Can you post a current pic and one from further away as well, so we can get a feel for how this little spot relates to the rest of the room?

Sure! I'll do it in the morning after I tidy up a bit. I still have Christmas stuff on the game table that needs to be put away in the closet. :)

I found this picture on my photobucket.

I used my wide angle lens so everything appears smaller, but it is a large area.

HA! Me too. All my stuff is still on the dining room table. I need to clean it all up and put it away before friends arrive for the playoff games at 4:00 tomorrow.

That picture is perfect. I like your table with or without your doily (and bear in mind I am not a doily person, but I do like that look in your space with that table). It does look like the wood top is beautiful. Have you considered a large floor vase with cut branches (perfect time to force forsythia or flowering quince from the yard if you have it)? I think that might look great. Another idea, do you have an AC Moore or something like that near you? I found a tall very thin glass vase that holds only a few flower stems. I put three Stargazers in it which looks pretty and gives me some height next to a table. I make sure the stems are staggered height-wise, so the flowers are not all at the same level. Does that make sense? They cost about $10. Oh and I actually have two because the grandpuppy and our dogs knocked my first one over and broke the top several inches off, but I can still use it. You can buy tall and short ones to group them if you don't want to rely on the dogs as your decorators. ;)

I like the lamp you have, too.

A large floor vase sounds good! Have you used museum putty? You can get it on Amazon, which I use because of my cat. lol.

Which way would you angle the table? That's one of the problems I'm having now.

Yes, I do have some Forsythia! Thanks for the reminder! I've put forsythia in a red graniteware vase for the kitchen table and it's beautiful!

What about this idea. What about those branches that come with little lights built into them? I've never seen anyone here use them, but I know they're used outside of Christmas. I just miss the Christmas lights inside the house. lol

I would position the table like you have it in the last picture. I would remove the doily - there is more contrast with the wood top and white beadboard. I would use a shorter, squattier lamp.

tina

I have a fondness for antique sewing machines, so that's what I'd put on there Oakley.

My DH actually bought me some of those branches with lights. I love the way they look at night, but not so much during the day. I put them in the library where I don't spend much time until the evenings.

I'm not sure about which angle or wall. I think it probably looks nice (in my imagination, anyway) against the wall under the photos. Then, I would have the vase against the other wall, but close to the table. If you do straighten it on the wall, tina's idea of a shorter, squattier lamp could be great! I hadn't thought of that, but I think it would look good.

I've seen the fake lighted branches mixed in with real branches to lessen the daylight funk factor. You might think about doing that if youchoose thee branch option.

I like the arrangement ideas, but I would put the table against the right wall.

It is probably me, but diagonal things in a corner look contrived and amateurish. Nothing wastes space as much as a bed in a corner like that.

But I think the pretty table would show more.

You have a really lovely room.

Christine

Love the table! Love the corner! I think you have the perfect situation to make a statement. Any statement you want. You could use different lamps, accessories and artwork all year long. With a doily, without a doily. Table runners or not. That's the area you can change with the seasons or with any mood you happen to be in. That could be the area people always look forward to seeing, because it's never the same as the last time they saw it. If something hits your eye, put it on the table. Vase, flower, rock, leaf, artwork, photo. Have fun with it. OR, You could just put a potted plant there and send the table to me!

No angle. On either wall -- whichever one has more visibility. No doily. The lamp you have seems fine, but In the second pic, the little box is too short to create a nice arrangement with the lamp. So if you use a lamp that tall, you need to have taller items with it. Or get a shorter lamp, because another issue with the lamp you have is that it's hiding the pictures on the wall behind it (if they're staying?). Then use the table to display a collection that you might have, or a nice full plant in a pretty planter.

Once the table is figured out, I'd do something different with the photos on the wall, but that's not really what you asked about. I would put them all in more similar or even matching frames and arrange them so they're not behind the lamp.

Tina, the table is angled in both pictures. Right now I have it against the right wall.

Only thing about a shorter lamp is wouldn't it make the space above the table seem small? Would I need taller items to go with a short lamp?

