Second photo…and make the most of it. Lighted niches deserve something special to show.

Exactly! If you are going to the extent of creating a lighted niche, first select the object to be displayed and design the size and proportion of the niche accordingly.

For example, in the second photo above the vases are completely out of scale and lost in the niches.

The first photo clearly demonstrates the importance of the shape and placement of niches. The niche shown, with curved head, immediately adjacent to a rectangular framed opening is completely inappropriately shaped and placed. The niche, if it is to be located in that wall, should have been rectangular, and centered in the wall space.

The door, with its curved head, is a one of a kind shape in that space.

Can I have a squared niche with a painting inside? If I have a particular painting in mind, how much gap should I leave between the frame of the painting and frame of the niche to look proportional?

Rectangular niche with a painting inside?

Of course! And an adjustable wall washer lamp in the top of the niche to illuminate the painting properly.

As to spacing, there's no hard and fast rule. It often depends on the size and style of the frame. Large, ornate or bulky frames need more visual space. Minimal or frameless paintings may be able to live with somewhat less space.

As a general rule I think I would allow at least 6 inches of clear space between the wall, top and bottom of the niche and the edge of the frame. A bit more might also be a good idea.

It's probably a good idea to think of the shape and proportion of the niche to be similar (not necessarily identical) to that of the painting.

Remember, most paintings are best hung at eye level.

Center the niche on its wall and place it so the center of the hung painting will be 5' above the floor. Treat the niche like a frame around the frame (or canvas without frame) and leave space equal to 1/4 of the painting's width all around it (think of the niche like a mat all around the piece. Lay the painting on the floor and tape all this out with painter's tape to make sure you like it. Tweak to your personal taste, then tape onto the wall where you envision it and tape the shape of the painting where you have determined you'd like it. See how that feels and you should be set.

I vote for no niche. It will provide the greatest flexibility.

Anything worthy of occupying a niche should be 5 ft above the floor unless you will never have children or pets in your house.

You realize the niche is not cut into a wall; the surrounding wall is brought out to create a niche.

A painting with a ceiling light would be my preference.

Provide a good door stop for the lower photo.

Never create a design where the featured elements must match unless they are easily replaced.

In the lower picture the seance can begin as soon as the lights are dimmed.

I suspect it's a photo from a lighting fixture catalog. The switches should be numbered.

Does anyone know what "transitional modern" really means? It sounds like what someone transitioning from poor to rich might like, or maybe its the reverse. I've done both so it might work for me.