Cannot tell where the other area is you are talking about in relationship to the one that is showing. So, I am not sure whether the items should be similar. I would hang either photography of a special place or a painting (could be limited edition or otherwise) Artwork with the spotlight on it would look spectacular. I would not do photographs of people there though. Etsy.com has photograpy and paintings by craftsman and artisans from all over the US and other countries. You can frequently have custom sizes made. Just use their search engine and type in whatever theme or color you would like.

Thanks. I will check that out. When you enter the front door the narrow nook is on left next to stairs, then right past rug picture the other massive nook is on the right, right before the main living area/kitchen.

To help define these niches and make them look grand. I would paint them a darker color. I see you used a maroon color in a different room, you could use that same color. Since each niche has a light in them that would be a great spot to hang a piece of art. You talked about filling them in and hanging something.... these niches will help highlight the art hanging!

I like combining Carolina's and Stanton's ideas - paint the inside a darker color, add a black and white print inside with a black frame. Try to make the print whimsical so you can look back on your two years of frustration and laugh!

Have them covered with drywall or hang two long mirrors over them.
On another note, I LOVE your rug. Great colors!

If you're not planning to use them for their intended purpose (which was, indeed, probably for something like large floral arrangements or statues), by all means have them covered with drywall and hang the art of your choice.

Alternately, if you have a piece of wall art that will fit the niche, paint it a darker color as others suggested and then hang the wall art in the nice with a nice art light on it. That will certainly highlight whatever you hang in there. (The niches may be too narrow and too deep for that, however. With the photos it's hard to get a good perspective.)

I'm not a fan of the deep niches either so I truly sympathize with the what to do dilemma. The simple solutions are having them covered up or made shallower or installing shelving.

A creative idea is to find a local artist and have a custom stained glass piece created. Have it hinged on a frame so you can change the light bulb and clean the space behind it as needed. You may find a budding artist at your community college or technical HS who would do it for not much more expense than materials.

And... the neatest thing I've even seen done with one of these deep niches was a wine bar space. The niche was tiled with stone and a stone slab counter top was installed. The upper portion had wine bottle racking installed. For everyday staging, the owners had a few glasses and a bottle or two on the counter top with one of those tall lever action wine bottle openers.

I'd suggest some sculptures in these areas, especially since they look to have lighting to really show off the pieces. Alternatively, you could have glass shelves made and use these area to display treasured family photos and/or heirlooms.
I'm personally not fond of closing them up, but it is an option.

Hello kellyzzz,

Interesting ideas, all of them. However, I was just in a show-house where I saw a wonderful use of a niche.... so the idea isn't really mine, it belongs to Kevin Malone of Williams and Sherill. In the niche were hung two beautiful lanterns and then surrounded with intaglio pieces, which are neutral and simple. Ideas below:

A great small lantern for each niche:





Intaglios are these small round items which are framed along the wall; originally Intaglios were utilized in the printmaking process, a relief form of printing.


Best of luck with your decorating and please let us know if we can be of any assistance,

Elizabeth

A vase.

A chocolate fountain!? :) j/k...i vote the drywall option.

The lighted niches seem awkwardly spaced out and are different sizes, so I vote the drywall option also!

I vote for mirroring the nooks.

Ya, i'm not a fan of all that extra stuff either. I vote the drywall option.

I had another thought. Maybe you could have some cute little doors made for them and use them as a drop zone for keys, mail, purse, cell phones (add an outlet for charging), umbrellas and/or articles for home defense. (yes, the last part was a joke, but depending on where you live, ynk right?)

I vote for the chocolate fountain!!! Kelly, if you do decide to drywall over them, make sure you place a current newspaper or some kind of artifact inside first. That way, 200 years from now when someone makes the amazing discovery of these covered niches, they can invent all kinds of stories about us as we do about ancient civilizations!

We had deep niches in our last house it was tough getting something to look right in them but in our new house we have them as well and their not deep , I hung a painting in one of my niches looks really nice the other niche eventually I will paint a mural inside of it. I painted a mural of 3 blowing palms trees in our last house the people loved it and according to neighbors never painted over it when they moved in. I loved that painting right on the wall made a beautiful statement . Yours is pretty deep maybe just a beautiful vase or sculpture wont look cluttered at all , I have one niche in our master bath though thats making me nuts. Not sure what to do with it. I thought when our house was being built that I had asked that the carpenter make shelves for it. Its a tall niche and has a corner at the back of it never saw one like that before. So cant say I like this one.