Sue, I have the box in the kitchen right now. What I have on the table now is a deep red basket full of pinecones (winter decor doncha know, lol), and two wooden, deep red candlesticks each holding a paisley ceramic orb on top. They are so cute, but I can't figure out how to place them on the table!

Today I must put away Christmas stuff then work on the table. One thing I do like about having a doily/runner there is they help brighten up the area. There's so much wood in the room already, but I'll see how it looks sans material.

Pretty table! I love antique sewing machines too. Am down to just one nowadays...but I do tend to rescue them from tag sales/craigslist and then work to rehome them among family and friends!

Is there room in the corner for a small chair if you set the table against one wall? Maybe a rush seat stool or other that you'd believe could be used for sewing or reading in that space but could be pulled out for additional seating at holidays etc.?

On the table, I'm not a doily person but yours is pretty. I could also picture going with the sewing theme with a little sewing vignette on the table - a basket with a few packages of vintage/antique snaps, buttons, needles, pincushion etc.? Something like this:

It's a very pretty space and I can see why you like that corner - lots of possibilities!

Oakley I like that view of your room. Isn't that the area behind your sofa area?

Try placing the sewing stand on the right wall with the tall lamp all the way to the left side of the table. That way, it will not block the view of the pictures, since you have the bootom pictured centered. It may "slightly" block the far left picture, but pull the lamp out slightly. Then "something" substantial, but shorter on the right side of the table.

And I like Cyn's idea of a tall vase with flowers - keep the flowers lighter - forsythia sounds great!

I like the "stacked" or "layered" placement of your family photos. Is that one frame or did you place them that way.

Now I want an old sewing machine stand.

Tuesday

Oh wow, I do have a beautiful vintage sewing basket that I'll put there! I love the sewing idea. I did have my mom's old Singer but I had it in the garage for years and it rusted so bad we chunked it. I mean it was really bad. I felt just awful.

Tuesday, the stacked photo frame is one piece but has individual openings for each picture. It's perfect for my son's wedding pictures. I'm thinking it was bought at Hobby Lobby.

No room there for a chair. Not far from the corner is a desk with chair, the "game" table with 2 chairs, and another seating area in back of the room.

I've got all the Christmas stuff put away...oh the dust on the floor and game table! lol

Totally off topic oakleyok, may I ask the paint color that you used in your room?

Going with clubcracker's idea, maybe a vintage child's sewing machine, along with the antique sewing basket, maybe some vintage Ball canning jars filled with colorful buttons, a basket filled with rolls of colorful yarn (also good for the kitties), a vintage pin cushion - just go with the theme of the sewing machine table. You could even find a small stool to go in front of the table.

OR make it an art center for the grandkids with cans of markers and crayons, construction paper, coloring books, etc., along with a stool. Then, make the pictures hanging nearby of them. You could also just keep the craft supplies in a pretty basket underneath, and just decorate the top with something easy to remove.

I would probably make it more utilitarian with the art supplies but that's because I don't like a lot of extra stuff to dust every day, and NOTHING looks good dusty, just unloved. YMMV.
Dee

Oakleyok- I love that sewing table and like clubcracker's idea with the basket. I like the table angled myself and wouldn't cover the whole table with a doiley because the table is so pretty!

I would definitely put the table against one wall or the other rather than angled.

I agree that it should be the spot where you change the display with the seasons.

I have the branches that light up. I sometimes wonder if others think they are tacky. But I have a dark corner in my hallway and the branches are mixed in with other, real branches. When the lights are on, it does wonders for that corner. The other branches keep it from looking bare when the lights are off. My only complaint is that the light up branches are only 3' tall. I keep saying I'm going to add to the bottom so I can make a taller arrangement, but it's been a year and so far it is not done, sigh. But I digress.

I think a nice floor plant or arrangement opposite the table would be nice. Good luck figuring out what the dimensions of that should be, lol. You are talented so I'm sure you will get it right.

