Ideas from you 'experts' please....

sallyrsm

at the top of my stairs I've got an alcove about the size of a walkin shower cubicle with a window in it. Directly in front of you as you walk up the stairs. If I decide to use a "feature" wallpaper in it will it look ok or look like I couldn't be bothered / was too tight to use the same wallpaper in the whole stairs and landing?? Which I don't really want to do as I want the main hall downstairs to be light and airy but I've found a wallpaper I LOVE with trees and stuff on it in charcoals and greys.... Is it the sort of area that could be a feature given it's right at the top of the stairs? The window will have a roman blind in a toning/complimentary fabric...

Also, would you have a blanket box type thing built into the alcove for storage or leave it open with maybe a large plant/sculptural vase or some such for interest to create an illusion of more space?

The other option is to shelf both sides of the alcove for my many books.. won't cut down on light but will be DAMN handy, storage wise. I just want my hall to be WOW given that my posh guest room turned into a not so posh nursery by accident... Now my posh guest room is all Thomas the Tank... bless him.. I don't think "boutique hotel" is quite a three year old's style, do you???

I really am open to suggestions. Hall stairs and landing have dado rails I can't remove feasibly as they are on with no nails :mad: thanks the bodger that lived here so the bottom of the walls is going to be black/charcoal grey really and the top white.. Well balck appears that it's quite du jour/ or you can find black and white everywhere.. but the bottom is easily changeable if it goes out of fashion or I decide to sell....