I wouldn't recommend a Koi pond for anyone on a tight budget and with small kids. Koi are much more fussy about their living conditions than goldfish, and require a larger volume of pond per inch of fish as well. They produce a lot of waste, requiring a good filtering system. All of this will cost money to install and maintain, and will require a fair amount of time to keep clean and looking good. A pond deep enough to keep Koi may be a danger to your kids, even with a gate. Kids get into everything. Also, keep in mind that Koi are not decoration, they are living creatures, and deserve a clean, healthy, and comfortable environment to live in. Ponds attract wildlife, including snakes and racoons. Another issue with small kids, given the problems with rabies in many areas. I'd put in a small recirculating fountain if you want some water, and save the pond for later, when the kids are bigger, and you have more time and money to devote to this kind of project. Just my opinion. As far as the wall, you should be able to rebuild it. Get a couple of books out to learn how to do it properly, or you could end up with a safety hazard. Wall building is hard work, but very therapeutic and rewarding. If you really want a separate sitting area, grow some vines on the fence to hide it. Annual vines will give you quick cover while you wait for something more permanent to reach a good size. A small area paved with concrete pavers that cost about $2 each can give you a spot to put a bistro table and pair of chairs, or wooden garden bench and small table. Mulch the rest, and start collecting plants to fill it up. Plant swaps are a great way to get some wonderful plants. Just getting the weeds and stuff cleaned up will make a huge difference, as will covering the chain link fence.

Lemon oil is mineral oil....linseed oil is plant based and will dry to a hard finish like varnish. Once you put anything like lemon oil on unfinished wood, you won't ever be able to put anything else on it unless you do a laborous sanding and scrubbing. All talk of wood being dry is nonsense...it's the finish that is dry. If you want to lighten your room, turn on the lamps....but I think it's cozy and woodsy as it is. Not sure you really want shiny walls....but tung oil would add protection to the paneling....as would something like Min-wax antique oil finish....which is linseed oil with a drying agent, so it doesn't stay sticky.

My friend painted the interior of her rental cabin that very same green and with the low ceilings it feels very oppressive to me. I've painted paneling that dark green, but ceilings were 10'. Paneling was wood, so prep was to clean with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate,) rinse, let dry, lightly sand, tack off sanding dust, prime with 2 coats of KILZ, Zinzer or other primer, and then paint with 2 coats of your color. As a vacation property manager for the past 16 years, I can tell you the majority of guests will presume that descendants of the original 70's cooties are living in that rug unless you can prove that it is a new installation. Guests might not hate the faux paneling, but cleanliness issues can kill your rental. The ceiling and floor are your biggest dilemmas. If you decide you want to promote the 70's feeling, you'll need to carry through in the furnishings, etc. Potential galore, but not an easy decision.

sheloveslayouts has the best solution. you have a great space. I think the cabinet companies idea is terrible, they sell cabinets are not great at design. I would never stack a washer/dryer or remove a window unless there was no other way. I had stacking once, much prefer the flat top that side buy side give you and hate having to turn on a light every time I use a room without a window. All these pictures came from a houzz laundry photos search and even though they all show front load you can have the same with top load without placing a countertop and giving yourself enough room to fully open the door when placing shelving or cabinets. the first 2 are just more pictures of her suggestion. the 3rd is a cabinet that you could place directly opposite your door next to the window if you need tall storage. 5th is rolling laundry sorter that could be placed in that same spot. I have one without the top shelf and hanging bar and love it. I sort lights, darks and colors or towels. 4th gives you another option without hanging rod. and last is an option for stacking if you really want to that gives you storage without taking up the whole room.