SFGate

Jayme Hobbs You do want to call attention to it? If you don't I would take down the vases. Can u take a pic from a bit further back? Is it the only opening? What does it look like from the other side?

nancytano This is from farther back. Does it need anything up there?

Dytecture What you have there looks fine, I agree you don't want to 'clutter' up that ledge area. Although it's not the best design, I like the openness this open ledge creates.

janishill I wouldn't put any thing up there, but I would put some type of up-light on the ledge to play up the drama.

clt96881 I love the existing vases. They help to illustrate the height of the room. If you are tired of them, use other vases, perhaps a different color or shapes. If you have an interesting sculpture, that would be good too.

mollythecollie My first thought was I hope you don't live in an earthquake prone area! I agree with Janishill, I don't think you have to have anything up there. Your home looks like it is very beautiful.

nancytano Yes we live in California but they are light weight vases.

Tres McKinney Design I don't think you need anything on the ledge. You want the focus to be on the wall and your photo grouping. I would consider lowering the chandelier to about 36" off the top of the table which will draw your eye down and make it a more intimate space. I would consider replacing the chandelier with a more linear shape to compliment the long dining table or perhaps a pair of lanterns. You might have a console table or buffet in another part of the room or house that you could group the metal vases with the addition of one lower vase to make an interesting tableaux. It could be balanced at the other end of the console with a tall lamp.

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design I believe the ledge will look better as an architectural feature and not as a display area. Therefore, I would remove what is there and not replace it.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

eagledzines I think you should accentuate it and paint it a bold blue that matches the other blues in your room. The blue combined with the absence of blue above it will do that.

Also, if you rematted the pictures into one large, long one that would further accentuate the lines of the wall.

Lkristine Nothing up there, but maybe add a wood trim so it looks like a large mantel piece making the space feel wider, since the height is already there.

Jayme Hobbs I don't think u need anything up there...I think your chandelier could be a little lower...I love your home, it's wonderful!

Creations Nadia Interior Design i would take the vases down and put nothing there:)))
if you have some extra money to spend then get bigger chandelier and hang it higher :))) only a sudgestion

CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. Don't decorate the ledge. Its a distraction from everything else.

AMN Nothing on the ledge. It's an architectural feature of the home. Leaving accessories off of it allows it to do its job of providing visual interest and a sense of volume for the space.

A house provides shelter for people. And, since most people are under 8 feet tall, keep visual elements, accessories, and furnishings at human-level.

sjkingston Agree with not putting anything up there and would consider it as an "interior skylight". Picture the wall solid and the lack of light that would create. The light it lets in is wonderful, but as others said, it's architectural. Putting something up there distracts the eye from the great art wall and dining area.

Tori Baker Absolutely take the vases down! The problem is your eye is following the length of all your photos! You need a large mirror that runs vertical with pictures on either side! This will draw your eye down and let the top just be architectural!!! I do agree about lowering your chandelier also!!! Adding drama and intamacy is the purpose of a dining room!!

eztia I agree with the other suggestions:
Nothing on top of the ledge.
Change artwork to landscape (horizontal) rather than portrait (vertical).
Lower the chandelier.
You will be amazed at the difference in the room with just these few changes.

hockey456 Agree with:
1. Empty ledge
2. New chandelier (larger)
3. Different art... Something larger and less cluttered than 5 small frames. A big canvas or a mirror.

br14n My favorite ideas are to paint that wall a bold color and to put wood trim on the ledge to give the effect of a mantle. I would also put some sort of sculpture or vase that is the complement color to whatever the wall is and a couple of low pieces like candles that would normally go on a real mantle. This will draw attention to and accentuate the architecture of the space without making it seem cluttered or disjointed from the room and give it a cozier feel.

Lesley Snow Old antique blue bottles

ASVInteriors One other thought not yet mentioned ....and thinking out of the box, place a LED strip along the top of the ledge with a blue light. You don't want to draw attention to the ledge, but you can use it to highlight (ha ha) your lovely high ceiling. It won't interfere with your other lighting as it is high up in the darker part of your living room.
It will create atmosphere and complement your blues. You have a white ceiling so this will turn blue at night. IKEA do cheap ones if you want to experiment first.
BUT what is on the other side? That will be affected too....

ASVInteriors to give you an idea?