It deserves more than a white wall behind it. Take a school color and paint that wall and the statue will pop a bit more.

Oh, and now plant.....just the statue. UNLESS you decide to put a bench on either side of it.

School colors are scarlet red and cream. Not really the colors I would like to use. But yes, I agree that it deserves more than a white wall.

I am thinking a mural on the wall could be cool, too. Not sure cool is the right word, but it would add interest to the area. A heavenly look. Or clouds and water??? Something the art department could do for you.

Robert, perhaps you could put your fraternity motto along the wall above the statue, in one of your fraternity colors if appropriate. You can have this done in a laser cut, wall applicable vinyl by a local sign company.

Alpha Omicron Pi's are always ready to help, even from Oregon. Have a great year in your new house, Phi Kappa Theta!

Thank you Alpha Omicron Pi!

Father Matya here are some more pictures for you.

@abbyjean. I love the idea of red leather benches! Also great idea asking the art department. Thanks houzz folks again for great ideas!

You could wall paper the one wall with something like this for example

@genevieve great wallpaper! It is a busy design but it is on the school colors and adds a shot of interest but yet the chair still stands out!

@ karen I had the very same thought :) I can visualize St. Michael's the Archangel placed in between two similar chairs .

@ Genevieve I really like the idea of putting two fancy chairs on each side of the statue. Statue, wallpaper, chairs? I like it but is that too much?

I like the idea of a large Palladian style floor length mirror behind it !

@ Keitha. That is a great mirror. Where would I find a large mirror like this?

In a house full of young men, you'd probably get more use out of the red leather benches. They might actually sit there occasionally, rather than just passing by a fancy statue/chair arrangement. (Am a boy-mom.)

Robert, I think Ballards has this mirror and it comes in 3 sections.

@nwduck. I get what you're saying. It should be masculine. What do you think about the mirror?

Thanks Keitha!

It is a beautiful thing, to be sure. But I don't see it appealing to college age guys, and they are the ones using the house. What I can see is guys saying "Meet you downstairs at Mike". Or giving the statue a little pat for help before heading off to an exam. Traditions in a chapter start in the funniest ways. We had a completely weirdly shaped long ottoman in our living room that was called The Pickle. No one knew how it started. It's where everyone always wanted to sit. I traveled all over the country for my sorority just after I graduated as a chapter consultant, and it's those little things each place had that made them special to me, and to members. :)

@nwduck. Okay, you are totally getting at what I want the space to be. I love your comment, I'll meet down at Mike." Or patting Mike before they run off to an exam. That is so what I want the space to become!

So, I'll go back to a version of the idea I originally suggested, after using Google. What if you just put the word "Duty" above the statue? Simple, graphic, and they'll all get a snapshot reminder as they head out the door. You could even do it in a simple contemporary typeface. Brings modernity to a traditional concept.

I like that idea. I also thought about putting the beginning of the St. Michael prayer on the wall. "St. Michael, defend us in battle...." Too much?

Probably. College boys have a short attention span. hahaha I must admit I am also thinking about rush. Words like "duty" and "honor" have strong meanings for young men of the sort you want. If what you put up seems TOO religious. you might miss out on some great guys. Just a thought.

I see your point. It could be too much.

OK, just had another thought. What if you created, say, 10 laminated bookmarks for each member with the St. Michael prayer on them, and at the bottom put the year they joined? Each class gets it own color. They do still use books, right? It's a kind of keepsake/useful/traditional thing to give.

@ nwduck. You have great ideas and really understand what I'm trying to do to help the men appreciate the Greek experience.

It would be nice if the statue had some type of lighting dedicated to it. I wonder if there's some sort of table top like a lightbox that would light it from below and give Mike a nice glow. :) I googled "lighted furniture side table". Here's one at Sears: http://www.sears.com/country-living-highland-lighted-side-table/p-07112089000P.

Just a week ago enjoyed a reunion with my sorority sisters. We have known one another for 40 years. Got together sporadically as all our kids were growing up, but now it's an annual event. Twenty of us were all together in a rented house, and you would have thought we were 18 again. I completely understand what great joy fraternity with others can bring throughout your entire life. Your work is absolutely a worthwhile endeavor. Best wishes to you all!

@poggins. There is a spot in the ceiling for the statue. Also, the ceiling lights were on when we took the pictures and I would not envision them being on most of the time. But I also like your idea of the light coming up!

@nwduck. Thanks for sharing the beautiful story of your sorority. That is the experience we are trying to foster. This past weekend we had a reunion for the men who are alumni and did not have the chance to live in the house together. 45 men came and some from a great distance.... California, Oklahoma, etc. it was such a great moment! It is a great endeavor!

Find a rock or a tree trunk for the statue and the paint the wall...........use the colors of the stone or wood in the wall.

I agree with the earlier comments. Paint the wall scarlet red and add a quote in cream lettering. Red walls tend to look good in a traditional setting.

@Robert Matya wow! You have received many great ideas!! If I come across any more ideas I will let you know. @houzz. Thanks everyone! We are still open to more ideas. :). Good luck Father Matya!!