Wow you have such a majestic entry!

I can think of several options: you could treat the niches as frames for your pieces; whether you group items or display them singly, try to maintain consistent "visual weight" in each. It seems fine to mix the pieces since they are all similarly themed.

Or decorate both inside and outside the niches. Use the niche "frames" to highlight particular pieces.

Another idea, trompe l'oiel the niches to give the appearance of windows.

Install sconce lighting in each niche for a gentle ambiance.

It looks like the new house is a big change from the old. Hope you are having fun. That is a tough space and it seems as though the window ledge needs something as well. What about decorative plates in the niches? It would be easy to keep the niches balanced and the plates would be a great way to add color.

Based on your front door design and the staircase, you already have a fairly defined design direction. Not sure the Navajo rugs are the right solution for these niches. Here are some options might appear. I think I would paint the niches to attract attention and then mount some wrought iron wall decor. Or simply install large enough art to cover them over.

Thanks so much for the suggestions! We have changed course and will not be building as originally planned. We are now looking at this particular new home, and DH and I absolutely love it - even though it's much different than what we're used to living in! And as you can see, we aren't even living in this space yet, but I'm "decorating" it in my head. (Hey, a girl's gotta be prepared, right?)

I love the ideas each of you have given me, and will keep mulling this over. The idea of plates is good - and I'm actually envisioning large "art" plate pieces, if you know what I mean. It also occurred to me that I do have a collection of Navajo baskets that might work in the niches too.

I agree that the space over the front door also seems to "need" decorating. I'm not a silk plant person, though, so wouldn't go that route (I've seen that done in some houses, although maybe not so much these days as when silks were more popular). My sis-in-law has a little collection of vintage suitcases on a similar high ledge in her house, speaking to her love of travel. I like to travel too, so maybe I'll "borrow" that if we end up in this house. Maybe add a cool vintage globe?

Here's a photo of the house we're looking at that's unrelated to my question. Just wanted to share the open kitchen, dining, and living space. Much different from our little old 1940s house, but I am so-so-SO ready for new and clean and modern. I'm madly in love with the ceiling, a portion of which you can see in the foreground here. The narrow window in the dining space is glass block, another element that has always made my heart go pitter-patter. :-)

Love the cabinets/island the ceiling details, but not sure where the curve details came from.?? Doesn't appear to be another cure in the cabinets or windows. I could not purchase a home where the lights would need to be on in the kitchen during the day, but that's just me.

Are you talking about the curve in the wall from the hallway? Might be hard to tell in the photo, but the curve and arch are in walls separating the kitchen from the family room. Is that what you're referring to? If so, I don't quite see why the curves would need to be repeated in the cabinets or windows. Heck, I've got curved walls in my current 1940 house, and rectangular windows and cabinets. ;-)

I've never owned a home where the lights didn't need to be on in the kitchen during the day. I guess it's all a matter of what we're used to.

Jen as I'm sure you've discovered, the upside is you can get more bang for your buck buying existing and the downside is it isn't always the bang you would have chosen! Truthfully, unless you're in love with those niches, I'd put the $$ into making them go away rather than trying to make something you already own 'kind' of work in them or worse (in my mind) putting $$ into buying 4 somethings to fit them. Whatever you put in them (or on the area above the door) will be a pain to maintain - dust, cobwebs etc.

Who gets to change the light bulbs in the entry chandelier? ;-) Can you hook it from that landing and bring it close enough? Looks like it would need at least a 10' stepladder from the floor.

I am no help with what to put on the ledge, other then be sure it's something you won't have to dust too often. Love the kitchen, I always have to turn the lights on in mine too.

DLM - Have also thought about just getting rid of the niches completely. I wonder what the associated cost would be, but surely it wouldn't be THAT bad. Good point about having to change those light bulbs! DH has a ladder that extends to about a bazillion feet, so I'm sure he'd be putting it to good use in this home. :-)

Oh, I do love the idea of a bright and sun-filled kitchen, but I've never had one. Come to think of it, I know very few people who have one. Electricity is our friend. :-D

What happened? Weren't you just asking about furniture arrangement in your new build?

Beverly, we have plenty of natural light in our kitchen, but I still have the under cabinet lights on all day.

