oh, and change the light, to a more dramatic one.

I have looked for a tapestry but haven't found any that are large enough that I could afford or like. I'd love a Klimt wall mural but at this size it's just too expensive. Some day my mom will finish a quilt for me but that could be years off (based on past experience) ☺️anyway, if you come across any tapestry examples that you love please share a link with me!

Agree about the light. Feel free to send links for that too. Thanks for your help.

art nouveau to steampunk is a tough span! I'd want something with a great splash of color...

Graffiti wallpaper of your choice would be cool...

A good splash of color for this area that draws your eyes to the great height! Something like this vertically will also be nice.

omg I love the graffiti wallpaper!

acm, I like the violinist but they're not selling it in a large enough print. She'd be pretty spectacular as a wall mural.

$528 for a wall mural that's only 8 ft high (the light post). Maybe I need a local trompe l'oeil artist. I wonder how much more expensive they'd be.

Here's the stencil I'm thinking of using and in these colors also.

I would add a large vinyl stencil of my favorite quote or saying. There are so many to choose from. Maybe something that lifts my spirit or has a special family meaning to me.

What if I added moldings to the wall that defined about 75% of the wall but left the green border all around--use it to frame the stencil? It would reduce the amount of work required stippling. I'd paint the moldings black. If I went this route, how small could I make the frame and still have the wall look dressed nicely? I stopped being lazy and just measured the wall. It is 7'-8" x 13'-2".

mipeters26, that would be lovely for a normal family. For my family it would have to say something irreverent and then we'd all have to agree on what it should say...we can't even agree on dinner. LOL. My husband and daughter would be happy with a halloween scene of bats flying across the wall. Imagine what a realtor would say it we had to sell the house!

If you go with a picture, etc- framing would be a good idea. If going wtih just words- I probably would not frame it. That is just a personal opinion. Maybe a designer has done that before and can give you some examples. Good Luck!

my first thought was a tapestry as well, or a metal sculpture. you could even tack a length of good fabric over stretchers.

Put in a wainscott base with a plate rail about 5' high and then use the remaining wall space to install a nice framed print. I might even change out that light fixture. This is in a bathroom but gives you an idea to just trim out the wall and paint it.

http://www.houzz.com/wainscott-makintosh

I thought about wainscott but there isn't any anywhere else in the house. Wouldn't it look out of place just in the stairwell? Also, would you just put it on the focal wall or would you run it around the stairwell to a logical stopping point? I also thought about putting in a dado rail but given where it would have to start and stop I thought it was going to look awkward too.

You love steam punk? Did you think about a metal sculpture with gears and bicycle parts? I'm sure you could find bits and pieces and find a local welder-artist to work with you. Other than that I would hang a ethnic rug or a large painting. I had a stairwell like this. I suggest something long. Try barnwood with gears?

I'm always looking for cool steampunk pieces and parts. I make jewelry assemblages and have tackled a couple lamps even. But I haven't found anything to scale for this wall.

I'm digging these french mirrors. Anyone think these could work? One or both? Layered on top of a wall pattern like the tree I posted earlier?

How about hanging a large quilt, or colorful rug as art?
I have seen Doors hung as art, with the right lighting they can all look as dramatic as you want.

You could inquire at your local college for an art student .,it will not be so expensive that way

Great big museum banners would be cool.

I would look at places that buy metal. Bicycle pieces industrial gears. You can mount it on a sheet of plywood that you've distressed . Wire coiled maybe something that looks like a balloon that you use coper wire to create the mesh. Also you need to find a way to bring all those high windows down visually. Didn't read where you live, but if you are near water search for surplus boat supplies. Old portholes would look wonderful. You do art. You can do this girl. Maybe round mirrors from a thrift store then have someone cut mdf round surrounds and then you can use joint compound to make the rivets for the porthole and glue macrame rings then spray all silver or brass then use brown craft paint or wood stain to age it and make your own portholes. I'll look for photos to attach on my next text.

Still having problems with photos. Google image search. Saw one that incorporated gears, a skeleton clock face and a half an old globe. They were all antiqued to blend.

I would change the too small light fixture with one of these: http://illuminationslighting.xologicstore.com/lighting-fixtures?oiv=371191 Then I'd look at maybe doing something with trim moulding like:

I'd hang a tapestry or rug to dampen the noise.

We arranged lithographs on our stairway wall...

Chrysler building looks cool. Is this a rug? Do you have a link?

To the nautical theme, no. I'm located in Colorado and nautical themes here are just way out of place--IMO.

I'm intrigued by the steampunk art suggestion. If you can paste the URL here maybe I can take a look at it. Once it warms up a little more I'll start scouring the local yards too.

Thank everyone. I'm getting some good ideas coming in!

Illuminations. I agree the light is too small. I like the first and forth ones in your link. I'm going to figure out the wall before I switch the lighting.

Without judging the execution of this example do you think the idea is cool or cheesy?

Image from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0PGalNwwIU8/T7Lcd5pGYUI/AAAAAAAAC00/x1HwvhYM1jY/s400/sculpture3.jpg. This is too small but you could add to it.

Love this idea. Tree branches and paint.

Not exactly deco, but I bid on and won some terrific, large, 8'ish X 9'ish, Uzbek Suzani textiles on Ebay for less than a Benjamin each. Or hang some vintage saris.

Linlac, that is a brilliant suggestion with the tree branches. I will be placing this idea at the top of my list! Nearly free, and totally me. Do you think they glued them onto the wall? I think my cats will pull them off if not screwed into studs.

63' diameter / I'll take 2 please

I was also curious about how they attached it to the wall but it only said use tree branches and paint.

Here's another tree using twisted paper. Not loving how they did this one but if you used thinner branches and painted it I could see it working. I keep looking at that first one and it looks like a wall relief to me. Real branches wouldn't be so flat on the wall.

A much larger light fixture that fills the space.

Lots of different black and white pics of family in different sizes and frames arranged together or a big mid century print?

I like your stencil, the mouldings, the burch wallpaper but especially those old mirrors. I do think the clock idea is a little off.

I'm thinking practical here :)

I like all the suggestions but ....who wants to dust the frames , vacuum quilts and banners and clean the mirror or glass that high? Not me !:))

Perhaps a painted mural or wallpaper would be the best solution for this area ,

A big black and white mosaique of your best travel photos!

One large tapestry or two very large pieces of artwork. Good luck!

What about a wood wall? It may be too dark but if you stain the pieces different colors it may look great. Pinterest has ideas for DIY steampunk gear clocks, gear mirrors, pendent lights with pipes etc.

Genevieve, you make a very good point. Keep it easy to clean. Thanks for the reminder.

Advise from being there done that years back ,as we age climbing and stretching for some doesn't work :)

I've never dusted those lithographs. Better go check 'em out, lol.