apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Vinyl wall murals in a matching or complimentary color to the coves

Put a shallow console table or sideboard there, since it's between the dining area and kitchen. Only very low items would be able to go on top because of the slanting wall, but it would be useful for serving, dishes, etc.

Looks like a great apartment.

It's probably because I'm going through a reductionist phase where I'm trying to train myself not to be afraid of empty spaces in my clutter-prone home, but I like the blank walls as they are. They're quite striking, and they really draw attention to the coves.

Have you just moved in? Maybe give the blank walls a month or so to grow on you, and then see how you feel about them?

Or, dare I suggest, paint the entire space, with the exception of the coves which are great as is, a slightly warmer (but still light) colour, so that the empty spaces won't seem so starkly white?

It's obvious the previous tenant elected to bring them out. But if that's not your intent, I've found that in these kind of spaces (an old designers trick) it's much more desireable to make them "disappear". But looking at your photos, I see the white or lighter colour continues up through the ceiling so what I suggest is a 3 fold solution. 1. Figure out how high you want your "wall" to be and install a moulding all around the space, you can paint that "frame" any colour. (remember, any time you frame a room or space, it's like framing a painting, it always makes it larger) 2. Paint those "coves" the same as the walls, and 3. Paint the window trim & the floor trim the same as the walls. You'll discover a much wider open feeling throughout the space. Regards, CASEY

Thanks for the replies!
Casey- We moved in 3 months ago and have already painted. The coves are a dark gray and the walls in the living room are a pale gray (silverish) We feel this gives the coves a "cozy" feel. We like the lines of the flat and don't want to make any major changes in that sense.

"The coves are a dark gray and the walls in the living room are a pale gray (silverish)..."

Gosh, I need to look at my monitor's colour settings. On my computer, the walls look white and the coves look dark brown.

actually, this is a case where less is more. I wouldn't even prop up a few pictures, just leave it bare.

If you can't bring yourself to do that, something low, tribal, and sculptural.

A vintage oil jar or something low-slung, decorative, weighty, and sculptural as JB suggests.

Could also see a low Chinese painted stool.

I'd leave the coves as they are and wall paper that wall with a dramatic/ornate wall paper, put a small credenza, and one art piece or mirror.

I love the contrast. I would suggest either leaving it bare or a low credenza. Good luck

What about moving the dining room table against the wall, if you're seating 3 or less it should work, would be cosy...

blik it!

What a gorgeous space! Since this is a high trafffic area, I would leave it empty. Space doesn't always have to be full to be beautiful.

If you feel you must have something, I love the ideas about something low. How about a low, primitive bench with tea bowls lined up on it? Or what about a couple of ottomans (like the drool-worthy silver West Elm)?

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&partNumber=WE-PRODw226&retainNav=true&parent_category_rn=&cmsrc=SCH

Your place looks marvelous! I would like to see more! House tour please.

It's unclear if this would dramatically affect flow or view, etc. but I would get someone to build you a bookshelf/divider that comes out from that wall and perhaps matches the other white shelves you have ... It wouldn't have to be very wide at the top and would fill in that space nicely. I'm imagining it like bookshelves I've seen installed under staircases ... the bottom shelf the longest and the top one a tiny little triangle.

I agree with doppelganger. Do nothing! Don't clutter up the space with a table, don't put anything up on the wall. It's a beautiful, clean space and should remain that way.

I vote for leaving it as is. There is enough going on with the dark coves and light walls.

If you ever decide to change the dark coves, I like the idea of a bold and light wallpaper in the coves. I'd want a lot more brightness in the space-- to me, the dark coves are almost cavelike in this picture and would seem to absorb a lot of the light coming through the windows. A black and white modern damask wallpaper (like ferm living has) would bounce the light around and be decorative, and I think it would seem a little less like the ceiling is caving in. Then I'd leave the in-between wall bare and enjoy the architecture.

But it's a lovely space and I wouldn't want to break the flow of that wall.

Congratulations on such a beautiful space. It really is stunning.

Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions! I love the idea of something hanging from the space and also just putting up a dramatic wallpaper on the wall only, but unfortunately the wall runs in to the kitchen and the living room along the top.

But I'll go with the majority and leave it how it is, sans pictures!

and p.s. doppie: The colors don't come through well as I'm not good with photography :(
I used Alcro "anis" and "silver pil". The slanted wall is the only white wall in the room.

Thanks you so much for all the compliments! Once we finish all the rooms I'll send in pics for a house tour!

Some sculptures/objects placed on the floor along the bottom or a plant might help warm up the space if you really feel it looks bare. Alternately, you could mount a "picture ledge" (only a few inches wide) on the wall and put your votive candles there. I would recommend using the battery-operated fake candles they have now to avoid getting smoke stains on the angled wall.

You could also display a few small items on the shelf but everything will need to be quite short to avoid hitting the wall.

"But I'll go with the majority and leave it how it is, sans pictures!"

I'm obviously way over-invested in someone else's space and clearly need to get a life, but this makes me very happy. Yay!

I'm gonna go against what everyone says and suggest adding some kind of silver/chrome/mirror element to the dividing section. maybe something like this with a nice blue-grey poster.