that looks like a beautiful room. I would put books in the shelves, I think that would have been their original purpose.

Is this for a dining room?

I can't tell what the space is used for.

Oh, yes it is the dining room.... I have put cook books in the shelves to the left. The shelves to the right that are placed in the window area is what I am having trouble with. I have knick knacks I could put in there but I do not want it to look tacky so that is what I'm trying to figure out. I wish I had a better picture of the room. This picture is from before we bought the house.

Serving platters, bowls, vases, wine glasses??? As long as you don't overdue it, it won't be too cluttered! Try to get another picture!

Looks like a built in china cabinet. Is there one on the other side of the windows?

I'm not getting a velar picture of the book shelves referenced. What is the structure on the left that looks like a gray door.

Here is a better picture of what it looks like straight on.

Serving pieces and wine glasses like suggested sound perfect!

Thank you all for your advice and help!

This is a beautiful room with details we do not see in homes built in the past 50 years. When was this home built and is it in the Midwest?

You could have a cushion made for the window seat using 4" high density foam. Depending on the other colors and patterns in the room this could be a place to put a bold pattern. The shelves should have a combination of glassware, china, hardcover books standing and laying on their side and some small, interesting framed items. Asymmetrical balance is the key to a beautifully designed shelving area so... Shift from shelf to shelf so everything is not in a straight line.

It was built right around 1900. The house has wood detail throughout which is beautiful. We're located in central NY. Thank you for the advice. I put some of my grandmother's salt and pepper shakers in there so far and some other little knick knacks. I definitely want to do a window seat also.

I would be tempted to try putting cookbooks on the lower shelves in both and then use the upper (more visible) shelves for decorative items - maybe mixed with a few select cherished cookbooks on the upper shelves, depending on the size of the items you want to display. (I.e. use a cookbook or two to make a little 'stage' to give smaller items more presence on the same shelf as a larger item, if necessary.)

I'd kill for built-ins like that...those leaded glass doors are stunning!

I'd love to see more of your place. I'm a sucker for original windows & woodwork.

Beautiful wood. Please don't repaint it all white.

I definitely do not plan on painting any of the original wood. I know some people had suggested painting it white but I am definitely against that :-) I will upload the rest of the pics of the house for anyone interested. All of the pictures will be from before we moved in and we have been her for almost 2 years.

Pictures from the rest of the house are posted. I thought I had some before and after pictures on my computer but I can't find them. As soon as I take new pictures I will post them.

I would make a cut out in the side and add a glass insert because of all the natural light from the windows that would filter into the cabinet. Then I would display crystal and colored glass pieces. Not a lot of them. One or two on each shelf, like art in a niche.

Light the inside of the cabinets, it will show off your china and glassware or whatever pieces you decide to put in the cabinets. We have a 90 year old house with built in leaded glass cabinets on either side of the fireplace and we had lights installed inside and it gives such a soft, warm glow to the entire room.

@Rebecca! You are so lucky to have the bones of that house intact! The Craftsman details, the five-panel doors, all the trim, oh how nice. I paid thousands to have some my doors and trim returned to their original state. Once you remove the shutter doors on the closets, the carpeting, the paneling, the wallpaper, etc, you are going to have a lovely home. Have fun and enjoy!

Agreed with keeping the characters of the shelves and removing the wallpapers to update the room.