I think it needs something. Pehaps a large vase on one ledge, and a grouping of 3 large candle sticks of differnt heights on the other

Paint the moulding the same color as the walls and forget about it :)

This is what I call a waste of space :)
leaving them empty is your choice of course ,since you don't like fake plants dust collectors :) I would suggest placing some sort of sculpture on the ledge, nothing colourful to avoid the cluttered look , let me see if I find some ideas for you .

Thanks for the tips! One problem I have is that there isn't very much eye level wall space to put art. One wall is all windows, one wall is the front door, one wall is the fireplace, and the fourth wall only has room for one large item.

Then find some sort of stone work , so far I have found this one I haven't paid attention on how tall it is but you need something with volume to make a statement , even a garden piece could work on there , or even a carousel horse .



here he is




or this one without the necklaces

Instead of looking at it as 2 ledges, think about that as one entire space across the top.

A large amazing chandelier can take up a lot of that space, especially if it's very long horizontally. Or use 3 (or 5) smaller lights in a row.

Or have someone create a painting or other wall art that goes across the wall that's above the door, to unify all the space.

Maybe if you change the light fixture to something more substantial and lower it to around the same height as the ledges, it will help fill the space more. I don't know how to add a picture from an idea book, but if you look through the Pendant Lighting ideabooks, you can find many examples of statement pieces that would look really great.

Please get a larger chandelier. That one is way too small. Add crown molding at the ceiling and put a large mirror above the door. You won't even notice the ledges anymore.

I don't know why builders do this, but it wouldn't be hard to fix. Just build a soffit all the way to the ceiling, drywall and paint it, and make them go away. If you don't want to go to that trouble, remove the crown moulding and they'll be less conspicuous.

Funny how we all see things isn't it. I love the ledges. I would place a tasteful yet whimsical statement as Genevieve suggested. When people do look up they will smile and get that aah hah moment;)

or go wild :)) Its Friday I thought that we need some humour

LOL

Be creative and accessorize the ledges. Also think of installing a larger chandelier and I know it would be more work but I would darken the ceiling. A shade darker then the walls would be great and then paint the molding on the ledges the same color as the ceiling. I am attaching photos of chandeliers for inspiration and in my next post accessories.

Good luck with the project! Matt

Accessories!

@Genevieve, love the look on that kid's face. He's gonna be scarred for life. ;-)

@genevieve hahaha I think that gorilla is exactly what I was looking for ;)

Thanks for the comments and ideas everyone. I guess it shows how much I know about design...because the chandelier I have there now is quite new. You should have seen the hideous one that came with the house! I think you are right though, something bigger would fill the space a lot better.

It is a pretty chandy, could you use it in the kitchen, or your bath?

Here are some other ideas

Sorry, looks like Christmas in June. Something more sophisticated in my humble opinion.

I agree with a larger chandelier and placed lower. IMO, the bottom of the chandelier should be just few inches above the door. Low enough so that our eyes are drawn to the chandelier and not higher but still high enough so the door does not hit the chandelier when the door is opened.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to give me your tips! Now if only I can convince the husband that I need a new chandelier!

Margo Corpening ASOHK: Out of curiosity, were you saying that the Chandy looks like Christmas in June?

No, not the chandy, I swear when I posted that statement you had posted a photo of objects on each side of the ledge that looked like Christmas decorations. Maybe it was not you and someone mocked up something and I commented on that. Maybe they deleted the photos? Sorry for any confusion, or maybe I am going bonkers...

Margo Corpening ASOHK, haha oh good. Just checking! Nope, I didn't post Any other photos!

I would go for a larger chandelier that will take up more space in that open area, then you will not need anything on the sides.

I think a bigger chandelier would be a good idea.

It's not a bad idea to put something on the ledges though.

I can picture lightly colored ornate vases with some beautiful ivy plants growing right there. =)

Three large overscaled items on the left. Two on the right. Just a mattter of what you like and your style. Pottery, trunks, folding screen, vases, sculpture, Singer antique sewing machine and antique rocker.
The shorter group on the highest ledge to balance each other.
You may need to raise the items on covered fabric crates to see properly. The fabric will bring another dimension to the vignettes.

Vases - larger and eliminate the jewelry :)


Folding screen -shorter one.


Trunks




Larger piece like this


Antique sewing machine

Mural wallpaper on three walls. or hand painted vines