your family pics would get lost in those niches. I would fill it with large art pieces.

you could put family pics lower though.

I would either ignore the niches or drywall over them. Builders seem enamored with niches. They usually are in the wrong place or too large. They most often create design dilemmas.

I would remove the two items on the lower wall and add your family pictures at that level instead. I would remove the white ledge and dry wall the niches, which will also allow for better balance and placement of your collage.

I'd probably wall up the niches. That being said, we have a friend who took head shots of her four kids in black and white, had each of them printed on wrap-around canvas (really large, like 36 inches by 36 inches), and hung them in a grid in their foyer. It's stunning.

yeah, I hate the niches. get someone excellent in doing drywall.

Not a fan of the niches; they always look contrived.