The 2 little carts and spice shelf look cluttery to me. One long shallow shelf unit across the wall would hold much more than what is there now and the triptych would be nicely displayed. Even buying 3 room length planks, staining or painting and using 4 stacks of brick would look nice or buy however many 2-3' tall bookcases/shelves it takes to span the wall or even 2-3 and lay a plank across.

I specifically need to work with what we have now. No changes to the furniture. No new shelves or anything else. My husband is ready to kill me now. I can't do or replace or move anything now but the art.

it might look off to you because of the spice rack hanging next to it and the art isn't aligned with the Roof of the rack... maybe try it a bit higher

and the eye is also drawn to that bird-thing hanging, which may also unbalance it

I agree it needs to go a bit over from the spice rack, maybe some room between them would kinda help with this disaster just a little. Maybe center the center piece of the art with the center of the dining table? I think the bird needs to go. It's something we already had and I just thought since it was yellow, white and brown it may go with the art, but it looks off. The ceiling is very, uh, strange above our dining area. It goes up like 12-15' in the center (though I love the natural light from the skylights!) and is low in the kitchen and half the dining area. I keep reading you shouldn't place art too high, but maybe because the ceiling is so odd it could go a little higher?

HI -- I think the art is hung properly but little bird could maybe be hung on the other side of the window . What I think would help here is if you could afford to get a pint of paint to paint the table white ... it think that would be and look better and more coordinated .

The table is the only piece of furniture I like. I spent a week stripping/sanding the prior paint off it so i could stain it. In fact, I chose the art to coordinate with that table. I want those other 2 things to fade into the background as much as possible.

I would suggest hanging the art vertically with the flower at the bottom so the width of the art is visually closer to the width of the table and the top edge of the art is closer to the soffitt. I would then remove the bird, if possible remove the spice rack by storing the spices elsewhere, and hang more coordinating artwork on each side to create somewhat of a gallery wall.

OK. It looks somewhat like my own dining area.

Nothing new, work with what you have. Can you move the item that is holding the orange mixer? Put it at the end of the counters as a coffee station, turned with the back to the end of the counters. Put the mixer in a closet and bring it out when you need it. The spice rack needs to be next to the stove or prep area. Can you turn your table 90 deg? It is about the same length as the art work. You might have to adjust the art to match the length of the table. And clear out those things under the window.

Ditch the bird, put some succulents in small pots on the window ledge.

I think the art seems placed fine.

I don't mind the bird, because he coordinates so fascinatingly perfectly well with the art coloring, but he is a little high. Draws the eye up too much.

I dont' see the problem with the art placement, but if you have a level, you might check. it feels off-level to me...

now, gustaviatex, you *really* must shift your art, so that it aligns with the dining space rather than being centered in the meaningless unit of the wall. the current placement pains me! :)

I realize you have few cabinets but you also have lots of stuff sitting out. Dustbuster on wall. Huge mixer--how often is that used?

Little spice rack and little circle thing on the wall up high--the fish tank(?). All of these might be positioned better. Everything looks so haphazard.

If you could re-arrange some of these things you could turn the table in the other direction and it would line up with the art better.

If the newt was getting in the way of my happiness I'd have to turn it loose (in a nice place, of course). Who doesn't love bread? but again, if these things were making me hate my space then I'd just buy a loaf now and then. Maybe eat less bread : )

I do respect that you eat differently. We all should!

Okay, I take it back about your newt. You're doing what's important to you so don't even worry about the rest.

To your original question, yes you should ditch the bird hanging. (And the spice rack, but you didn't ask that.) ( And put the cart with the mixer under the window, but you didn't ask that either.)

It would work better if the table were directly under it, to anchor it.

I do appreciate the replies but I think there is just nothing more to be done with this trash heap that doesn't involve getting rid of and buying new furniture. I cannot make this kitchen any less functional than it already is by getting rid of things I use frequently. I have ruined the order in my cabinets by cramming as much as possible into them. It's not that I haven't dealt with worse, I just never should have bothered trying to "improve" and "decorate" what cannot be improved without significant money being spent. I have no idea why I even bothered trying to decorate or pretty this mess up. This place sucks, our furniture sucks and if we ever want furnishings actually like and want when we have a real home, I can't waste money trying to nice up a junky condo :-(

I would ditch the bird and move the art to the right slightly. Good luck!

Okay, if you ditch the bird, I agree, then, also ditch the spice rack.

And, yes, check to see if the art is level, because that was my first thought, too.

I do have one thing that might work, but it's been outside for almost a year. It needs new paint and a new top (I accidentally sawed into the top using it to cut up 2x4's on). Could probably hold the mixer, coffee and dehydrator, but that leaves the stuff under the granite topped stand homeless. Also no clue what I'd put on top?

Also, no room for my spices anywhere else, but I could paint the spice rack white to match the cabinets instead of cream with bright flowers???

Hypothetically, if I were to keep my eyes out at thrift shops or garage sales for something to fit this space to eliminate those 2 stands, what would I be looking for? Something that would work with our dining set (which we actually like) and my newt's arrangement (he is a living being, his needs come first). I can't spend hundreds of dollars on furniture, but I might be able to pick something up for $20 and paint it or something.

