apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Well, at Claim Jumper they accessorize with wheelbarrels, shovels, pick-axes, oil lanterns, big milk cans, silk plants....


please don't do that.

I think lighting it is sufficient.

Accessorizing draws your eye up there, making it a focal point. You really don't want to do that.

A nice soft lighting would make the room cozier, methinks.

This space has a ton fun potential! Great job on the remodel, I love the openess, but I think the one bright center light takes away from it. I would love to see this space used as a gallery (maybe pay hommage to some local artists), get some bright, bold art work, canvas and pottery and highlight them with subtle/hidden uplighting, maybe golden shades. (Put the lights on a dimmer switch, for a dramatic or even romantic effect.) :)

I would just paint that section white to match the rest of the walls so it looks like a cathedral ceiling, keeping it more clean and architectural less decorated.

I would get rid of that flimsy curtain rod, get something more substantial and hang higher to embrace the height so it looks better proportioned to the rest of the space.

i would cary the window treatment up to meet the molding. longer curtains and a matchstick roller blind. It will stream line the look, make your window look bigger and tie the architecture to the rest of the room. then just light the whole shelf, not just the middle of it.

I have to agree with your wife Aaron. You have light up there already. The apparent design of your room is pretty neat and tailored and modern. A row of lamps, old wonky lamps, iiiiit's a sort of interesting idea that I think will look weird after you do it. Imagine if I said you should put fruit up there, baskets of fruit and maybe wheels of cheese and coffee mugs you bought at rest stops on your cross-country road trip. Andirons. I could go on. It just seems bizarre.

To keep in scale, maybe a pair of statues of, oh, horses. What says something about you? Is it lamps? The spotlight is calling, hey look near the ceiling - these are the people who sleep here. It need to be tall and identifiable and not be something boring just to fill a space. Bold art you can see from the distance, not a large collection of pez dispensers. I think from this old article:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/inspiration/inspiration-animal-art-063186

I don't know why I like the horses. The bears not so much. I would put some black and white photography on a large scale up there, again, something you can see from the ground, maybe or maybe not something to do with horses! I don't have horses or horse-related decor but if that were my room, my first thought was horses. But you do what you like, who are Aaron and Angela? You figure out what you like. Again, if it were mine, I wouldn't steal the focus with a whole dose of brilliant color up there, I would stay closer to the tone of the rest of the room. Color is fine, just not to imbalance the mood.

I vote for leaving it blank.

However, I think you could use a simple valance or a plain architectural cornice for the curtains.

I think it would look better if you could use a larger window (though probably too late for this) at the top of the room, and I agree with a piece of art hung horizontally along with some dramatic uplighting on the art to draw your eye up.

You could also create a small soffit around the rest of the room and use rope type lighting to create soft light that lights the whole ceiling. If you did this, you could paint the ceiling a soft blue, so when lit it would mimic the openness of the sky. Maybe these changes are a bit dramatic, and difficult, but maybe they could look good?

I also agree with changing up the drapes. What about a wire rope or valance that ties into the side walls, and use much larger drapes that fill the space on the sides of the bed. This could help add some drama to the lower portion of this wall. Also, hang the drapes higher to help heighten the room.

beautiful room! kudos on the awesome re-modeling job.
I'd watch the show Color Splash for some ideas. I'm not a pro by any means, but I think the whole wall is a focal point so do up some really nice window treatments. What you have is nice but kind of plain. Get new bedding to coordinate. As for area above??? That's a challenge because I'd imagine you want a mbr to be cozy & romantic. Maybe a darker contrasting color within your color scheme?
Another idea - take out the ceiling fan & replace with a chandelier-- ooooh!

I saw an episode of something on HGTV and they did the coolest thing with a space like this. They built some book shelves in and found an old library ladder. I suppose it isn't very modern, but it added a lot of character and some color too.

To add on what I said before, maybe think about a large pattern for the drapes. The space looks like it could use some texture.

On a side note: would it be possible to face the bed against a wall instead of the window? It seems to me like the bed is blocking the window and the lovely high ceiling you have.

In general I have never seen a bed in front of a window that has looked good to me. It always makes a room seem cramped.

I also like the idea of painting the space above white. I would not put a lot of small objects there. I like it empty but if you'd like to put something there I would suggest something bold and big, like a modern simple sculpture.

I like the suggestion of making the drapery more significant. I'd also replace the curtain rod with something more substantial. Lift it up to just below the moulding before the shelf. And I would select a heavier fabric, something with both visual and literal weight. You could add something with a subtle or dramatic pattern depending on whether you want them to blend in with the neutrals or add a pop. I think you need to bulk up your drapery panels a bit. It will make a dramatic statement even if the fabric is subtle; the look will be luxurious. Curtain panels should always be full enough that they can close over the window and not be pulled taut to do it, even if you never intend to close them. Right now, I don't think you have enough there. So they look a touch skimpy. I believe the rule is you need 2.5 to 3 times the width of the window.

