Accessories - Housewares - Finishing Touches - bare space center of wall

Hi, This is my first time to use the forum. Sounds like it is lots of fun
and some of the suggestions I have read are really good.

Now, I need someone's help.

I have a long wall that houses a white cabinet 12' long and holding
6 aquariums in our den. The top 3 tanks are large and take up the
entire length. On the bottom we have 3 smaller tanks separated by
solid doors (for aquarium supplies). Above, I once had a decorative
mirror 4' to 5' long. Recently, I noticed the evaporation of water
or humidity from the tanks was ruining the mirror and I had to re-
move it. Flanking each side of the mirror are floral prints with
sconces. (still in place) They don't seem affected by the aquariums.
Over the mirror was and still is a floral swag with some bare thin
little branches hanging lower that sort of framed the top edges of
the mirror. Now because the mirror is no longer there the swag is
definitely out of place and well, outdated as well. My walls are a
warm soft yellow with white chair-rails.

Help, I need some suggestions on how to make this wall look com-
plete and pulled together............ The aquariums cannot be moved-
that would take too much muscle and work emptying them and then
the cabinet took 4 men to put in place.

I am open to any suggestions.

Thanks,
Nelwyn

sorry, but i still don't have a clear picture of this wall.

is the whole wall 12' long?

and how much wall space is above the top row of tanks?

what's the style of the room?

The wall is 18' across. The 12' aquarium cabinet is centered. Above
the left and right aquariums are the 11" x 14" framed floral prints
(goldish frames) and the gold toned candle sconces. In other words
from each end wall about 4' there is the picture and sconces with
cracked glass globes. (two on each side) There is a good 6' x approxi-
mately 5' space and then the remaining picture and sconces. The
sconces are toward the inside since at one time they flanked both the
pictures and center mirror.

The back wall holds the entertainment center between two windows
and opposing wall has our hanging grandfather type clock and two
recliners and tables and lamps complete that side since it is the
shortest wall in the room. In front of the aquarium wall (across the
room is the sofa used as a room divider between the dining and
kitchen area.

As I mentioned earlier the walls are a warm soft yellow and accented
with a white chair-rail. Also, the swag that hung above the mirror
and aquariums is totally outdated and needs to be removed.

Hope this explains things better.

Thanks,
Nelwyn

yes, thanks - that's a great description!

i don't think i'd replace the mirror with another picture. i think the focus should probably be on the fish (6 tanks = a LOT of fish!!) i'm assuming these are really colorful tropical fish? what about changing out the gold/brassy frames & sconces for something with a more updated wrought iron material? i don't think it would be affected by the humidity issue. if you can use the prints somewhere else, do and then find a large wrought iron grille to center above the tanks and then flank it with 2 new sconces. does that appeal to you? or does the brass & gold work better in there?

maybe the problem is that you've already got the 2 flat prints on each side, and you need something more 3-dimensional in the middle. what about installing a long shelf that you could set items on? would that be easier to find accessories for than just one large picture? do you have a collection of something you could display there?

accessories are probably the hardest thing to talk about. they're the most personal things in the room - they really need to express your style & likes. just shop around & see what's out there.

Annette, thanks for the info. I do like the idea of a shelf with a few
collectibles.
Nelwyn