I've added a link to one of the photos below. Instead of changing materials, I'd either add more of the same concrete, or have the existing concrete resurfaced if possible to blend with a new pour. Or maybe the new areas could be concrete in smaller sized blocks or stamped with a pattern, but the same color. I'd leave some planting pockets along the fence where the stone is now, so you can put in something to soften and break up the fence. I'd use a privacy fence on the back and side, so you don't have your neighbors ogling you while to relax poolside. Not a "stockade" but a solid board, or one with smallish spaces between the boards. Here is a link that might be useful:

Ok on that stud issue (if you do want the medicine cabinet) that's no biggie. If it's not a support wall they just cut out the area for the cabinet and basically build a frame out of 2x4's for it which connect the studs. So if you want that, now's the time (if it still looks as it does :) I had to do that in my powderroom which is typical construction, but the wall is a very small wall so it had more studs than normal (it has an angle off of the 2' straight area) Don't ya wish I had pictures LOL I sure do! My bathrooms are one step ahead of you right now. They're applying drywall as we speak. We're not only doing our powderroom (which was built new because we didn't have one on the main floor) but we're also doing every single room in the house, including a major gut of the kitchen. I don't have one room with drywall on every surface and I'm cooking in the garage :) We have a living area in the driveway. Sounds elegant huh? Actually the home will be when finished. I spent about a year on the design (it's a five level townhome so it's all interior work) and we have two magazines waiting to do spreads on it (mostly the kitchen) but right now...ugh it's ugly LOL And frankly so am I now that i think about it...I get dressed every day between the time I hear the first little pit a pat of tiny contractor feet on the front steps and the thud as they land on the top step :oP About 3 mins tops! You probably know the feeling if your bathroom looks like that! I love the glass door idea (obviously because I'm using it too LOL). I'm actually picking mine today. We'd planned on a typical solid core door and after building the new walls for the master bath, and looking at the tile for the shower, I was worried it would get too dark (my design is all chocolate, tan and white but the "chocolate" elements are very large...like the shower wall) We're on a lake and have huge windows filled with light just outside of the bathroom and I decided it would be best to get as much natural light as possible flooding the room, so the glass is the way to go. If it's quality, it will look great and still feel private. Do be sure to spend some money there because I looked at flimsy doors at the big box stores and they were visable through the "opaque" glass because the glass and the finish was so cheap. The difference is only a couple hundred bucks and it's money well spent. I think your bathroom is going to be so fabulous! I love the marble tub surround (and when I started reading and saw fake marble I had the same reaction as you did when you saw it). I'm doing an undermount tub (which you might consider) and would have loved to do a slab of marble but couldn't find one in a deep brown that would work. I'm also doing the same brown in the shower (walls) so I'd have had to buy quite a bit of marble. I can't imagine what my total would be! Tell me about the stepping stool? I'm doing a shelf out of the green piece (I had to buy the whole scrap and have about 2' on one side extra and a foot on the other, both about 3' long) I was going to have a bunch of coasters made up LOL but the stepping stool idea is nice....or even as a top on a tiny table next to the tub...Do you have any pictures heh heh