If they are in the foyer, then put cupboard doors on them. That way will be able to store out of sight the stuff that you bring in the house and take out of the house - they will cut down on clutter elsewhere in the house.

If you dislike clutter, then I'm sure that there is a good reason for that. Can you tell me what you mean? To me, clutter means having otherwise-useful areas having stuff all over them. You were not using the nooks for anything. Perhaps your taste is more modern and minimalist and you found yourself in an older style home with decorative features? You might be happier if the interior of the house was one white colour and you got rid of the fussy rug and old fashioned curtains and reframe the picture with a thin black frame. And get rid of the old dining setting with two different types of intricate furniture. Is that a heavy maroon feature wall I see in one side of a photo? I like the interior of the house, it just seems that your reaction to clutter is a reaction to something else, especially when you can use the nooks as storage.

Since you have a light in the top, then put a halogen, and have it point down through MODERN glass vase on a glass shelf. Have the coloured light spread through the glass onto the WHITE walls of the nook.

Or, paint the back BLACK so that it seems to extend to infinity and put some modern silver stuff in there - perhaps a bust of me because I came up with such brilliant design ideas. I will email pics to your artisans if you give me their address. Or, you could put something personal to your family in there.

I agree with some others, if you don't like them, you don't like them. Drywall them up. Although I think I would have glass shelves installed and display one object per shelf...a plate I've collected or a piece of crystal.

fractallo Love your piece I do similar paintings my compliments to you

Dry wall them and move forward!

Food for thought....I don't know how long you plan to live in this house, but if it is a short time the nooks are interesting archetecture and be desirable for many looking at your home to purchase.

As a stager who sees ALOT of "vanilla" houses.... I would hesitate to tell you to close them up. This little something could separate your house from others and appears to mimic other arches in your house.It is also in the foyer which is the first entryway for anyone entering. If you absolutely HATE them , cover them though I think you have rec'd some great advice here.
Custom shelving to host special but FEW pieces will create interest, loved the paint idea and the "lighted" painting as well.

Been thinking about this all night...I know, can you say OCD. I think what I would do is close the one behind the stairs, it's in an awkward place & put glass shelves w/ a single piece of artwork that is colorful, tasteful...thinking hand blown glass, pottery. With the space between the banister and one nook, place a large colorful oil painting that complements the right nook art elements with a foyer table below it. This is a better balance of the space between the banister & one remaing nook. Hope this helps. I feel better now! :)

Thanks everyone. I enjoyed reading the spirited banter on my personal design drama. I was especially amused by the mini therapy session which implied I have deeper issues with "clutter". Very funny indeed. I am going to get some quotes on custom iron doors to possibly turn the larger one into wine storgage, that is something I will frequently use...then keep on the hunt for a tall enough vase or some type of architercural peice that will work. The nooks are about 2 1/2 ft deep and 5ft high. Thanks again!

Like the direction you are choosing to go Kellyzzz! Be sure to post some 'after' photos to this thread so we can all see the final outcome.

good luck in what ever you do Kelly I am sure you will get to that point of feeling satisfied

Just add a beautiful wall sconce. www.curreycodealers.com. Check out the sconces. They're gorgeous! I can get you a discount.

Like inside out said, best not to be vanilla. 2.5 x 5 ?? You CAN't waste them! Iron doors? SUPERB! Aint nothin vanilla about iron doors. Yeah. And you can get wine on your way in, on your way out, walking past...

Comment for Diane who said the niche in her master bath is driving her nuts... Glass shelves then stack your folded towels washclothes etc... On them. Or a pretty crystal jar with soaps.

Bonnie thanks I wanted something like that and when the house was finished being build I waiting for those be added I asked about it and somehow it was not written in. Sure would be nice to have those shelves for things like that. Thanks for thinking of me as well.

Hi, There is now in the past few years an amazing collection of art fusion. You can see some at the Bellini hotel in Vegas art glass flower lit at night that stand out amazing, chandeliers in multiple colors of hand blown glass, amazing, stunning and you just star. check out art fusion it is stunning.