Glad someone else said it first bcuz I like it too....

I would buy a louvered shutter and hang it sideways.

like the existing!

I agree with the others- I think it's nice already!

Make that 6 votes for the existing. I really like the pattern in the gridwork.

Embrace the uniqueness and antiqueness of the vent cover.

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I think it is cool as is, too.

When I saw the thumbnail photo I thought - oh, that looks good! Don't change anything!

I'm with the rise, maybe try and used a different color,but that will make it stand out even more...you could have someone build you luvers for it..

It is nicely trimmed I don't find it at all objectionable. However you must so you could hang a painting or the like off the wall about 2". This would still allow the air flow and you wouldn't see the vent.

I like it, too and found a lot on houzz that look similar.

[houzz=][houzz=][houzz=]

Thanks so much for all the feedback and helpful comments! I will now scratch that off my extensive to-do list and get on with others. One follow-on question: I will be painting the hallway (color undetermined- ideas there?), so then do I paint it the same color as the molding, which will be white instead of the cream, or do I paint the grid work the same color as the wall? Greys and blues are out for this hallway because my living room and entryway, which lead up the stairs to this split-level hallway are a bluish-grey and each of the three kids' rooms is done in a different blue (their choices). Parents' room still builder cream, but I'll post a photo for color help on that room soon. Thanks, all!

I think I would paint the whole thing the trim color.

Definitely paint it the same as the wall.

I am assuming everything is currently painted the same colour as the walls are. I think it is fine and definitely do not put anything over it that would hinder the air flow. Perhaps you could do a collage of pictures and artifacts and unique objects which would incorporate these three rectangles into the design. Surrounding them, top and bottom, with other items will certainly lessen the air return visual impact.

So, I think creeser and C T-L are saying the same thing, right? Which would mean, paint trim, grate and wall all the same. I was thinking that because it was trim, I'd need to have it match the rest of the hall trim, but of course, that doesn't have to be so. Mapeggy, good idea. The photo doesn't really show it, but the vent is just outside the master door, totally off-center of the hall, and about 6' up the wall, but I will definitely use your idea for art to the side of the return, maybe with something long underneath, and with the paint, I think it will be a nice hallway. Thanks!

No, your wall and your trim can be two different paints. I was just saying that whatever you use on the wall should be used on the grate. This will help it to blend into the wall and not draw a lot of attention to itself.

The new covers are so much uglier than yours. :). Really, yours is much nicer than most.