I think a collection of tall white vases on one side of the mantle would be nice. Something like this:
http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-4081-24-midnight-white-vases.aspx

I'd keep it simple and uncluttered.

Or maybe a long wooden sugar mold with candles
http://www.greatstuffbypaul.com/images/product/medmold.jpg

as soon as i saw this pic (before the jump) i thought it needed something more dramatic too.

vases with tall flowers or branches or maybe even a tall living plant in a bold (orange/ red) ceramic pot.

i say get rid of the symmetry - push the candle holders to one side or use some graduated sizes of the same color - again to one side.

pics are great on the mantle - i say unify them by getting the same frame colors - try black - but not sure b/c it might seem really repetitive under that bigger blacker frame - so maybe some flea market finds painted in a spicy color picked up from the painting.

or go in a completely different direction --

get rid of everything except more candle holders (5/ 7/ 9) with either a bold colored candle or sand, or i think white candles with a black ribbon and a single fake poppy tied around them in the colors of the picture's flowers.

oops -

and then all these candles back in the clear hurricanes.

:)

I'd paint the wall behind in a bold dark colour. I think the contrast between white mantle and dark background would make a good playing ground for some bigger vases (as suggested above).

Colour! reduce the beige

i second houseno8's idea of undoing the symmetry.

go with your love for........... (fill in the blank) and display it there.

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but I would get rid of that cookie-cutter "artwork" first.

Then worry about what goes on the mantle.

Use those poppy colors for sure, and black. You could use bright colors for picture frames or black, and add one more picture and group them together. (is that your new baby?) If you go with black frames you could use glass vases in different heights in those poppy colors (oranges, reds, and green). I wouldn't go with too much white because the mantel is white. Also be careful with adding flowers because they could clash with the poppy painting, and take away from it.

also, Have fun! :)

I identify the bigger problem here as the idiocy of new contruction homes. Why would the builder create an 'art niche' above a mantle? Seems rather redundant.

And in fact - that is what is making this space a problem to solve.

If you're not married to the poppy art (which is fine by the way not everyone has the time or the money to seek out 'important' art) - get something bigger that will cover the built in niche so that it is no longer a problem for vases and other goodies to compete with.

Then, yeah, follow the advice about tall vases and more visual weight.

The symmettry and itsy tchotchkies are clearly a No-No.

On the left, I'd get a large cylindrical glass vase and keep a few large tropical plant leaves in them to hide the security sensor.

On the right, I'd place a group of 2-3 medium/large vases in different shapes and sizes - such as these:
http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Zamoran_Vases_-_Set_of_2/270/

Ditto on covering the niche with a larger frame, (mirror?)
It's a fireplace, its already a focal point, wtf niche?

Is your style more modern? Do you have a favorite baby photo that you could do in stretched canvas?

If you like more traditional maybe the mirror from a large bedroom vanity? with an arched top?

if you did a mirror it would make your candle display really sparkle.

looks like it could really pop with some natural decorations, like big clusters of branches or dried seed pods, perhaps painted in bright bold colors like those in the poppy artwork.

I'd be tempted to just drape branches across the mantel like a garland-y thing, with maybe some tall hefty candlesticks and tapers on one side.

Lots of good suggestions so I won't chime in on that.

But AT writers, can you please stop writing mantle when you mean mantel?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mantle
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mantel

haha, thank you, ElleBee ;)

I second painting the wall a darker color. i'd go with a navy-grey or a smoky charcoal, but i dont know what the rest of the room looks like...

cover that recessed area with a large bold mirror and get some vases or vintage ceramics for candles, flowers, branches (whatever you like best) to cluster on the mantel. as others have pointed out, nix the wimpy accessories and tuck the family photos on a bedside table.

also, can you move that motion-detector somewhere else? it's in such an awkward place...

i found black vases that would go with colorful picture frames i think http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=583&f=4419&firstpage=78&RFX_PassBack=&catalog_name=CB2Spring2008v2&catalog=1&fromLocation=OnlineCatalog%20:%20CB2Spring2008v2&pgnm=CB2Spring2008v2%20:%2078%20:%204419

She should put things there that she enjoys looking at and owning

I never understand these posts saying "what should go here?" like you're asking someone to come up with what you should like or asking the m to try to guess what you own or whats in your head - its not about what will look good here - she could go out and buy something to plonk on this mantlepiece to look lovely but it would have no reason for being there - it wouldn't be important to her - it wouldn't evoke memories - it wouldn't be personal

Stop caring about getting a vase which is the perfect height or the right colour to match the walls

Start thinking about the things you have and love - what YOU want to see every time you look here - what would make you happy by having it on show

Thats what makes a home

I actually really like Violetrose's notion here.

When I was a kid, my parents did a remodel on my childhood home, and they put in a huge built-in entertainment unit. Of course for the first five years or so, the thing looked big and empty. Twenty years later, it is full of photos and books, and art and items they picked up on their travels. It's as full as their lives.

Your mantel will fill along with your life.

But... I would still ditch the symmetry.

I too agree with Violet and Honey.

A few years ago, a friend of mine bought her first Condo. She invited me over while in the decorating stage and brought out three sets of art to consider for the bedroom,,, and another three to consider for the living room.
I was bewildered... thinking... well - which one do you love? If you don't love any of them...take them all back to the store.

I would put 3 vases in various size and shape in either yellow or olive green or both on one side....no flowers in them as flowers are in the pic already...maybe some long twigs??