What's in a Niche...

A common feature in todays homes, the niche has been placed anywhere and everywhere. Most are constructed as a recessed rectangular detail and are commonly seen in 2 story homes.

The niche is used to breakup the 20' plus floor to ceiling wall. They've been placed adjacent to a staircase, at the end of hallways, above doors, behind toilets. Just about anywhere.

So how can you decorate a niche? The most important thing to think about is dust. Are you willing to get on a ladder and clean the dust off the plastic flowers and whatever knickknacks you've nailed up there?

Try this solution: I created an art piece made of venetian plaster with a raised relief pattern to fill up a rectangular niche on a stairway. It's clean, permanent, and won't fall off during the occasional earthquake (I'm in Los Angeles).

Paying the Price

The current economy has people looking for ways to increase their income or start a new business. When it comes to decorating your home with faux or venetian finishes, beware of the person that just learned how to apply these technical finishes on some TV home show.

Nothing beats experience and a licensed contractor. Contractors are bonded and insured against sub-standard installations, damage (like dropping a gallon of paint on your new rug), and more importantly can cover themselves if they are injured working in your home.

Paying top dollar for a licensed contractor or paying next to nothing to that friend of a friend who needs the extra cash. Hmmm... how much are you willing to spend when the cheaper guy falls off the ladder and takes the $10,000 chandelier down with him?