Yep, I was indeed just asking about the new build. Contract cancelled and all $ returned to us. It's a long, sordid tale ... :-(

We just found this existing new home, so the disappointment of not building has been short lived, thankfully.

I would probably do this. Paint the inside of the over the door niche area bright white to reflect as much light in as possible, and install plantation shutters at the interior part of the opening. It would let the light in without leaving you with an kind of awkward open shelf that you can see needs vacuuming from the landing. It would require some change to the inner opening, like running a header and the crown moulding across the top at the height of the adjacent window. I'd leave at least the upper niche bare. It's an architectural detail meant to balance the window opposite, so I don't think it needs further emphasis.

I don't think the house is dark necessarily, based upon the pictures. The light meter in a camera is not the human eye. I could take a picture inside my house right now that would make certain rooms look pitch dark, but they aren't.

I like the plantation shutter idea! Also, perhaps it's a nice place for curtains on the inside of the window and seasonal storage ;-)

I'm loving the plantation shutters there - thank you for that mock-up, pal! That just seems to finish off the space. Also now totally see the upper niches as architectural, and not something to be filled. I think you just fixed this whole area for me.

:-)

I like Pal's solution, too! One very tiny point: the light fixture hanging down in front of that window....it appears one looks 1. directly into the bowl, which will show dirt, deceased bugs, etc. and 2. one will also be seeing the bare bulbs from above? That can't be good.

Pal's plantation shutters are pure genius! Have never understood why builders create those open shelves in impossible to reach places.

I really like Pal's suggestion, too - and I'm going to play devil's advocate when I say it would bug me no end thinking about and seeing all the dust that will collect on the louvers!! Obviously I have issues and need to get out more.

Oh - do take that artistic photo as martinca said and use fotosketcher or something to watercolor it or make a misty dreamy look. Your little cottage is the perfect subject for that.

Oh no DLM, I have similarly high shutters , and suppose there must be dust, but if I can't see it, then.......! They do get dusted occasionally with duster pole, so good enough for me. ;). . P.s. Good idea for a watercolor. I did love that porch ! Jen, meant to say, this house looks gorgeous...what we can see of it. Good luck!

I had a similar window ledge and hard to reach light fixture in my old house. When the dust got to be too much I would stand on the balcony and aim the leaf blower. Then I swept all the mess up from the entry floor. It isn't a deep clean but it got rid of the visible dust bunnies and the dead bugs.

Congratulations on your potential new home - I am assuming that perhaps it is not a "done deal" right now. You must be so EXCITED!

If one looks hard enough, one can always find a negative or two even in a high-end mansion so just don't dwell on them or let others dwell on them. Just enjoy and be thankful you can have this home which I know you will. You are so creative and have an artistic eye and I know you will make a beautiful home here. I so enjoyed watching you decorate your current home with your bright reds and turquoise colors and your Southwest art and I also watched your transformation to a more English Cottage look :) I will enjoy watching you decorate your new house.

I love your new kitchen! Enjoy it!

My daughter is in the process of selling their first home which is cute as a button and they have put their heart and soul into. They are moving into a larger home, more traditional style, previously owned by an older couple and they realize they just need to put their style into it, while embracing what it has to offer. I just got off the phone with her and she was talking about a few things in the new home that are different (things she will miss like medicine cabinets in the bathrooms; some that are just habits) and her husband told her they will just need to make "new habits" in the new home.

Thank you all so much! Your sweet, thoughtful comments really touch me.

We've started the ball rolling ... Will update when we have some news. For the moment, we're exhausted. What a process it all is, with so many angles to consider!

Sorry, Auntjen, I didn't mean to Dwell on a Negative.

Love the shutters. Turn them so they point up, and bounce the light off the ceiling. (Also keeps out the heat) and you won't see the dust on the louvers.

I also like the idea of painting the inside of the niches a skosh lighter or darker than the wall color.

No, no, no, gramarows! I didn't think you were being negative. I meant to respond to your comment about the lighting fixture, because I absolutely agree with you and was just discussing this with my DH yesterday! We may replace a fixture or two if we end up in this house, and this is one of them. It's fine from downstairs, but from up? Someone didn't give it much thought before installing it!

The plantation shutters negate the feature. Which is an option, but I tend to think if you don't like that entryway, I would not be inclined to by the house. I also wonder how it would look to from outside.

