Depending on your budget and your abilities, you could always do a faux painting of pub style planking for the walls. That way you are not stuck with something you may out grow if your tastes change. My daughter is a professional painter and did a basement room very similar to your in this faux style, and I�ll tell you, you would have to touch the wall to believe it was not real wood. Granted it was not inexpensive labor wise but compared to real woodworking labor is was a bargain. As for the fire place, what about the field rock (it looks like uncut rocks, rather than the spilt field stone that you show in your picture. When it comes to your backsplash, a mirror which has the family name etched in it would be nice, but rather than affixing it as a permanent installation you could paint the backsplash with a good quality paint and then install the etched framed mirror with mirror hanging hardware. PS, if you are considering doing a pub style, you should consider changing the light over the pool table and install a pub style stained glass pool table light.

Thank you so so much for your input and questions!! I really appreciate it! Here is a rough layout. As you can see, the questionable area is RIGHT next to front door, across from 2 beds+ 1 bath... This area is NOT small for an apartment. I think originally, the area is considered too small for a bedroom, and the developer might have just left it as is - an empty space! I forgot to mention, the ceiling on this floor is high (12-20 ft)? I'd love to turn it into something useful and welcoming, considering it is right at the entrance. I totally agree that a murphy bed in this area is just weird... and yes, i can get rid of it! My neighbor, having a similar layout, gutted their closet (by entrance), and turned this area into a study/office and sitting area. Honestly, I don't quite like how they designed the space, but it is still much better than the one i have right now... Again, any idea (or pic if there is any) is greatly appreciated!!! ps. Living room, kitchen, and a small nook + 1/2 bath is on 2nd floor, of which i'm not going to worry too much.

The kitchen island was intended to have chairs or stools pulled up to it. Looks like there is room for at least 4 places. I also would move the table from in front of the sliding glass doors to in front of window next to it. This would keep the traffic areas open while filling the "weird" space. Your dining room is huge; it looks like a table for 10 could easily fit. In fact, this house is probably much bigger than your previous one. Consider moving your informal table to the kitchen area and getting a larger, more formal table for the dining area. Match it with a sideboard, aka buffet cabinet, over which you hang a mirror or art. Most of your home just needs color, IMO. The walls and blinds are just white on white. Rugs and furniture seem to be shades of gray. How about some swag window treatments to give windows definition. Add a couple of chairs to the living space, if possible, in a color or print that enlivens that area. While the arrangement above offers complementary colors of blue and orange, notice that the color of the curtains is brought down into the chairs which could have been set opposite the windows, spreading the color farther into the room. What is your favorite color? Look for draperies, chairs and art with that color and repeat the color across these connected rooms. Your neutral walls, flooring and furniture will be easy to work with.

Since the washer drains into the sink, I wonder if the sink drain can be rotated a bit, enough to move the sink even an inch or two to the right, and the washer move closer to the sink? The heights really are unfortunate. You can’t raise the sink to be closer to the faucet, because the washing machine drain hose as to be no higher than it is now, I think. If you put a longer faucet for the sink, it’s still high enough that it will splash a lot. The hise on the faucet wolves that problem, and is surely convenient for rinsing off stuff since you can hold it like a sprayer, but… I suppose the dryer is gas, so it might be an expense to move it. Is this your garage? or basement? I think I might just paint the wall white, you can use those big globe vanity-type bulbs for the light bulb if you don’t want to buy a new fixture, Please replace that outlet over the sink with a GFCI! I’m not sure you would be able to reach things on a shelf on the wall behind. What is going on in the area where you stood to take the picture? Can you put a low bookcase, to hold laundry baskets, the detergent etc? That would define the area kind of like a wall. A runner on the floor will define it further. but personally I find them a bother. They do look nice, though.