I wouldn't put anything above it. You're going to have enough stuff in it. It's too bad they didn't match the height of the window on the right of the doorway. Now you have the railing height, bookcase height, door height and window height on 1 wall.

Paint the vent the wall color

I know, that’s what I’m struggling with as well, how uneven it is. ☹️

Definitely enough going on without adding art to the walls in this space. I'd focus on decorating the shelf unit and leave the rest of the space alone. Do paint the vent the wall color as suggested.

Nothing above it!!! And definitely not anything hanging alone above the door! I would try a colorful roman shade on the window, with a table/plant below the window or chair angled in the corner. You have enough going on in the space - that area can bring some calmness to the room. I agree - paint the vent the color of the wall.

I'm also a "don't add anything" vote.

Would you consider removing it? It's going to take quite a bit of money to purchase things to put into it. And really do just want "stuff" to fill the space that really has no meaning to you? That is also an odd window would you consider closing it up or putting in a larger window? If you just moved in these things don't have to be done "today". Live there and see how the space evolves for how you live

I'd put curtains on the window and hang them at the same level as the top of the bookshelf. If you are keeping the blue at the back of the bookshelf, I might choose curtains to match. I think that would visually balance the wall.

Nothing on the wall above door, bookshelf, or window.

It looks like there is a fireplace just out of view in the listing photograph. Can you post a few photos of the rest of the room?

I'd be trying to gain more wall space in that room and privacy for those in the kitchen with a pony wall instead of the railing. I can't figure out what you've done there; are those steps to the kitchen right in front of the built-in? Can you have the built-in re-worked and wired for TV? Then float your sofa facing it with the FP on the right of it. Add a pair of swivel chairs on the kitchen side facing the FP. Use the new pony wall for art.

No framed pictures. It's too neck-craning high for any picture.

You used the term "flows". You might consider a few pieces of pressed metal art -- metal birds or butterflies -- sitting on a limb and/or flying/flowing upward from the low point or downward.

https://wildlifewonders.com/bovano-double-cardinals-enameled-copper-wall-art/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwwr32BRD4ARIsAAJNf_3mU8C-Dv2JwKwjJY5Ed7Sh6XD466iC47vwDy_w4j3L-ojPFQ6VV28aAoAaEALw_wcB

https://laurelleaffarm.com/item-pages/vintage-owl-plaques-retro-70s-metal-wall-art-for-rustic-woodland-decor-Laurel-Leaf-Farm-item-no-z012067.htm

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/195484440046532185/

https://www.google.com/search?q=pressed+metal+wall+decor+butterflies&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwim8ue2_9fpAhXIC98KHfoMAUAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=pressed+metal+wall+decor+butterflies&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJ1Dz4hNYp_wTYMj-E2gAcAB4AIABjQGIAY4KkgEDNC44mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=VW_QXubzPMiX_Ab6mYSABA&bih=654&biw=1366&client=firefox-b-1-d

or sunshine:

https://www.google.com/search?q=pressed+metal+wall+decor+sunshine&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj7kJ_UgNjpAhX5Vd8KHXSyDMoQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=pressed+metal+wall+decor+sunshine&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJzoECAAQGFDgrAFYhr4BYMfAAWgAcAB4AIABfYgBkAiSAQMzLjeYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img&ei=oHDQXvvACfmr_Qb05LLQDA&bih=654&biw=1366&client=firefox-b-1-d

Here are some additional photos of the space.

It’s not an option to take out the library, it’s over 1ft deep and enormous, plus we’d have to repair the drywall and extend the stairs as they were cut down to accommodate the library. I don’t mind it so much, I just wish it was designed differently, maybe extending all the way to the ceiling and a slimmer profile.

My husband had casually mentioned making the window larger at some point, which would make it much more balanced. I do love the idea of creating the illusion of a larger window, I hadn’t even considered that.

I'd paint the inside of the bookcases white as the bookcase itself and the wall. Decorate the shelves sparingly. Paint the air vent as was suggested earlier. I think the TV is way too high. If you decide to put some kind of window treatment on the little window, hang the rod so it is level with the top of the bookcase.

Another suggestion for the window - hang the curtain as high as the bookcase and then have blinds of some sort that are closed but drawn up to the top of the actual window so it looks like a taller window with the blinds half drawn. Or have a Roman shade installed at the height of the bookcase but drawn up to the top of the window. If any of that makes any sense :)

agree with the ideas not to add anything above the built in or above the door. doing that would only accentuate the imbalance on the right side. instead, I agree that the window on the right needs to be enhanced with window treatments. that will make it more balanced with the left side. agree with the idea of hanging curtains at the height of the built in and then make sure the width of the curtains are hung wider than the width of the window. that will make the window look larger.

