Something to consider is how long you plan to live in the house. Sunken living rooms were very popular in the 80s, but fell out of favor, in part because they become a hazard as you age. The design trend now is toward aging in place, which means making your house as accessible as possible now so you don't have to make big structural changes later. I would ask the designer to use his creativity in a way that is smart as well as cozy.

squirrel: I like the one with the red lampshade. I will keep these as my inspiration pictures as I continue to work on this room. You've helped immensely! kmcg: Love all those pics you posted and they have given me lots of ideas. bungalo_house: I think I need to get some more pieces to fill out the corners to make it work. Once the crown is done I can play around a bit more--as is, I move everything then the trim guy moves it all out of his way. If anyone can find me the lyre/harp table that would make my day (and not on eBay as I'm not going to pay an arm-and-a-leg for shipping on something sight unseen after my chair fiasco). You've got me working back in that direction. I think I'm just going to start calling all the antique stores in the area. BTW: anyone like this floor lamp (with a red shade) better? Here is a link that might be useful: Craigslist floor lamp

The boy has been living with his grandmother for half his life, and all his 'memory life'. That is his home, his mother, his life, his stability, his comfort. Dad bought a house 8 months ago and there's not enough room for his son. But there's enough room for you? The fact is, and you need to look at it in the eye--he doesn't want to take care of his son. It says a lot about him. I'll let you think about what it means. So then there's you, and you pressure your boyfriend to do what he ought--step up to the parenting plate. Your boyfriend has made it very clear he doesn't want to, so he pushes the burden back onto you and pressures you to step up to the parenting plate. The truth is neither of you want to do the job (and I don't blame you if you don't want the job, it's a big responsibility and a lot of trouble--particularly when your partner isn't going to do his part). However, both of you are quick to criticize grandma and how she raises him. How many children have you raised? How many ADD children have you raised? A supreme court justice once said, "I used to have 9 theories about how to raise children; and no children. Now I have 9 children and no theories." You've invested very little into this relationship. Only a year, you are independent, you have your own house, you aren't hungering for a wedding and a family. Already you are pressuring him, he's pressuring you, things seem to be falling apart, you have the inkling that the engagement was 'premature'. Stop and think. And be honest. Nobody but grandma has stepped up to raise this child, not his mother, father or you. And you should not; because if things do fall apart and this child gets to depend on you and you leave, you will have done a terrible thing. His grandmother is doing fine, no matter what you think. She's his home, his center, his world, all he knows best. Don't meddle because you think things 'should' be different. If you really think things should be different, you need to find a different situation that fits your definition of should. That's the only way you will be happy. You cannot force a square peg into a round hole. If your boyfriend does not feel paternal, he does not feel paternal. Deal with the reality. It is what it is. You cannot pressure him into feeling what he doesn't feel. Any more than he can pressure you into feeling something you don't feel. And why is he pressuring you so marry so quickly, to move in, elope, whatever. Is it to get you off his back about his parenting? Or is there more. I say do nothing until you think this through more. He's not 24, he's 30. And he's immature. And he's not good parent material. And he's coming with baggage. A little boy with problems that are only going to get larger as he understands his situation better (where's mom? why don't I live with dad? is grandma going to die?). No you are not being selfish, you are being wise.

wow that view! I would: -move the shelving that's near the buddhist object to the tv/window corner and get media cabinet like beth h picked. They're both similiarly sized and I feel like it's odd right next to one another. - nix the stuff under the window- that's an awesome view!! it looks like you have some wire shelving and a pet crate? right now and neither of those are that nice. - push your couch away from the wall. Stick art on the wall behind the couch and some art in the left hand space next to the window. with the couch more under the window and the pet crate near the door (where the little shelves are) the view and the comfy couch are the focus, basically my thinking is that you have too many small shelving unit things and by consolidating or getting rid of some of them, that would easily make your space look more intentional.