How about chest with mixer under the window? Put spice rack on inside of your cupboard door...might have to modify it some. Put bird thing over window or over newt's cage. Do you have room to turn your table...short side toward windows? If so cart and curtained chest could under the art.

Okay, then keep the spice rack and lower the bird. They all do coordinate. You wisely lined the spice rack up with the cabinet bottom, so that doesn't cause any visual "clutter"

Those things being there causes a visual line of things, rather than the flower becoming the "focal" point. The bird should hang closer to within the spice rack zone, because people will be reading your wall like it is a book, with the bright orange mixer being the punctuation mark. That being so far to the side, makes the visual loop uncomfortably wide.

You could get a furniture pantry for that spot and hide things like your mixer until you need them, but, honestly, that spot also does line up with the cabinets, so it isn't all that bad, it just would look less cluttered if those things were in something, rather than on something.

I painted the spice rack white, like the cabinets since the flowers were a bit much and I think if I get a brushed silver knob like the cabinets have, it'll blend in ok. We really don't have kitchen "clutter" per se (things we don't use) we just have very little kitchen to work with and above the sink is a just a big "opening" instead of cabinets. If I were to keep my eyes open for something to replace those 2 stands with, what would possibly be small enough not to take up the whole dining area and make it so we couldn't seat 4 at the table? I've seen sideboards, they're huge for this kind of tiny space. We had 2 metal shelving racks and they looked terrible and made it so you couldn't fit 4 people at the table. I just have very little real estate to work with here!

I'd def replace that brown curtain (?) with white... The spice rack looks way better tho. I feel your pain!

I was thinking of using a white fabric for the curtain too. I thought brown would be good, but the longer it's there, the less I like it.

Love the spice rack white! MUCH less distracting. Huge difference!

White curtain would help that corner.

After that, it is just about the bird and the mixer - which gives the feel as if an apostrophe was followed by a comma.

Not sure if it is a good idea, but if you took down the apostrophe bird, there would be room for shelves, which would balance the wall and would be functional, since you don't have a lot of space.

When do you use the toaster? Usually am? Swap the toaster and mixer. Or put the KitchenAid where vitamix is to bring some orange over to that side, put vitamix where toaster is, and toaster to counter by table.

How tall is the spice rack? If it fits under the cabinets, place it on the counter to the right of the stove. Shave off a few centimeters of the "roof" if necessary.

Use a white extension cord from outlet to coffee makers. It will disappear more into your wall then you can wedge it under the trim. That way your black cords won't be stretched across. Little things like that make a big difference.

You're the one with the parrot, right? :)

My daughter just made this out of metal black utility shelves she bought at Home Depot. She bought her wood the next month and had them cut it to exact size for her. She took it home and notched it out on the lower shelves so it would fit after giving it a good sanding. I am not sure color of stain. She needed a piece for her living room long wall and this is what she came up with.
You will find or could possibly make a perfect for your space piece. You made a gorgeous table and the spice rack looks soooo much better. You will get there!

Great posts and great ideas that are coming to you! Good Girl for not getting defeated by money; we have all been there more often than not!

I would take the art center panel and make the very center (vertical and horizontal, dead on) of the panel at 58 inches from the floor. Place the other two pieces three inches apart on either side at the same level with 3 inches of space between them. I looked this up under how to hang art. lol Take a pic for us to see if the pros were right. lol

Place the pretty toaster next to the mixer to have a stronger color in the corner to distract from the utilitarian items in the room.

If you have a white or orange or yellow large mixing type or serving type bowl, put it where the silver shallow bowl is on the tea cart on the middle shelf to bring in more orange as that is the stronger color in the room.

Try the coffee fixing items on the counter where the toaster was so they are next to your water source.

If possible use velcro or Commando strips or magnets to put your very necessary and practical calendar on the freezer door. I think it will fit? Or buy one that will fit.

Place your adorable spice rack where the calendar is now. It will be nice to have it near the stove and your cooking/mixing area.

Buy orange, white and yellow hand towels and pot holders and wash cloths when it is time to replace. A towel bar under the spice rack would be a nice spot for a micro fiber drying towel and also a terry colored hand drying towel.

I would do a woven Roman Blind in the window if you want texture but I like the white roll up for now.

The pretty cockatoo is so fun; can he hang from inside the skylight just below the ceiling line? He will look like he is flying in for a look see.

I think the silver bowl on the cart would look very nice Ion the table with lemons and oranges or generally as a fruit bowl; functional and adds color!

I do not think any of these ideas cost money but you will have to invest a Saturday doing it?!

I am so excited to see what you finally end up and I hope your spirits are rising.

Yes, I would move your picture to the right closer to the window. I think it would look better off center. I would also consider painting the spice rack white to cover the flower motifs. A small bottle of acrylic paint for $1.50 @ Hobby Lobby or WalMart would do the trick. I would also consider replacing the dark curtain on the cart for a white one. Best of luck. Undecided on your bird but it seems cheery.