I'd hang it in the bedroom, for now... while your are decorating and getting settled in.

Enjoy it!

What rooms are we looking at in your photos? (I recognize the bedroom.) What is the room with the wine rack? What is the wall at the end of the hallway and is this a hallway guests use going toward that wall?

The batik is framed under glass -- or no? Does your husband want to put it up flat onto the ceiling like a fresco, or does he want to dangle it from the ceiling on hooks and chains?

You don't mention having a dining room. Are all your living room walls occupied by windows or TVs/fireplace? Is that the problem?

Not sure if the bedroom is the right place:

PS: I had a friend who owned a collecton of Indonesian doors who married another friend who lived in an apartment in Rome. He put the doors on the ceiling and it was pretty amazing.

The painting with the wine rack is an old one in a previous house.

This new house is the first open plan we’ve had and the walls are indeed occupied by windows and built-in cabinets. The few wall spaces, including next to the dining area, are about 6’ or 7’ wide so not large enough.

The batik is not under glass as of yet. It’s very heavy already so would add a lot of additional weight. It’s something I’m considering. Last year I had a textile restorer put the batik on a fabric mount as the textile was fraying (the piece is probably 60 years old?).

The wall with the hallway wall peaking out is what you would see if you entered the house and then looked left up to the bedrooms. That area is small and while the piece would be quite imposing and grand there (it was initially my first choice) you’d be limited to 6’ of viewing space in front.

My husband and teenage daughter want downstairs in the den, but the laundry room is there, the printer, a small desk my husband has used for junk…it’s just currently not a nice room. My dream for the den is a bohemian drawing room with eclectic art, textiles and artifacts from my father’s travels around the world. That’s just going to take a backseat to the main parts of the house.

@mytwo cents
Amazing call on Indonesian! I found an old letter between my father and artist, an Indonesian woman living in Alaska.

My husband is still throwing out there the ceiling.

@shirlpp
Good point about the bedroom. I had other ideas for that large wall, like some color that brings an oasis of calm.

If the fabric mount for the batik is well done and keeps the batik secure, I think placiing it "face down'''on the ceiling would not damage the batik, and maybe you wouldn't need a transparent covering. I would go for acrylic instead of glass if you do, but am thinking the fabric mount alone would prevent the batik from sagging over time. I imagine I would place the current framed piece inside another thicker (carved?) frame and attach that new frame to the ceiling.

But if Dad gets outvoted, I think the batik could look quite dramatic at the end of the hallway, in the same way that huge works of art often appear in a museum when you are moving from one gallery to another and only partially see an entire work. I think the loveseat in your bedroom might be great placed at the end of that hallway with the batik above, well-lit. Or just do the batik alone. And I would add other colorful wild batik-like pieces on the hallway walls. But would guests be comfortable or invited to walk down the hall for the full view of the batik?

PS: I thought you might like to see a photo of the African water buffalo/cheetah painting I have in my upstairs hallway

I love pieces like these. Lots of bold color and keeps you looking for new things.

(I wish one could reply to particular comments here on Houzz).

@mytwo cents
I really like that idea of in the hallway with the loveseat! This may take some convincing but it’s a really unique idea!

Perhaps you would have more options if you hung it vertically instead of horizontally. In that case you might be able to hang it in any room. It is a magnificent piece.

Bedroom. You and your husband adore this piece so put it where the two of you can see it all of the time. Once you get around to your textile artroom - a year or two or three from now, move it down there if you wish.

I used to be a batik importer and made buying trips to Bali. I have seen lots of these kinds of batiks. Glad you enjoy yours so much.

Do you have a floor plan of the living room? Everyone should be able to enjoy this amazing piece. Here's an idea: What about turning a corner? 2/3 on one side and 1/3 on the other? Depending on the plan of the room, it could be exciting.

If you have a foyer with staircase, I would "wrap" it there--that is, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 around the walls. You would need a different frame.

I'm with your husband. This would be a marvelous piece for a ceiling treatment. I've done similar with Japanese furoshikis. In order not to damage the piece I'm imagining some sort of system of slender poles suspended from the ceiling over which the piece could be draped.

IMO the first step is to protectit for sure . I have iften thought ceilings are a forgotton area that could be so much more interesting like in the buildings in europe. I do think get your furniture in place then you will kmow where to put it . I have only a few places to hang our art as out whole south and nort walls are windows but none of my pieces as big as that. I would do drape it over anything but I sure would be looking at some sort of way to protect it.

I vote for hanging it vertically.

So many great ideas!! The world is our oyster!!

I wouldn't hang it vertically if it was designed to be viewed horizontally. I find this suggestion odder than hanging it on the ceiling.

Has the fabric mount given it a stiff backing? Because if not, and if you go for the idea of placing it against the ceiling, I think you will definitely need to protect the front with acrylic.

In fact, wherever you decide to put the batik, it might not be a bad idea to float or "sandwich" the batik piece between 2 pieces of acrylic, which can be held together with magnets or corner pegs. Getting custom sheets of acrylic/plexiglass fabricated and shipped would probably not be ghastly expensive, even if you worked through a frame shop.

@mytwocents

Other than the fact that the op has it hung horizontally in her photo, how do you know which direction it is meant to be hung? It is abstract.

Ilikefriday there are faces in the picture. if you hang it verically, the faces would be sideways.

I think sun could be a damaging force to consider unless you have low E glass. So the ceiling option would prevent sun exposure…need to evaluate the other options for it as well. Maybe the clear acrylic cover would provide protection as well?

My two cents gave me an idea…if it could be floated between two pieces of acrylic perhaps it can hang down from the ceiling and act as a room divider.

Please post pics of the living room so we can offer more suggestions.

@auntthelma

I agree that they are faces. They appear to be faces of some sort of animal attacking a bird, or climbing a tree, or peaking through bushes, or maybe they are animal spirits floating through space. In all those scenarios it could be hung either horizontally or vertically.

Hope the OP tells us but I figured the faces are bats, which often turn up in Asian fabric designs. I don't agree they can be hung vertically if the original design is horizontal

This is a Chinese embroidery

Your husband's idea hainging on the ceiling is the best soultion! Would love to see that amazing batik in full overhead. Just make sure the hanging mechanism is proper as to not ruin it.

This is a lobby, but so inspiring! Note the lighting which can be adjusted to a living room.

I definitely think hanging it vertically is NOT right for this piece. (As well, I think it’s too bright and “exciting” for a bedroom.) Your space issue is not uncommon; many new homes have an open floor plan, lots of windows (all good things, of course), which limits art space considerably. Good luck!