Do you have a grandfather clock? I think it would look perfect in that corner. If not, I think some sort of mirror on the wall would bounce the light into that corner and a plant on the table would soften all that wood. I would loose the tablecloth too, as the table looks pretty without it.

Definitely keep the table against the wall, not angled. And I know you said no room for a chair, but something tells me it is calling out for one of your ladderbacks to be pulled in, sort of desk-like.

Fuzzy

Well slap me silly and call me Edith Bunker! After 3 years of not knowing what to do with the corner, a lightbulb finally went off ten minutes ago!

To the right of the corner is a long wall. It's a walkway so the only furniture is a writing desk, antique smokestand, and this stand! That wall was my next problem, no more!

It's a perfect fit. Now I just need to know how to accessorize it without having to buy anything. The vintage radio will stay, and I'll add a lamp.

What's nice is the wood on the stand (maple) is the same as my maple writing desk. This stand breaks up all the wood too, which is great.

What do you think?

{{!gwi}}

It's kind of a jarring change from the dark wood throughout the rest of the room and this new piece looks a little 80's to me. It also seems to be pushing the size limit for that wall. Where is there a maple writing desk that matches it?

It's really hard to get the full effect from a photo. The pic of your hall is too dark for me to see what is in there.

Maybe I just loved that sewing table so much I miss it now, lol.

Maybe it would help to see more angles with the new stand but I really liked the idea of the sewing table on the one wall. I think the new piece looks almost too big for that wall. I think it would be better if there were a little breathing room along the sides. What would you do with the pretty sewing table?

Cindy, it's a perfect fit. I was actually surprised. There's a good 2 inches of wall on each side. Not cramped at all.

The writing desk is on the wall to the right, in the same room, but out of camera range. Also, I have a large, cream colored french country coffee table with a maple top, exact same colors as the stand.

I have a combo of dark to medium wood tones, and since this particular corner is dark, it needed something brighter and some height also.

The room behind it is an office, not a hall, but it's open.

We also have a large stone FP with a stone bench, so practically anything goes in the room.

I don't mind if the stand has an 80s look to it because I'm not one who goes by trends and what's in and what's out.

Here's the lamp I ordered, it matches the room to a T. I'll take pictures of a little candlestick project I did last week which will also match and now I found a place for them!

{{!gwi}}

I guess looking straight onto the front of the stand may make it look like it's in a tight space.

One thing I like is that the height of the wall is about 14', and I realized having a short table there was one of my problems. To the left of the table is a closet with a ledge above it.

One reason the picture is jarring is I used an overhead light and the flash on my camera. Right now with no lamp on in the corner it's very dark. Even in the daytime it will stay darkish.

Shee, there's room for the sewing table.

Cindy, I'm not sure why it makes a difference with what I have in the next room.

What I plan on doing is soften the area. I have some old quilts I'm going to put on the lower shelf. Once it's decorated with other soft items, along with the lamp, I think it will be okay. I just got so sick of having that short table there, no matter what I did, it just didn't look right. lol

I like the other table there a lot more. The bigger stand seems too big. The smaller table is better.

I agree with Cindy, Shee, and happy ladi. The smaller table worked much better in that space. Sorry, that is clearly not what you wanted to hear, but you did ask what we thought! Even if there is some space on either side, it is too large for the wall. And it detracts from the nice arched doorway. It really doesn't seem to work well with the other pieces in the room. If I were determined to use that piece, I'd remove the top shelves and then stain the wood darker. But I think the smaller table was better size-wise and style-wise.

I too loved the other table, however it may have been too short given the height of the ceiling. Perhaps you could angle your stand in that corner if your so sure you want to use it there.

Shucks. But what am I going to do with the pretty lamp I ordered? lol

Here's another angle. I'm going to go ahead and decorate it and see how I feel then. If I'm not pleased it's going to the front porch. I've been debating about puttig it out there. It can't be seen unless you walk to one end of the porch and I need something for pots, tools and potting soil.

