Like an indoor firepit! Love it! I wonder if you can set up a bar space on one side. Maybe a TV on the wall where the map is. A big, round, pretty coffee table in the middle.

Looks like a fall waiting to happen. May not matter if you're a millenial, but if older, you should consider filling it in and raising the firebox.

Thank you @auntthelma! I was wondering about a TV placement. The ceiling is very tall... I love it, but my husband hates the idea of a TV over a fireplace. I love the space, but had thoughts of maybe leveling the floor. a bar and a beautiful, interesting coffee table in the middle is also an awesome idea! Any ideas on the space behind the fireplace?

This honestly seems like a massive waste of space. I can only picture people tripping and falling constantly.

IMO a T.V mounted on that fireplace with seating where it belongs all around the space would be horroble to try and watch This was a bad idea when it was done and covering it and making it the same level as the rest of the floor is really what should be done you could then put a bar behind the fireplace with some stools and a T.V wall mounted with an adjustable arm to make it work for alls kinds of parties , you could even have 2 T.Vs one for the bar rea and one for the sofa seating area. It will not be cheap since the firebox will of course have to be raised and finding matching floor will probably be impossible but honestly the best solution to this big mistake in design

Thank you @Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design. I had thought of the safety issues but wasn't keen on the idea of putting in some kind of railings. If I raised the floor it would still be the same shape and I would want to use the space as an additional conversational area. But as you see from my picture, there is another area for seating next to the wall of windows. There is lots of natural lighting and beautiful windows. The home is in the mountains so there are some beautiful views...

I hate sunken living rooms & this is even worse! I’d fill it in if it were my house. It won’t be cheap, neighbors of mine just had their entire first floor made level, again , not an easy thing to have done, but their house looks soooo much better!

i'd fill it in, it would still be an incredibly neat octagonal space.

It's a tough one. Other than essentially ripping it out, I would want to see it all carpeted. I don't know why but these types of spaces were usually carpeted i think, which perhaps even subconscsiously makes them seem safer?

Wow!

Thank you @Patricia Colwell Consulting! I love the idea of putting a bar behind the fireplace with stools and a mounted on the wall. My husband hates the idea of a TV over the fireplace as well. I agree the area was a design mistake but I loved the house when we bought it. It's in the mountains, so all the tall windows give us a beautiful view, and I do love the high ceiling in this area. If I raised the floor I would have to change the flooring of pretty much the main area of this floor. The kitchen is on the left of the fireplace as your looking at it as well.

Well if you put in a bar, I'd make the whole sunken area really padded, so that when the tipsy tripsy they'll have a softer landing. Make sure your liability insurance is adequate.

no, i dont believe you would need to change the flooring.... another material, a contrasting color, in the same octagonal shape would be stellar.

Indoor koi pond!!

I would fill it in for sure and you wouldn't have to change the entire first floor's flooring...just match up as best you can (for resale) and add a large rug and a large round sectional to compliment the shape of the room - you'll have now have a room for cozy evenings to sit around the fire. The space would be much more suited to a lakeside home and feel more up to date and safer and more practical. I would update the fireplace for sure and behind, add a large bookcase, so it also becomes a perfect reading area. You could lower the map and add a large rustic console there with a lamp or two - like the 2nd picture (without the chair). You could add antique armoire there instead and place your tv inside. Low lighting will be key as well.

For people to look at each other from across: install built-in seating with backs to change the flatness/crater -- [open at 1 spot nearest camera]?

Use rustic wood to play up wood above -- custom designed - also provides a railing for above walkers...

Only photo I could find:

Wow! I love indoor atriums. I love your windows looking out onto the trees around the house in the other rooms, I would mimic that look here with opening up the walls with windows and planting a nice tree there. Of course, no fireplace. Do you really want or need the fireplace?

For years my friend and her family traipsed around one of these sunken areas in their home, and then one morning - BANG! Multiple fractures and head wounds! Cover it over - it won't be cheaper to do after you've paid for rehab and hospital bills for yourselves or others!

