Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Decorating Dilemma

Today I'm joining in the Decorating Dilemmas Party over at Serenity Now with Amanda!

Here is my Decorating Dilemma:

What to do with the wall space above the table in our upstairs landing.

This landing is where the bedrooms are off of, so I'd like something lovely to look at when passing by, but what??


Here's another view:


There's quite a bit of wall space there, so should I just focus on immediately above the table, or should I use some of the surrounding wall area too??

Any suggestions as to what to hang there?

A mirror?
Wall words?
Old ancestral photos?
A pretty piece of art?
One thing or many?
Hung symmetrically or just a collage?

Help needed, please!! This is one spot in our new house that has me going back & forth, unable to decide! Thanks!! :)


Go check out http://serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/for more Decorating Dilemmas!


30 comments:

Mandy said...

You could do a cross wall there (if you need an idea of what I mean I can send you a picture of mine) or you could do your last name in a large vinyl sticker(wall word) with picture of you family in all one color frames surrounding it. Thanks for the great blog!
Mandy in Texas

Tammy said...

I like the idea of the word family really big in black then lots of black frames with black and white family pics surrounding it.
Can't wait to see what you do end up doing.
tammy

Amber B. said...

I have a similar spot in our upstairs hall. I hung a collection of framed family photos, a framed copy of the munchkin's birth announcement...that sort of thing. Stuff that I probably wouldn't put downstairs in more "public" rooms. But it all looks nice and cohesive b/c they are in similar black frames. It's kind of looks like a gallery. Can't wait to see what you do!

Xazmin said...

Ooh, I love the shape of this space! Okay, here's what came to my mind when I saw the space,and the pretty sweeping "shape" if you will of the little piece of furniture below.

I think you should hang a collection of pictures, either your family, or old family photos or whatever, but they would be in oval picture frames, start low above the little table, then sweep up in an arch that crosses over to the little top wall piece that's above the stairs (? I think), or whatever little entry that is.

That's my 2 cents!

Cheryl Connell said...

That's a neat space. I like the idea of the wall words with the photos around it too.
A really cool piece of art or quilt would look good too.
Something that takes up the whole space - one piece.

So its whether you want a bold statement or a family nook. Also what you have on hand too. :)

Cheryl

Shell in your Pocket said...

I am trying to figure out what is behind that table???

A beautiful mirror with pictures on the table!
sandy toe

Embellished Bayou said...

I agree with the other comments, I like the idea of a family photo wall, perhaps with a mirror in the center.

Stacey said...

I love Xazmin's idea of oval family pictures. You don't see oval very often and they would look pretty with the neat furniture piece.

Brenda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brenda said...

Sorry for the deleted comment-- I had to run to the kitchen and I didn't want my little one leaving a comment for ya.

Put something fairly tall and vertical on the chest to balance out what is already there.

Perhaps a Topiary.

Keep the space simple, not overly crowded since the chest is not large. I think something Horizontal above what is already there would be great.

I think a mirror could work.
Best of luck to you!

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

Oh I would do wall words (an inspirational saying) or either a collection of one type of thing - anything certain types of pictures, letters, family photos etc.

Manuela

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Well, I don't know what I'm doing, which is why I'm hosting this party. ;)

I do, however, like your thoughts on the wall words and the ancestral photographs. I am a sucker for old family photos (anyone's!) and paired with some kind of "family" vinyl word or saying, it could be really neat.

What about a large round piece over the wall above the stairway? It might kind of separate that wall from the wall above the chest.

Thank you SO much for linking up to my party. :) I wish Blogger had cooperated with me today--I've had all sorts of error messages trying to visit and comment on other blogs. No party is ever perfect, right? ;)

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

I really like the idea of the vinyl definition or quote.

Jen said...

Hey Stacey, new to your blog and just love it, you have been a blessing to me!

I love the cross wall idea. I have a wall of all different size crosses that I have collected or maybe individual close up pictures of your children.

have fun with it!
Jennifer in California

LuLu said...

Gosh that is a hard one. I like a lot of the advice you have already received, i was thinking a mirror and pictures... it's definitely a spot you can play with,be sure to post it.
LuLu

Mary @ Framed and Tagged said...

I love Amber's idea...tons of family photos. It would look super!

