IMO the room has 2 too many arches. The bookcase arches do not match the fireplace hearth arch and it looks like a mistake. I would spare the time off.

But, the bookcase arches match the shape of the doorway to right of sofa. The arches & the cabinets are original & unaltered, yes? The shelves for the bookcases - are they glass? Are the tops of the cases open so the light in the arch can shine on / through shelves? It’s the straight line across the top that I find distracting. I’d want no top on cases & glass shelving so that light could light up all the shelves. I’d think about putting an elegant but subtle patterned wallpaper on the back of the wall all the way to top- inside the niches. A side note - the ceiling light is pretty interesting - like it!

They are unaltered and the shelves are missing. The straight shelf at the top could be cut out to allow light to the shelves. Love the subtle wallpaper idea. Thank you!

T Lee - Since you have to replace the shelves then I’d go for glass & definitely cut out the tops to open up. If you don’t want to display nice items on the shelves - and whatever is displayed on both sides should be curated - think about hanging art in each side. You probably wouldn’t want art over the fireplace too though. Maybe a mirror there.

I need stucco over the fireplace, hiding the brick design, so it looks just Smooth and then leave the arches and takeoff the doors and just put shelving down

• I didn’t reread before posting..I’d say it needs..

Are you sure that the bookcases are original to the house? They look to me like they were added maybe in the 1950s. the door style isn't really 30s vintage. I'd consider removing them all together and replacing them with low freestanding chests or tables. Leave the arches as is.

Buy furniture and lose them!

Remove them. Studs /fur out the entire thing! It's now a wall with a nice big fireplace. Yes, flush to adjacent drywall!

Just because there were two niches, does not mean there need be two niches , DEMANDING a "built in anything! Wallpaper anything. glass anything.

The fire is the dominant proportion and the dominant visual. See ya...tata!!!

Just about nothing is cheaper than studs and drywall : )

Better in living color.........!!!

tata and see ya lol

Thank you! This is so amazing! Such talent, Jan!

There is such a thing as too many arches. These bookcases have bad proportions for the room.

Only have bookcases provided you have items ready to be installed on the shelves. Don't build bookcases and then go shopping for items to install.

It’s my son’s house and he loves the plaster walls. The bookcases are not original but the alcove arches are. I’m not sure how he will feel about taking them out. He does have art, books and travel artifacts to curate shelves if he puts something new in.

Some option

or

Love! Thank you, thank you!

Pull out the current built ins- they don’t fit well. Get new base cabinets- even Ikea could work. Simple fixed shelves on cleats.

Will do! Love the idea of new base cabinets and fixed shelves. Would you recommend white or bring in the mantle wood color? There are old 50’s square can lights at the top of the arched alcoves. Could replace with new can or a decorative sconce? Thank you for these great suggestions!

Honestly, before I'd waste a nickel remaking it?

I'd park them right on a new flush wall after you drywall the niche goodbye!....off the shelf!

These niches are LESS important than a rug and furnishings?

There are many online, low to high

Pay a guy to rip, clean up the plaster, put new together if need be.

And yes.......black or anything but WHITE!!!

No light since it only lights the top shelf. Paint it all the trim color so the shape is the detail, if you start doing wood counter and shelves the arch disappears. And Jan is wrong (Jan is almost always right, but the arches are great)

I agree with Hallett--in a home of that vintage, I like to keep as many original details as possible. Plaster walls are wonderful, so I wouldn't mess with them unless absolutely necessary. And I do like those arches!

The arches are great. They just need shelves and more stuff in them.

Lol!!

i almost always agrree with Hallett, But?

While I understand the urge to respect every detail in an old home, I don’t think you need these. The arch is on the fire, another at the entry. A beautiful room doesn’t demand built in’s - it does demand furnishing.

” They just need shelves and more stuff in them”

:) The room needs stuff! !! Love the fire, all by its lonesome. Lovely.

Someone got carried away?.😳

A study in styling ……..stuff. Way more stuff isn’ t way more beautiful……- that would make me nuts.

IMO the FP is the star and those cabinets look cheap next to it and I bet not original too much of any good thing is too much and IMO the arched bookcases add nothing to the space

As I said, I like the alcoves with the arched tops, but I would remove the bookcases. You don't need to add any shelves with more "stuff." You could just add a low chest of drawers or table in each alcove. It would look simple and keep the original architecture with the plaster walls, which the homeowner likes.

These alcoves are wider than the OP's, but I think they look very classy.

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