No, it will work but lower it a few inches.
In my dining room I have a big picture also.

I thought it was too high . DH always hangs things higher than I like.

Your picture looks nice with the grouping like that! :-)

I agree, it needs to be a little lower. Make the space above the paintings a little taller than the space below the painting. Beautiful painting, BTW.

I think it's great in this space! Reminds me of Georgia O'Keeffe's work. But yes, it needs to go just a little bit lower.

OK, the picture is definitely gonna get lowered. Am I the only one that has a DH that likes to hang stuff way up there? He does it on the outside of the house too.

Thanks artlover & A Jen for the back-up!

One of my pet deco peeves is always too-small artwork and that's a good big "oomphy" piece. One completely random thought that's totally unsolicited and you're welcome to tell me to stuff it, but have you considered a silver or black frame for that instead of gold? You have kind of a black-and-silver thing going on there and the gold frame doesn't quite fit as well into the mix, and either black or silver would look very nice with the artwork. You wouldn't need to buy a new frame, just spray-paint the old one since the size and shape are fine.

BTW, I always had to hang pictures "too high" above couches and other such furniture when our kitty Random was still alive - she loved to get up on the furniture and rub her face against the corners of pictures. She would push even heavy frames off kilter and even wore the gilt right off the bottom corners of one frame! I figured it was a rule I would happily throw out the window to accomodate my beloved cat as part of the family.

Poochie really needs a black leather dog bed though! :-)

If its a good painting, there is no such thing as "too big"!!!

I think I read the standard is 6"-12" above the hightest part of the sofa. But more than anything you need some paint!!!

I think the reason for the 6 - 12" that carminnc is talking about is so you don't bump your head on the artwork. That's a good point, but being more aesthetic than practical, personally I would hang it where it looks good, and I certainly wouldn't mention to DH about the bumping-the-head thing. If he's anything like my DH that would be all the ammunition he would need to keep hanging pictures too high for the next 20 years. LOL

johnmari , I know what you mean about the gold & silver thing I have going on ( there's more that you can't see ) The lamps are pewter, from our other house. All the door knobs fixtures etc here are gold. I'm trying to ignore this right now.

The painting is stretched canvas. Do you think I could mask it off and paint the frame black? I wonder how hard that would be.

artlover i'm cracking up about the ammunition. That's exactly what would happen!
caminnc, are you referring to the *white* walls? But...I like them this way. The whole house is cream color and It works for me. Although after looking at some of the beautiful homes here I sometimes get the urge for color.

I like it but agree it's slightly too high.

the picture is beautiful but remove the star/sun/moon thing..it is distracting

arizona I was once afraid of color and then I was set free. LOL If you want to see what a transformation color can make, go look at Sheesharee's transformation just recently completed. Color just makes every thing look so much more vibrant and important and that's my final words on the subject of color.

The piece of art is very pretty with its' abundance of color.

brutuses, where is Sheesharee's transformation? I'd love to see it.

I guess it is a color-fear thing. We have the open concept going on and I don't know how to make the kitchen and LR areas different colors. So, I just figure the cream color works, and I add colorful accessories.

Wait a minute, your Dh hangs your pictures for you???

It is a nice picture. I'm eager to see how it turns out should you decide to implement these good suggestions. You should have trouble painting the frame. I have successfully done the same on several stretched canvas frames.

Love the painting! I agree about lowering it a bit, and definitely paint the frame! Good suggestions.

Here you go arizona, shee's link

Here is a link that might be useful: Sheesharee's room transformations

I agree that a little color on the walls will do wonders for the room and complement the painting. The cream walls and dark furniture make the room look a bit harsh, and I hate to say it, kind of like a rental or apartment.

Yes, much lower. I'd hang it no more than three or four inches above the sofa back, so that the sofa and the picture become one composition. I wouldn't try to mask painted canvas, for fear of pulling off paint.

And would you consider painting just the wall behind the sofa in a rich color...perhaps the warm golden tone or the terra cotta that I think I am seeing in the picture? You have a natural starting and stopping point with the pillar and the corner, and I think it would look wonderful, and make the painting a show-stopper.

brutuses, thanks for the link. I see what you mean, I just
love Sheesharee's colors!

mustangs, yes, he hangs things for me. Actually alot of stuff I could hang myself but he insists he can do it better. lol! I'm a tiny nail person and he likes to use big screws and toggle bolts! help! lol

hostagrams thank you! Still undecided about what to do w/the frame.

terriks, yup I hear ya...a rental. ewwww. What I'd really like is new furniture but that's not in the budget at this time so i guess painting is the best solution. I like bronwynsmom's suggestions the best. Painting the wall behind the sofa would be an easy fix.

Thanks you guys, for your interest and taking the time to give advice. I so appreciate it!

I'm glad you like the idea of painting the wall.

Now, as your marital counselor, let me tell you about Floreat picture hangers. They are the only things I use. (No, I have no financial interest in them.) They range from 10 to 75 pound sizes, and every size is designed to be used with the same small pin-like nails. The smaller sizes use one, and the largest ones use three. They are easy to pull out and yet very strong, and leave only tiny holes in the wall. So you, Miss small-nail, and your DH Mr. screws-and-toggles, can be happy!
Here is a link to my source for them. Ziabicki has by far the best prices, but you can find other sources if you don't want to buy them by the box. I find that most things can be hung with the two smaller sizes, and I usually use two for each picture, because I hate having to straighten pictures!
There are other brands that use the same idea, but none of them is as good, in my experience. Continue to the second and third pages on this site to see the ones that carry the heavy weights, and you'll see what I mean.