As for the shelf, I agree with the other posters. Make the light more evenly spaced so it's not a glow right in the centre. And then leave it.

You should send in more pics. Looks like you've done a really nice job! Would love to see the rest of it.

I'm going to agree with the people who suggested lighting the shelf entirely ( to get rid of the spotlight effect). Raising the curtain rod would be an improvement too.

Looking at this room I gather that you two like a clean aesthetic, but I don't learn much else about you. You've used safe color choices and haven't imparted much of your personality. I think the bedroom needs something (more colorful curtains, patterns on your bedspread, a painting) to make it more inviting.

I wouldn't buy something simply to fill the shelf space. I don't think its necessary. If you come across something that speaks to you, you should try it in the space and see how it looks. I agree with K T G. I think a few large pieces would look better than many small ones.

I agree with the others: Leave the space up there empty, or at most run some LED rope lights (if the outlet is on a switch) for some uplighting.

And as the others have stated - Get some more substantial drapery hardware and drapery panels.

And can the bed go in another location? It seems a shame to block that lovely bay window...

As the rest of the room is neutral, it would be great to give that wall some impact. Some big statement curtains, with a pelmet maybe, rather than a curtain rail.
Then for the wall above... leave it be... but use light to add to the drama. Perhaps install a strip light (or something similar) along the back of the shelf which will wash the wall above with glorious colour.

i say either blank or one or three (odd number) large dramatic pieces.

also agree that the curtains have to go all the way up and the spot light is too harsh.

maybe jut hand some art on that wall above the shelf... i would be too nervous that any objects you put up there would fall... but i live in an earthquake zone.

Agreeing with everyone who says the window hardware could use an upgrade. Those lamps look heftier than the curtain rod.

Reginaregina, I like your library idea. Especially as it would require that the bed be moved away from the window.

Otherwise, you could place some tall sculptural pieces safely secured in the space. As an example, the junk-- er, resale, salvage, thrift, collector's store near me has a pair of tall brass giraffes that are striking. (Not that you want to be hit by a falling giraffe, so do anchor them to the wall). If giraffes aren't your style, perhaps you can think of something easy to clean that feeds your imagination.

Have you been to Good Wood on U Street? I was in there last week and they have a ridiculously large and ridiculously cool old clock for sale... it's seriously huge and would look great in that space.

Agree with others that the wall above window should be painted white to match the ceiling, and drapes raised to rail.

Wow, thanks everyone! Angela, the wife, here. To answer a few questions, the bed can't be moved -- that is the only full wall in the room. And to the left, we have a full wall closet that's closed with a pretty boldly printed drape. It's not colorful (taupe and charcoal floral), but it's a big print.

Keep those ideas coming!

i agree with displaying large scale art on canvas. lucky!!

How about a piece of ironwork (like a sunburst or vines)?

i'd say a big piece of art or a decorative paint finish ( of course i'd say that.....)

buts its really kinda hard to say without knowing more about the space and the things you like.

i do actually like the clock idea, but i'm a sucker for big cool clocks.

Rather than painting it white, what if you painted it a cozy chocolate brown? It might help the space feel more intimate. (Unfortunately, this would emphasize the window, which is small for the space. So maybe paint the window trim a very intentional color--brick red, perhaps?)

If you did this, you would have to tie in the red and brown with some eye-catching, bold fabric on curtains hung from the top of the ledge, with nice substantial hardware.

These ideas may not work with the other fabric you mentioned in the room, but I love the idea of making it all seem very intentional and cozy.

By the way--I love the lamps!!

If it were my place, I would get a couple of old windows lean them against the wall on the shelf on either side of the existing window. I agree with the ideas to even out the lighting. I would also get some nice low maintenance plants (maybe even silk) to add some color. I think I would paint it a pale blue.

:o)

A large, clean, slender tree branch. It'll be organic and scupltural yet delicate enough not to overbalance the room, and the recessed lighting will throw up interesting shadows.

Just make sure you fix it up there nice and firmly.

Blandwagon's idea sounds like the best to me. And cheap too!

do you have a cat? i'd make a cat perch by putting some shelves of varying lengths as stairs up to the perch. my kitty would love it.

barring that, i like Kouklah's suggestion about the old windows.

I think paint that high area white to match the ceiling and put a strip light up there so the light distribution is more even. That would go with the more modern feel I think you have with your furnishings.
It's a beautiful space, but I think you need to revisit the curtains (sorry, I know you didn't ask) - they're a bit skimpy and that curtain rod just looks a little cheap. Pottery Barn or Restoration hardware have great options that aren't too expensive.