They are for my family room. I don't care for the metal decor which I've seen but you had some great suggestions will definitely check them out-thank you!

If you want the niches to really stand out, you may even consider painting them a contrasting color--such as white or a rich charcoal grey. This will really showcase your photographs. It would look very classic with black & white prints.

I love the idea about painting the niches. I would go with darker grey. Also, can you paint those white covers (maybe speaker covers) the same as the wall color? Depending on your decor of course, this would be a great place to bring in some color with paintings or prints.

For a bit of a contrarian view, and I'm sure you know this .... but, just because some architect or sheetrock guy thought this was a cool idea, doesn't mean it is!

The niches seem like an afterthought: too shallow for anything but a one-dimensional treatment, and with just a slip of standard case molding on each.

I'd be tempted to remove the molding (or paint it the same color as the wall), and forget about them.

I am having trouble with the colour. It is going to be hard to match paintings with that colour. I don't think that room suits beach photography. Maybe one picture with a third of the picture in each niche, three pictures if you know what I mean. Kathy is so right about painting the speakers, great idea.

I agree with the suggestion to just do away with them. Why be tied to something you're not in love with?

What's behind the wall? Could you trreat these like windows, and paint a trompe l'oeil ? Check these out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe-l%27%C5%93il

What is the room used for? Just off the top of my head. I would put old mirrors in them. The ones that look like they are aged awith cracks or get some old wrought iron gates and put them up there. But if you want abundant color, I would find old school travel or movie posters. Don't buy originals but maybe get some that you can have cut down and framed to fit the space.

HI --- First thing I would do is remove the piece of molding that is on the bottom -- they don't need to be there -- maybe even remove the molding at the ceiling also . Paint the grills the same color as the wall - what ever that is going to be . Now if you have chilldren then have close ups of their faces and get them done in black and white on wallpaper to apply in the spaces . Or picture blow-ups of anything that means a lot to you . For some whimsy you could have those big white animal heads that are so popular right now. Or just removing the moldings and paint the wall all one color and ignore - then they will just be an architectural feature as is.

Since they are up so high, and have a little sill at the bottom of each, if you mirrored each of them it would open up that wall to look like windows. Not sure what they might reflect, not knowing the room, but I would either do that or remove the sills and drywall the wall flush, so you aren't restricted to those bays for art.

I like the idea of removing the bottom moulding, and painting the niche a darker gray. I LOVE lefty's idea of faux animal heads.

Painting the niches a color picked up from your room decor, then adding three dimensional art objects would give that large wall a big boost - is there anything you collect that might work - masks, shallow baskets, antique clocks, etc.?

I'm in love with tone on tone wallpaper. I print that coordinates with your home, that breaks up the large wall and adds personallity.

Many good ideas but have to say leave them unless we can see the room as it is furnished - making a big difference as to what can go there - you say a family room which is helpful but give us a bit more to go on!

We think all of these ideas are great and would like to suggest combining two: painting in a contrasting color AND adding art. We made this recommendation recently (so forgive us for being repetitive!), but this seems like a great opportunity to showcase a triptych! Below you'll see three panels that would make a striking statement - although this is just to give you an idea. Your family room might not need a huge octopus in it (although the color seems to go well)! Good luck!

hi there, a couple ideas for you: besides paint, you could try a linen or grass wallpaper, for texture or even stone or glass tiles

Pain the trim under the niches the same as the wall. paint inside the niche the color of the brick. I see two pendant lights. Is one over a counter and what is the other hanging up high in the corner?

Inexpensive solution, eyecatching wallpaper. Or, since there's stone on the walls, stick with a natural theme. Paint them an earthy or fall color and go collect some branches that would cast cool shadows from those upper lights.

Another inexpensive solution could be to install shut plantation shutters (or any kind of shutter or window covering to match the decorative style of your house or any window coverings you already have), to create the illusion of windows being above (which they look like they should be, especially with the mouldings below)..
Using white would be my recommendation, as it will match with the painted brick wall and staircase wall.. i would choose this option over artwork or wallpaper because your tv is placed below and anything too dominant above will detract from the television and your eyes will be battling to pick a focal point.
These would be a cost effective option, easy to update or change in the future and would be a way to disguise the tricky niches and make them look like a well thought out feature.

Thanks for the suggestions all! We just moved in last week and have pretty much a blank slate to work with, the walls are actually a smoky charcoal grey color (painted before we moved in-our choice) with horizontal stripes but looks quite blue at times. We use this room for watching tv and entertaining etc. all purpose room. The other walls are all off white and the all by the fIre place has 4 large windows. The little thing hanging by the fire place is actually the cord to the ceiling fan not a pendant.

I would go with mirrors with wrought iron gates that coordinate with your stairway balusters (they look like iron in the photo) or with trompe l'oeil paintings with gates, or with shutters.

I would make a wood frame to fit inside each niche and simply wrap/cover it in a wallpaper or fabric that goes with the rest of your furnishings. Nicer texture than paint, less obvious than HUGE photographs, and inexpensive!! Good luck!

I'm with rebinje. They're an afterthought or a poor solution of what to do with such a high wall instead of just leaving it alone. They are a CAD added feature--lazy or no thinking on the architect's part. What was s/he thinking? Get rid of the molding and forget about them.
OR, how's this? Instead of forgetting about them, go in the opposite direction and push them: make them into faux windows with white moldings that replicate the style of your other windows. Paint the niche flat black, cover with a pane of glass, and superimpose it with white molding which replicates the style of the other windows in the room.The black mat paint is an architectural trick used to simulate interior space in dormer windows. Very effective, especially when seen from below. The beauty of this solution is that you've transformed the niches into a work of contemporary art: the 3 faux "windows" become an art piece--a triptych--as well as being part of the "architecture" of the room. A 2fer!

I'd delete them and the arched one below as well. They read as ill-conceived and incongruous. The little stepped wall alongside the steps looks wrong, too. Cleaning up those pieces would contribute to a much simpler elevation in that direction which would be welcome in my opinion.

I LOVE the octopus ATGStores.com suggested... Soooo whimsical and would make for quite a conversation piece(s) instead of an eyesore. :) My second fave---white taxidermy heads---again whimsical. Ditch the bottom trim and paint the speakers same as wall so they disappear. CheerS!

Thank you, Natalie! We like it, too, especially considering the bluish color scheme already in place. But, we understand some people might think it's a little fishy! ;)

Yes, she did mention the walls have since been painted a charcoal color but blue is sooooo "in" and the hue of the Octo would be perfect as an accent color throughout... :)

If its the TV/Family room and you have another more formal space you could do huge framed movie posters of your favorite movie, or sports team/person. I can already see that iconic pose of Muhammad Ali standing over Frazier in one of the niches.