{{!gwi}}

It is really strange how the two photos show the wall space around the stand differently. I think the stand would be ideal for holding your gardening paraphernalia. However, I like the idea of the taller piece to balance the display cabinet on the other side of the room. Maybe you'll find something some day. In the meantime, I also agree the sewing table is a bit low for the tall ceilings, but some of the suggestions might work to trick the eye. I'd try putting your photos or replacement art higher on the wall. The low hanging frames now accentuate the low table. Maybe you could decorate both the stand and the table, and let us take a look at both when they are more finished.

Andee, exactly. The 2nd photo is more true to life. Walking from the other room I can't even see the edge of the stand until I'm halfway to the LR. Trust me, if it looked cramped, I'd move it in a heartbeat!

Here's what I've done so far. The new lamp will go where the candlesticks/spheres are.

Remember, the overhead light is on so the wall color looks awful. lol

{{!gwi}}

I had no idea that ceiling is 14' high. Now wonder you
thought the sewing table was too low. The art above the table was so low that it really drew your eye down. In photos the vast space above the arrangement was not noticeable. I'll bet it makes a big difference when you are actually in the room though. Sometimes it's hard to get an idea of scale from a photo.

I agree that the top of the new stand detracts from the arched doorway.

Since you have maple colored pieces nearby, I can see how the color probably works better than I originally thought it did.

My 80's comment was not about trends. The rest of the room appears to be furnished in rich, old, well crafted furnishings. The maple piece, appears to be a recent, mass produced item. Maybe it's a nice hand crafted piece and I just can't tell from the pic. It just doesn't seem worth of that beautiful room or your gorgeous home!

That said, YOU are there. You are seeing the whole picture where we cannot. The right things on those tops shelves could make a real difference too. For example if you covered the top shelf with plants, you could recreate the arch from the doorway and no one would ever see the squared off lines of the piece.

It sounds to me like you love it there and I am sure you will make it work!

Trying to show a perspective is hard using a camera and you know what looks best to you in real life. The piece really confounds me from the pics tho.

Your first pic shows it fully filling the spot with the light switch inside the outside rail. The second piece shows the light switch fully outside the rail and the last pic shows the light switch kind of halfway in and out. They all look like the piece is as far left as it can go.

So it looks too crowded in the first pic, but fine in the middle pic. Just can't figure out how wide it really is! I like the quilts on it.

The switch is definitely behind the stand. Optical illusion. lol.

Cindy, since the arch is a lot higher than the stand, the stand doesn't detract from the arch. I stood back and tried to see what you saw and I couldn't.

I understand now about the 80's comment. Because it has some of the same colors of the LR (cream and maple, although it's a lighter maple from the other furniture) it really does blend in.

What I'm not understanding is why it looks crowded to everyone. Maybe if there was no side-wall I'd see it, but with there being another wall and plenty of space in front, it doesn't appear crowded. Snug maybe. :) The trim of the beadboard to the left keeps it from being flush against the wall. To the right there's a couple of inches or more of wall that's open.

The top shelf. I'm torn about putting anything tall on it because it may look strange. I want to keep the items shorter than the arch so it won't blend in to look like one line. Right now the arch is perfectly defined.

For the time being I put my little cat collection on top. Some of them are Jim Shore cats with quilt designs on them. Sooo pretty! I have a vintage tin collection also I may put there along with the cats.

Since Christmas I've moved all of my accessories around, so who knows what will show up on the shelves. lol

Once the lamp comes in I know the corner is going to give the ambience I'm seeking. It better!

Thanks everyone for all the help!

I can't wait to see the lamp on there. I love that lamp!

I like the large stand better than the small table. I think it makes a statement, rather than looking like "a little something" to fill a space.

Late to the party as usual but I also prefer the table. When I first started reading the thread I had an immediate vision of it up against the wall w/ a white runner w/ crocheted lace on the ends of it (I do this w/ a long antique pillow case that I have folded lengthwise in 1/2's), a lamp, small to med. vase/ pitcher or creamer of casual country flowers and a few picture frames.