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

I am thinking maybe an oval mirror about the cabinet and wall words
to the side of it. Some nice quote you really like, but it will need to be enough words or
large print to fill in the space,
but think that would look nice.
You have a narrow smaller wall to the side where you are entering the bedroom I guess, you could
put some nice family pictures there
with frames that would match your
mirror. The a nice floral arrangement in front of the mirror.
Have a good day,
Blessings Nellie

Sammy Girl said...

Hmmm ... that IS a bit of a toughy. My idea keeps in mind that I like FLEXIBILITY. aka the ability to CHANGE MY MIND!
How about painting a large horizontal rectangle in the space above the table and stairs. A large color block would unite the two spaces and provide a "frame" for any wall words and pictures you might want to hang. If you use command hooks or picture molding, (or some type of gallery system) you don't any any holes in the wall and are free to move things around and experiment a little. A mirror this season with photos .... maybe a shadow box ... Color blocking the background also means you might not have to go out and buy or paint frames to match!
Let us know what you eventually do!
Betty :)

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

i love this space...so interesting and unique! I have two different ideas.

One: Put a large architectural piece over the opening to the stairwell. And a big round mirror over the little table, with some nice ancestral photos on top of the table to accessorize.

Two: Some kind of vinyl saying in a pretty script that covers the whole middle expanse of the wall, tying the two spaces together. Then maybe a collection of plates hung above the table.

Although, you have such great taste and style, I'm sure whatever you come up with will be beautiful!

~Amanda

Stacey said...

Hi Stacey-
Just catching up on reading some blogs and stopped by for a visit:) How is house decorating coming along? Are you having a good time with it? We've finally gotten most things out of boxes and are now taking our time hanging pictures and decorating...

Your recent post on your chronic illness was very moving. I had no idea it took 10 years for you to be diagnosed. Your advice and encouragement surely brightened someone's day- It certainly did give me some relief. I have bi-polar and when I'm having a bad week, nothing gets done at the house. It's an effort just to take a shower. I try to remember that I'll get better but sometimes the light seems very far away.

But on the bright side, I have good days, weeks, even months where I feel better and able to take on tasks and responsibilities.

Hope you're enjoying your new home!

Love, Stacey

Rue said...

Hi Stacey :)

How about an oval mirror, so you can check yourself before you walk downstairs?

rue

Emily said...

I would put a big round clock above the stairwell and then a mirror above the table or a old window with vinyl letting on it.

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Hi, Stacey! Just wanted to let you know that there is an award for you on my blog today. :) Hope things are going well in the new house!

Melissa Miller said...

Hello Stacey,
A collage of chunky black framed black/white family photos are always pleasing to the eye and very special as well. I would also add something to the right above the stairs to fill it up. I don't know if you like toppers but I do think one would look pretty up there. Wall words above the photo collage as well. A cloche on the table with a topiary and you would have lots of visual interest in this area. Good luck to you!

Blessings, ~Melissa :)

Hudson Goods said...

maybe a little late with this one, but my two cents for what it's worth... I would remove the rail from the table, it competes with the stair rail and real easy, hang an oval mirror over it, a small cool lamp, plug or not, and a few picture frames on the table. You could also paint the table if you feel ambitious!

jeanne @ Inspiring Ideas said...

These are all good suggestions! I like big things - so I'd hang one thing across the whole area and tie in a few accessories on the table. Otherwise a mirror over the table is handy! :-) Can't wait to see what you come up with! It'll be great!

Bluebird said...

how about a grouping of vintage silhouettes?

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

I'd find some much beloved old photos and scan them. Then I'd enlarge them on your computer, print them out.

Then I'd purchase at least four canvases and set them together on your work surface so they're all touching.

Take the printed photo so it spans all four canvases and decoupage it onto the canvases. (picture a giant photo slightly seperated like a puzzle).

Or you could decoupage four different photos onto each canvas that tell a story.

Happy decorating!

http://www.cutest-little-things.blogspot.com

Margo said...

Stacey, are you going to the bonanza? Email me back if you are I have a question for you.

Margo

Sedona @ MyDivineDelights said...

I would possible do a large aritectual piece, maybe iron work. Or I would do four large photos hung all the way across symmetrically. Can't wait to see what you decide!