We have a sunken living room and I am stumped. We were going to put carpet, but we live in a very warm climate and are outdoor people, so I thought easy care would be better. Wanted slate but we are thinking of selling and tile store said lighter is better. What do you think of the big box store slate - has anyone used it - what did you think? I actually saw daltile slate at one of the big box stores? Our entry and hallway and family room are cherry laminate and the dark color of the slate seems to look better with the slate than a light colored tile. Also what is the difference to laying slate as opposed to tile - do you use a different thinset and grout. When I opened a box of slate I notice the thicknesses vary - how do you compensate for that difference - with the thinset? Also wondering why I seem to see light grout lines with slate in most pictures showing slate floors. I am thinking that a dark grout would be better to minimize the seams. What size should the grout lines be for slate? A friend has a rough surface tile and she says she never feels like she can get the floor clean - would this be the same with slate? (not that I am a clean freak or anything - a little dust doesn't bother me - but maybe it will stick in the cracks or rough surfaces of the slate?) Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Please have an engineer look underneath, even if you decide to use joists. You are talking about adding to the load of the floor and house no matter what you use unless you rip it out and "remake" it level with the rest of the floors. This type of sunken room does present a trip hazard! Notice the floor colors all blend? One way to delineate the drop is hardwood (or tile or any other flooring) all around but carpet in the "pit" area. That way your eye can see a distinction peripherally as you walk. If it really needs to be addressed immediately, you could have a professional carpet and flooring person put on one top tread of a different material. I don't know how it would look so I would talk to professionals! Good luck! It sounds like more than you expected when you bought the house?

In that location I wouldn't mess with the trim. Check for the right durabond product at a local hardware store and use that to fill the gap. Then use mud to finish it.

A piece of furniture would work well - make sure it is 36" high for safety purposes and think about anchoring to floor or wall! Here is an example: https://www.houzz.com/products/archer-ridge-three-tier-bookcase-driftwood-gray-prvw-vr~149625127