I'd fill it and make that area a cool vintage looking octagonal-ish bar wrapping most of the room on sides to front of fireplace. The lower part of the fireplace would come out and higher up would be a pizza oven. There would be three wall mount tv's, very cozy padded armed bar stools and a fish tank...hmm, where could I put a fish tank? Lol

Whatever grey material is at base of walls - bring more focus down, and repeat it around perimeter like this space, with shelving of some kind. Remove wall items probably. Make that shape 'it' - and not décor at all.

Add height at perimeter, and it becomes a railing -- then the opening becomes like any other usual stair...

call it a pony wall? and it adds the cozy factor down in there... :) Build in some speakers!

If budget requires, even store-bought bookcases, the width of the side, could be installed into floor. Then back of seating, maybe stained wood panels, the correct height [and becomes back of bookcase].

How wide is the walkway that goes around the sunken part?? Room for shallow something there?

Another issue is there's no lighting at bottom of the space - new LED strips could be cool - placed discreetly at perimeter.

I think it'd be a missed opportunity for something unique - try something first...!!

This is what I was talking about above. Of course if you only drink tea it might not work for you. Sorry, I couldn't find a spot for the built in fish tank : ) I put the pizza oven in though. This shape is great for conversation and even games and the bottom is matching wood to ceiling. Is there room for some sort of long game/board behind the fireplace? I say make it a fun area.

Fill me!

Pizza Pizza oven for you.

I think it might be kinda fun to do that area in wood just for a bit of relief from all the tile and to make it still a statement in the home.

What a cool space! How much work do you plan to do?

I hope Jean didn't fall into the fire pit! Jean? Jean can you hear us? How many fingers am I holding up?

I'm here LOL!! I'm here! I had to work... love all these ideas! I'm liking a little bit of each of them... Thank you @justerrilynn

Just following up with additional inspiration pictures....figured since you are going to be changing..might as well go the whole way if within your budget. Also including a picture of a lovely finish when repairing the floor, if filling in. Have you consider using as a casual dining space that could double as a games room, spot to work on your laptop, crafts, etc.

@JUSTERRILYNN I just went to work! LOL! I love all of the comments and ideas! I'm thinking more about filling the space in and adding some rustic wood flooring as suggested. @Everdebz I love you photos and ideas of of removing wall decor and letting the area itself be the focus. I'm thinking of painting as well. The ideas of eventually possibly opening up some walls for more windows in this are is awesome!

@Maureen Wow! I love your photos with the windows! Thank you so much everyone for so many awesome ideas and inspiration. I now see this area in a whole new light literally.

The mock-up of the wood was nice! Be cozy sitting inside? and becomes a railing.

Still say LED lighting could be great for mood. Also bright lighting for reading....

In a way, that room is already designed, and a decent craftsman could 'follow the lines' by measuring well, and build something.... so I say: keep it!!! :)

What material is the grey at bottom though? I was thinking if you want a "window-grey-clear look" instead, what about encircling the den with the new plastic-resin panels?

Oh good Jean...glad you're not in a crumpled little pile in the pit. Darn, looks like your not keen on the wood bar idea and here I had plans for those walls. The other wall was going to be mid century board games wall mounted with hooks within a Big wood frame. Art or game? You choose lol. Maybe I would also put the scrabble in a nice frame to gussy it up.

Glad you're ok.... ha... since you have a living area, do this one up different!

@smitrovich My Grandkids would love the ball pit idea... my husband... not so much!! LOL! I do however, agree with extending the back in some way... thanks!

@er612 Wow! I love these ideas... These make me question filling the space in and making the floor level... hmmmm. Thank you so much!

Don't fill it in! It's one of the reasons you fell in love with the house, no?

You clearly love quirky (as do I...I am far from practical), so embrace it....

I'd need a hand rail if I ever came to visit. You may discover that some of your guests may need one, as well.

Unless that functional issue can be addressed, I'd fill it in.

I LOVE it and I hope you didn't fill it in because it's amazing. We have a similar sunken fireplace (though not as cool....a former owner re-did the fireplace to make it "tuscan" probably in the late 90s). It is carpeted, but the plan at the moment is to remove the carpet and add a small seatback around the outside, for comfort, visual, and safety reasons.

I'd be interested in seeing the final results of what you did end up doing!