Here is a link that might be useful: Floreat hangers

browny, I saw those on a web site I was looking at for decorative hangers and wondered about them. I like the fact that they are very small. I'll give them a try. Thanks for the referral.

bronwynsmom . Oh thank you! That is exactly what I need! Actually...it's ms Small nail & Mr *I can do everything better* ( no j/k ) lol

Any way, I book marked it and now I need to get the HUGE can of spackle out so I can move the picture.

Thanks again :)

Regarding an accent wall, can you show a larger shot showing the layout of the whole area?

squirrel, i haven't been able to get a decent shot of the whole room . Here's pictures of both sides of the room. You can kind of visualize them together hopefully.

I'm having trouble picturing that one side wall with an accent color. Maybe you could paint the alcove's wall in another color as well to balance the effect; the same, maybe not. Of course, I don't know what I'm looking at there, but that alcove would seem a great spot for a large painting, if the long leading hall is where one enters the space. Looks like the thermostat (?) would have to be moved though.

Or maybe paint the whole family room a richer color to offset the painting and other furnishings.

Just my $.02 : )

Well... it's certainly too big to carry around with you everywhere you go, but I don't think it's too big for where you have it. I just think it's too lonely all by itself there. I love that picture.

I'd also like to see your walls a richer color. A nice gold would really warm the place up. In our old house we threw a Christmas party every year with the same group of folks. When I had cold colors and white on the wall, they didn't talk much and they all ran home early. When I added warm colors, they chatted up a storm and stayed so long I finally kicked 'em out. lol!

"Do you think I could mask it off and paint the frame black? I wonder how hard that would be."

No, no, no. Don't paint the canvas! In the photo it does look like there's a frame, but if I understood you correctly, what appears to be a frame is actually a painted border on the canvas.

squirrelheaven and oceanna , something i forgot to mention is the walls are textured. Orange peel I think is what they call it. I'm not sure how they would look with a color on them. I haven't seen any of the houses here with the knock down type textures painted anything but shades of white.

artlover, the canvas is framed . It's a metal frame, but I've decide not to risk messing it up by painting it. I'd feel terrible if I screwed it up.( i've been know to do things like that )

Now that I see all the pictures, I think the whole area could be painted...all three walls. But since it's open to the white walls, I think I would consider a deep neutral in a warm tone, rather than something more dramatic like gold or terra cotta. Then the effect will be to make the whole space seem larger, as the colored walls recede.

All of my walls are orange peel texture, in fact most homes in my area have orange peel or some other texture and it doesn't stop us from using color!

Here is my dining room with orange peel texture walls:

Terriks, what a 'smashing'color and the fire place is gorgeous. Then there is the VIEW!!!!!!!! You have the most beautiful of both worlds, room and view. What kind of tile is that around the mantel, ceramic or glass?

Thanks, the paint is "Ginger" by Devine Paint. The tile is copper slate.

bronwynsmom , so you think a beige or darker cream color? Than leave the kitchen the way is is? The thought of something dark scares me.

terriks , your room is beautiful! It's nice to know you can go bold even with a textured wall, it's just not done in this area that I have seen. Maybe it is and I just haven't seen it. It looks great in your home though!

That's an awesome room and coloring, terriks : ) Simply gorgeous. Is that a water view?

Here's a peek at some coloring on the walls. I put a warmer color on the ceiling too.

WOW! squirrel, that makes a huge difference doesn't it? I like the 2nd one the best. I can't believe how much better everything looks w/a little color. Things kind of pop!

Now I have to convince DH ( you know, Mr. Toggle bolt ) lol!

Thanks! I love it :)

Oh good! You're welcome : )

I would choose something darker in the fawn family. Don't be scared! It's paint. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't love it, and have to do it over.

I wish I knew how to do what Squirrelheaven did to add color to the picture...but try it with BMoore's Quincy Tan or Blair Gold or Tumeric. The colors you tried are very pleasant, but don't have as much personality as a richer one would. With pale neutrals behind black furniture, you run the risk of what my DH calls the "bureaucratic beiges" - the things you see in public buildings. What I am imagining is enough color to make the space expand as the walls recede. If you are more comfortable with paler ones, I'd suggest keeping it very warm behind all the black.

"The colors you tried are very pleasant, but don't have as much personality as a richer one would. "

Bronwynsmom, I saw you had envisioned 'rich' and tried some but they weren't coming out very well and were getting glowy on the right half. And I believe AR said she might try just a bit of color.

Honestly, soft and subtle coloring is just as beautiful as rich, bold, or brilliant. It's just a different personality and, perhaps, personality type who prefers them. Those things are very much personal preference. Slighting combinations I liked was unnecessary and condescending commentary. That sort of thing often becomes an unpleasant experience around here. We're all different and, so, we like (and don't like) different things as well. I don't think many people like to be told that their own personal preferences are lacking or need to change (or conform to current thinking or trends). I would love to see more people appreciate the inherent beauty in what someone else sees rather than this desire for conformity to rules, tastes, or the affectation of others, or the masses. Most of the people I know don't even like 'colors' on the wall -- and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. And high design or striking interiors are just not for everyone either.

ArizonaRose, I'm glad you got to see and like the effect some color has in your room.