coving lighting. Cove lighting was designed to accentuate architectural designs, as you have pictured. This style can be achieved with tape light! Good luck with your design dilemma!

Just hang something (art, old Chinese cabinet doors, etc) over the niches to hide them. Then if you or someone else wants them back, it will be easy.

I love the idea of texture with nothing in the niches for now. You can add if/when you see a perfect piece. I wouldn't cover them up. I think they're beautiful. I would put the grasscloth, bronzy metallic, or textured neutral wall covering in the back of it, or paint the back and sides a little darker color than the main wall color for shadowy interest, or even tile in an interesting mosaic tonal blend. Basically, keep it tone on tone, and not blast you from above with wild color, but choose something that is harmonious with the rest of the room tones.
Please let us know what you've decided. I realize I came late to the idea party, but I'm really intrigued with your project. Good luck!

Your niches are little bit deep to place paintings. People here have adviced you good, and the best option you have for it are sculptures and pottery. Rest depend on your taste.