First a HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. Omg I can not imagine my life with GW. Everyone here is beyond kind helpful supportive and understanding. NO one has ever judged me on GW. And this was hard for me to post images of my home. Insecurity is my middle name. I wish I could change this room this second. Like betwitched. Nose twitch done!!! I have no magic. I am going to really study all your suggestions and implement them. Stir the pot and see what works and does not. Truly GW is full of amazing minds, voices, ideas, inspiration and supportive people. Les917, Only in the heat of the summer do we like those windows covered. We have electric controlled blinds. Right now they are closed but I love them open. Everything you describe is exactly as I have been thinking I plan to paint the rest of the built ins White. I have thought about moving the cornice all the way up. It should have been done years ago. But the red sofa may be going to another room along with the chair. My DH has suggested we either buy new leather pieces for this room or we move brown leather from the basement up to this room. We use the red in the kids media room and figure out that space later. We could move the TV to one of those adjustable wall mounts. My best friend said I need to reconfigure the fireplace mantle and mount the tv there. I need to convince DH on this one. Loribee, YES, I love stripes too. Kiko, Yes, I do like the drama in those drapes. And I love the cute pooch on the porch. Vampiressrn, Wow, I feel so honored to have you respond to me. I think your style is amazing. I read all your posts like a groupie. I love your posts. I do like brown. I used to have my kitchen painted this medium brown color called Camel coat. The slight problem with the brown walls is do I paint everything? Or only the brown on the wall with the built ins or maybe three walls, all the walls move open to other areas. Something to consider. Paintergirl, Great ideas. I do need to embrace the space. I need to frame more art. I rarely paint my dogs. Too Hallmarky. I love those images you suggested. Especially the paint color. Notice how much in the image above. Gwbr54, Thank you for your sweeet words. I get very confused with the terms modern and contemporary. I wish the term Modern did not connote the style in the 70s with plastic, metal and clean lines. Or maybe I am a complete idiot and the term is Modernism and I am getting that confused. Send me back to class. And is it possible that we change our style as we grow up? Which means some of this rubbish about me was bought with the understanding I was a French provincial girl. I could flush that style. It is not me at all. But the table in the kitchen so French, I like it painted white. Organic modern or contemporary look? I like it. I have never been a fan of Bamboo or even natural fibers but the images you posted could work for me. I love the chunky candle sticks the rich rug and the drapes over shades. It is ironic you have the Ethan Allen image, years ago my DH and I got into a huge fight because I wanted EA sofa and chairs for the same room. He felt is was too fussy, This coming from a guy who would be happy eating off a dog crate. SandyP, I agree more in the fireplace area. Definitely need to hone in on that space with drama My budget is maybe a few $1000, yes I am limited in this frail economy. I have sentimental only to the vases and the vase picture. I could toss out everything. Including the floors. But that would be a $100,000 budget. Gosh, I wish I were a Rockerfeller or Kennedy or even Gates. I do not like black rod iron, never did and never will. I am searching today for some better tables. As for Naked windows. I love naked veggies, never thought about the windows. I think for this room to come together the windows will be a key to pulling the room together. Ideas so far and feel free to add any more... Option 1: Sell the red and repaint the kitchen. Buy something in brown leather, bag the hideous end tables and put up drapes from ceiling to floor. Repaint the built Ins too. Option 2: Keep the red sofa, paint the walls, , bag the hideous end tables and put up drapes from ceiling to floor. Repaint the built In. Option 3: Get lazy and hire someone which in turn angers the DH as he thinks I should be able to do this. It would anger my oldest daughter as she says I am constantly changing all the rooms in the house I would need to hire a designer on retainer. And that could only happen if my last name were Rockefeller. Rooms I love and maybe I could make my own, but how? Yes, Plants, Trees that is it I can see this could help along with repainting the walls to a possible white color... The rug helps too but I have a similar rug. I think I even saw chairs like these at Marshalls I like what they did with making a corner conversation area. I like the drama on the wall. I might be able to borrow these ideas.. Why does this room work? Could I paint one wall like this? Or is this a bad, bad decor plan? I like these colors but the wing back chair is not me, I wonder if I use more crisp white with navy blue could that be a direction. And the kitchen could be painted the navy blue... would this work with the dark floors?

Most of my favorite pieces are family antiques ... and yes, I do know how lucky I am to have these. The bed I grew up in, and the step stool my grandfather made ... he was a well known Buffalo artist ... that was the dog my mother grew up with. (And 2 of my silly kids, Lily the dog and her buddy Bailey). Same room, love the little high chair, chest and mirror. I've been trying to find out something about that chair since I haven't seen another one like it. My tempermental grandmother's clock .. doesn't like the humidity in the summer so refuses to work, and game table. The pictures on the far wall, I have photos of these hanging in my great-grandmother's parlor ... the reflection on the one is bad. My sister told me to repaint the frames, I told her I wasn't touching antique frames! My Mom tells me this is my best piece ... this was also in my bedroom when I was growing up. The glass cabinet was a piece my Mom found at an estate sale shortly I moved into this house ... she said I needed it to display my family treasures ... she was right! the clock is another family piece, this one works all year round. This was in my grandmother's dining room, she had all her china/glassware in it. My sister, who is an interior designer, didn't want it because it was "too primitive" ... lucky me!! This is a jelly cupboard my Mom & I pulled out of my grandparents basement and refinished ... it had been painted to match the rest of the cupboards in the basement. Some of my favorite things ...