Jen, I absolutely love your home, but maybe it's because it's very similar to mine~is it a Highland Home? I have the same window above the door, but mine is arched, as are all the doorways. Also the exact front door, but I upgraded. Same dark wood railings and iron balustrades also, but no niches. Anyway, the house is very sophisticated, and it's just my 2cents,but anything in the realm of Navajo will fight with this mini 'chateau'. Maye in a great room or family room, but not the entryway.

I have nothing in the window above the door, but have a large vintage birdcage I was always going to hang, or several medium size ones I thought of setting in a grouping. I had a light installed to use for Christmas decor of some sort, but again, never did that either. I guess with it being so high, and no man instantly available, it's put a 'damper' on some things. Lol

I don't care for the shutter idea, and while it looks good, blocks out light. With the sun higher in the winter time, it could change the ligbting quite a bit. If you do dcide you like them, you can have them arched at the top to tie into the niche's and keep the louvers at 'half mast'.

I think painting the inside of the niches a charcoal gray would continue with the sophistication of the home. You could use small silver framed mirrors for some bling, or even metal grilles. Congratulations on your new home! It's very different from the little bungalow, but a change(and maybe a challenge!)i'm sure you and DH will enjoy! ;)

Auntjen, I'm still trying to reconcile your past styles and this (all of which are very nice, just so different)! I remember your high energy colors and decor (which I loved), and your switch to a more English style (which I also loved). I'm sure you will rock this new style of a new construction look. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you, patty_cakes! While this house isn't ours YET, we have started the negotiation process - so we shall see! It's not a Highland home, but a new builder to this area. I've heard of Highland though. I so appreciate the varied opinions and ideas expressed here, as it gives me so much to think about. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, because if we DO end up in this home, we will be going very slowly and doing area by area, bit by bit. It will likely be a very long process to get all of the rooms decorated, but while that may have bothered me in other houses, I think it will be good for us to see this home as our "project" that will come together over time instead of mostly in one fell swoop. Oh, I realize that most houses do get furnished and decorated over time - but I'm talking about having to live with a couple of near-empty spaces in this house perhaps for awhile until we can do them up. And I really think I'm ok with that!

It's fun to think and dream and scheme though. Goodness knows, I've been doing a LOT of that lately! :-)

Jen, the *only* way to do it is slowly AND methodically, so as not to waste time or money. Geez, it took me a little over 3 years before I could say, or even feel my house in Austin was done, and haven't changed a thing! Maybe a new throw, decorator pillows, or a new lamp shade now and then, but i'm very happy with my choices along the way with no desire to start the process all over again,

My son bought his first house shortly after I bought mine, and over the last 2 1/2 years I have said to him, 'so are you going to redo things anytime soon'' and his answer is always the same, 'why mom, I love everything the way it is'. I can so relate.

So do it once and do it right! Don't buy something unless you love it, but I think you already know that. And that dreaming is half the fun. You've got some great consignment shops there, but if you can't find what you're looking for, i've found some great places in Austin. Road trips and shopping are always fun. Have you ever gone to Round Top? Keep that in mind too, but have a list!

Wise words, patty_cakes! I've got a lot of good options in this area for furnishings, including Craigslist which tends to have some pretty good stuff on a regular basis. In deciding whether or not to make an offer on this house, DH and I have talked about it from every aspect - including whether or not we would start to feel "owned" by a home that we are working to furnish bit by bit. I honestly don't think we will. I think of my parents and of his parents, both of whom take tremendous satisfaction in their homes and I think we'll be the same way. It's sort of a grounding thing (in a good way), having a home that delights you and you take pride in consistently working to improve.

We've negotiated and accepted the builder's latest offer. Now we get into further contract discussion. It's exciting!

That chandelier in the foyer will have to go, though, once we move in. I need to look at it closer in person, but from the photo I took it appears to be made to sit flush with the ceiling. It's definitely NOT appropriate in a location where one can look down into the bowl. Ugh. Not sure what that decorator was thinking! Of course, now I'm dreaming of what sort of light would be best here.

As far as the questions above about cleaning the light, when you look for your new lighting you have it hung so that it is motorized and can be lowered by a switch to clean and change bulbs. A good friend has a three story foyer and when she first moved in she said she would bring the chandelier down every week because she thought it was so cool!.