Another suggestion is to you can place a wall clock. There are many designs of wall clocks which you can choose to hang on your walls to make your wall attractive.

Great photos. This shows the real focus of your room is the fireplace wall. I agree with making the window look taller. This will produce clean line across the smaller window around the corner to the window beside the fireplace.

The suggestion on a Roman blind is excellent. If the blind color similar to the wall and trim color without a pattern it will fade into the background. Very nice room.

Here's two photos of wood cornices. These are too squared, but may give you an idea. I'd consider having it trimmed similar to the trim in your room.

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L D thank you for those pictures, great examples! Do you all think it would look awkward to have only one window in the Living room with a cornice or a shade? I was also looking at bamboo shades, one that could be hung above the window and drawn to the top of it. Picture for example.

it wouldnt look awkward with different type window treatments.

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I would take the cornice and tricky bits off the doorway to the left of the window. (I would square it off, if possible.) Re case it. Then, I would match the height of the window treatment on the short window with the window next to the fireplace (at right angles to it). The line of the draperies/valance should match the other window treatments in the room. NOT the door or book case. Mask the shortness of the small window with a bamboo blind hung above it, with drapes on either side of it. The goal is to make it match the other windows, not the door. And...don’t call any attention to the height changes by hanging anything above the door or the window. That will just make the “problem” worse.

Hello I would have the top of the small window line up with the top of the lower fireplace windows. I agree it will look best to have this window and fireplace windows line up. I like the bamboo blinds. I like ptreckels idea even more than a cornice, hanging the bamboo blinds to cover the wall and some of the smaller window. . I wouldn't decorate with contrasting drapery hardware. I'd keep that simple. I would also consider that the bottom of the bamboo lines up on the bottom of all windows.

Just one more way to go with the cornices, if you like them. They could be a nice clean look. I'd place them above your small window at the higher height and above each lower window beside the fireplace. They're many details in your room competing for attention. I think simplicity of color and continuity of choices will produce visual order and calm.

ptreckel the doorway is extremely ornate, I do think it needs to be toned down as it’s competing with the bookcase. Good suggestion!

I think the bamboo shades lining up with the fireplace windows is the winner here, it would really balance everything else out. We’ve chosen a very pale and neutral gray paint for most of the house, Velspar Repose Gray cut to 75%, and plan on returning to ceiling from blue to its original white color. I’m excited to see how it all comes together.

You could also look to adding a piece of trim to the top of the door frame...raise the crown to the level of the book cases and add a piece of plain trim below it to make them the same height.Or leave the door and add draperies to all the windows, hung at the same height as the door as it is now, just to bring some cohesion to the room.

I'd also look at adding doors to some or all of the cubbies, so there aren't so many large, gaping holes. I'd add doors to all of them, if it were my house.

You might want to post better pics of the whole room, for some ideas about furniture placement. The tv looks like it is mounted way too high on the fireplace, not only for aesthetics, but for comfortable viewing.

It looks like a lovely home, with just a few tweaks needed. Good luck!

Please post some pictures when you're done. Your choices of color and detail sound awesome!

One other suggestion....I would probably drywall the shelving that is on the steps and simply keep the shelf unit at the bottom. It would simplify the wall and allow the focus to be on the upper shelves. You might even have doors constructed to close off the bottom shelves for storage. Then the only shelves that you would need to decorate would be those in the upper part of the unit.

Can you find crown moulding to match that above the bookcase and doorway (which appear to be the same)? If so, the fix includes buying several few feet more of it.

Remove the moulding that is over the doorway and raise it to the same height as the bookcase moulding. Then fill in the space between the top of the doorway and the raised moulding with a white horizontal board flat against the wall.

Now you have only two different heights with which to contend. Begin by adding a white frame around the window with boards the same width as is around the doorway and then put the new moulding atop the window. However ... you'll now need to fill in the space above the smaller window and its crown moulding:

You could either put white horizontal board(s) between the window and the moulding and/or

You could put a narrow mirror between two horizontal boards atop the window.

Or,

if you cannot find matching crown moulding -- or even if you can -- you could decide to treat the small window in an entirely different way: Do begin by adding framing around the small window made of boards the same width as the door frame. Then you could add a shallow box shelf above the window and have the top of the box shelf be the same height as the top of the moulding.

On the wall within this box shelf over your window you can add a row of your family pictures. Then add plantation shutters over the window glass itself.

You could then set a white painted table or bookshelf or cabinet (approximately the same width as the window and/or window frame) beneath the window and use it as a "desk" space or set a potted plant on it.

I would remove the arch and cornice on the door, treat the little window with blinds as suggested to make it appear the height of the bookcase and taller, paint bookcase all white and decor sparingly.