Anyone? Would a plate rail treatment like this work?

I would stencil it, in matching colors, I would put a plant stencil, maybe grapevine, or english roses, light and pure colors, or put wall paper with some organic pattern. What I wouldn't choose is try to "hide" it, unconventional solutions to awkard elements sometimes work miracles.

HI --- Please NO -- don't make a feature of it --- just paint it the same as the walls . This is a place where I would make the walls and the ceiling the same color. Just one soft light color for the whole room -- nothing fancy. Elements like this are best just ignored or it ends up looking tacky.Make your decor items the feature of the room , big and simple - don't hang any little things on it .

WHAT IS IN THE NICHE? FURNITURE? WHERE IS THE ACCENT WALL?

Wow, what a nice surprise to receive these suggestions after all this time! I've attached a photo of what I ended up doing with this area, which is open to the kitchen (behind me). The opening on the right is the family/living room. It's a work in progress since we cannot afford any new furniture or art at this point (insert dream of big beautiful dining table instead of the corner nook and small table left over from our once tiny kitchen!)

I'm also disappointed by how the electrician installed the thermostat, switches and light on that little wall to the right of the beam - none of it is centred and it looks awkward to me! I'm wishing I chose a potlight over a wall light for that area- but we can't change it now. My first idea was a tall green plant....but this area only receives indirect light, so i'm not sure how well a large houseplant or small tree would do in this area. Or maybe someone can suggest a plant (non-toxic...we have a baby!) that does well in low light. I also wondered about a little gallery wall with small photo frames to make the thermostat/switches look like just another picture frame.

Thanks!

I HAVE THAT ISSUE WITH THE LIGHT PLATES, ALSO. IT'S BECAUSE OF " BUILDING CODE". AFTER AWHILE IT WON'T BOTHER YOU. I DO HAVE A SUGGESTION. TAKE DOWN THE SMALL SILHOUETTE AND LEAVE THAT WALL BLANK. FIND A GREAT "WRAPPED" CANVAS AT HOME GOODS WITH THE "SWEET PEA" COLOR IN THE PAINTING AND HANG IT OVER YOUR DROP LEAF TABLE. YOUR EYE WILL BE DRAWN TO THE PICTURE AND NOT THE LIGHT PLATES.

You didn't need us, after all! Looks great. Rethink all the items on the walls as the scale of each is too small for its space and the print above the table disappears into the wall. Use the green wall color elsewhere in this room (accessories) and other rooms to tie your color plan together.

Thx! I agree about the scale and taking down the silhouette. Any thoughts on a large plant there?

Here's another view of the same area (without anything on the wall). Please excuse the counter clutter - another work in progress!

run a small peice of trim - along the bottom of the "Beam" have it go from wall to wall - drywall below the trim peice the creates the "beam" is painted the wall color -- the trim peice and 'beam" and the ceiling painted - I would assume white or the cieling color

LOOKING AT THE TWO PHOTOS I THINK THAT THE NICHE WALLS SHOULD ALL BE GREEN; THE CEILING BEAM AND THE TWO WALL BEAMS SHOULD BE WOODWORK COLOR (JUST LIKE THE FRAMES OF YOUR DOORS); AND THE WALL ABOVE THE END OF YOU COUNTER IN PICTURE # 2 SHOULD BE THE WHITE LIKE THE WALLS IN THE REST OF YOUR KITCHEN. THIS WILL ACCENTUATE THE NICHE AS ONE SPACE. THOSE BEAMS AND SUPPORTS ARE ACTUALLY DEFINING YOUR EATING AREA AND ARE NEITHER WALL NOR CEILING. ALWAYS IMPORTANT, WHEN PAINTING, TO DISTINGUISH WALLS FROM WOODWORK FROM CEILING.
http://www.houzz.com/PAINTING-A-DINING-NOOK/p/8

I have the ultimate solution - wrap the beam, using a box beam or laminate. It is skilled work to make it come out perfect and match the other wood, but it would look great, check out http://woodlandbeam.com for ideas on beam styles. (reclaimed Cedar, hewn Alder, routed Poplar, etc...)

You can also paint a square on the white wall the size of a large frame in green and then place your small frame in the center. This makes your art look bigger and coordinates with the other wall.

It should not be a focal point.

2012 :)

Accent walls tend to chop up the space and make it appear smaller. Anchor the furniture with a generously-sized rug.

This post is from 2012...

Before anyone posts an item for discussion, look at the date!!! This old question and discussion has probably been resolved eight years ago.

Felizlady, It still helps people like me, who are looking for a solution to the same problem, what colour to paint the boarded supports and rsjs. The same as the wall or the ceiling? Or something else? I've found the topic helpful.