You can't go wrong with any of them. To me, you need very large items up there. and I think these baskets will fit the bill.

Maybe just three baskets, and put the rug and iron holder elsewhere.

P.S. I'm the one who said only three plants in your dining room, so take this with a grain of salt.

I like #1 and either of the smaller natural colored ones. 2 should be fine but I always hear you should display in odd numbers

How tall is the rack? I don't have a sense of how 29 inches versus 22 inches will look against what's already there, but I'm sure you considered that already. However, from shape and color, #1 for sure and, as decormyhomepls said, either of the natural colored ones. The pastel and aqua colored ones may not be harmonious with the other items displayed, which are more earthy. As an aside, I'm glad you said you're keeping the iron rack "for now." The organic look of the display seems to call for a rack that isn't as ornate.

I design and weave baskets, so here's my 2 cents...

The African baskets you have chosen are a good match with your Navajo theme, since they're also coiled and visually (from a distance ;^) similar in style. The color patterning in the African baskets is achieved by using colored plastic lashing -- this is good in your case because sun from the window will affect the dyes that are typically used in basket weaving and the dye/plastic combo should be less likely to fade than a dye/natural combo.

For drop-dead gorgeous, I would want a 'burden basket' for this spot because it's meant to be hung!

Thanks so much!

I'm considering removing the rack completely and hanging the two rugs that are currently displayed there on the wall in place of the canvas paintings. Then I'd just have the large baskets sitting on the "floor" of this space (and I'd leave the large Navajo rug there, where it is now).

You've agreed with DH and what my gut is telling me about the more colorful baskets. They're beautiful in their own right, but probably not as organic a feel as I'm after. DH agrees with me on the orange-patterned basket (I'm going to go ahead and order that one for sure), but he's not as sure about the earthy-colored ones, thinking he's seen similar-looking pieces at Home Goods and places like that. He's not quite seeing the value of owning "authentic" African baskets, but he agrees to go with my decision on this. I do like the idea of purchasing pieces made in Africa as I have a bit of a cultural affinity for various reasons.

Party_music, I appreciate what you said about the plastic used in these baskets. That's something that I was just thinking about before I read your comment, and I agree that it makes these a particularly good choice.

As to size, the quilt rack is about 35" high, so the baskets will be shorter than that, but will have more of a substantial look than what's up there, particularly if I use three - which I'll need to do if I remove the rack.

If I'm going with three, what do you think about the smaller (20" tall) figural olla pictured in my little mock-up below? It's Pakistani in origin, and well priced.

If you are keeping all of the rugs (are there 5), then you already are fighting a store display look. If you have 3 or more rugs, I would go with one very large basket, the plain one in brown tones.

Ditto the above

Your mountain-scene painting is gorgeous. If you remove it I hope you find a wonderful place for it. I would keep the rug hanging on the right side and have just one on the "floor". In that case the three baskets in the last picture would be an unfussy and dramatic look for this niche which is only viewed from a distance. I would take away everything else, and perhaps hang another rug of a smaller dimension on the left side if you take away the paintings. The pastel baskets would I think not be a good look.

Thanks for your thoughts! I think a solo basket is going to look pretty lost up there and plan to proceed with the display of two or perhaps three. I've purchased the Pakistani olla. (It was on eBay and with several other watchers, I didn't want it to get away.) I think I'm going to go ahead and order the orange basket now, but perhaps wait on a third unless I come across something that I just can't pass up.

TR, here are some more African baskets. They lean toward the earthy colors.

Thank you, tishtoshnm! Those are so very pretty, but a little too small I'm afraid. I did stumble across this beauty. It's 52" tall and "only" $6,880! *cough, cough* Wowzers.

Jen, seeing the 3 pix, the third one tells the story~in looking from the first floor up to the second, imo, it's too much stuff. Also too many 'onezies'. One picture in the upper niche, one in the lower niche, and one on each side of the door might be better combined on one wall creating a gallery effect, and bring more impotance to the art you treasure soooo very much! The space between the 2 niches would hold 3-5 pieces, depending on the size. As for the 2 on either side of the door, if they were more equal in size I think it would look more visualy appealing. Another thought is something with more depth, such as an architectural piece, wall pockets, or wall sconces. To my 'visual eye'(such as it is!), the 'flatness' of all the canvases might be getting to be too much. I hope my sometimes *brutal* honesty isn't upsetting to you, Jen. As for the baskets you've chosen they're all very pretty! My vote is for 3, as long as the size is comparable to the space they will be going. One single large one could also be very nice using a couple of plants in simple terracotta pots. Unfortunately, they would need to be 'faux' unless you could find a ladder which could become part of the decor. ;)

For those that prefer 3 baskets, which of these combos is best? (Keep in mind that the basket on the left and in the center have already been purchased.) You'll have to use your imagination a bit - my mockups are very primitive!

#1:

#2:

Patty - thanks for your thoughts! Unfortunately, there is no way to adequately capture the entire foyer area (upstairs and down) to give you a real feel for what the art looks like in the space. I'm satisfied with the current arrangement of everything except the niche over the door, so that's my only focus right now. One of these days I'll break out my good camera and try to get better pics of the entire area. I know it's really hard to envision how it all looks in person, given only little snippets of space in what I'm able to capture with my phone.

#2 for me. They seem to go well together.

Getting DH into the mix, he prefers #1. I may have to go ahead and make the man happy, even though he claimed he was leaving it up to me. ;-)

I'm so excited! The smallest one just arrived and it's a lovely size. I'm very pleased! The other two from Swahili Modern are on their way. :-)