You can't live in peace...you can't, your husband can't, and your kids can't...if you are keeping more things than you have room for. We all live with space constraints, and I can tell you from experience that the constant stress of too much stuff and no room put it, and no efficient means of living and working, is TERRIBLE for your relationships, your energy, your sense of accomplishment, and your health. I am still sorting and pitching from our move out of a big house into a small one two years ago. Trying to keep more than you can live with makes you feel poor, not rich. The thing that jumped out at me in your post was that your husband doesn't want your workroom in your bedroom. And assuming that your childrens' reasonable needs are met, nothing is more important to family life than the happiness of your relationship. So from the way you describe your house, it seems to me that perhaps your dining room would make the ideal office for you. If you can keep it organized and hide it away when your workday is over, then you can turn your attention to storage for the toys your children will keep...after you explain than nobody can live with more stuff than they have room for. Last idea...do you have the budget for a small storage locker somewhere? Can you ease the process of reducing the toy mess by making a game out of choosing this month's toys...only as many as you can put away every night...and storing the rest? Then once a month, you all go to the locker and pick out a different set for that month. Like going to the toy store, only without the spending? If your children are very young, twice a month might be better...or even once a week. I think if you make a whole-house, whole family project out of this, you will all gain a sense of control and accomplishment that will bring you closer, and make everything go better.

thanks for the antler link firsthouse_mp! Are you working on another project now? Can't wait to see photos of your new house! I discovered Jessica Martin at a gallery in SF about 6 years ago. I was helping decorate the offices of the company I worked for at the time in and they bought three of her pieces that hung in our SF office. One was very similar to the one you have. I have been yearning for one of her pieces for years, so my husband bought me one of her pieces for Christmas, but it's sitting in a closet right now because we're trying to figure out the best place for it. I need to get some furniture in this house so we can find a spot for it! The house does have ocean and city lights views. And the house also came with a peacock that lives in the yard. I wake up to him at our back door every morning. My dog is getting used to him being around. Here are some recent shots of our progress - we're working on the interior first but the property needs a lot of TLC too:

I would keep it symmetrical, like Yardvaark has, but bring in the trees to screen that brick, like Dig Doug shows. You can grow Boston ivy on it with no damage to the structure. Wisteria can destroy a building.

If you want affordable, repair what's there, and add a few more supports, I dislike cable for this reason, it sags. When you say, broken, what's wrong with it? The other option that won't be as cheap is Tech lighting rail kit, much cleaner than track and runs much the same as the cable. Your cable light might be as simple as replacing the transformer or a stand of cable. please explain to me what is wrong with it? as it is a very good solution for your space.