Fori, I wanted the extra inches where our hearth is for extra walking space, so we recessed it flush with the floor. You could also always do a Candace Olden and set a gas or electronic "fireplace" on or into a wall. The advantage to this is it could go wherever you wanted. BTW, have you defined the way you'll be using these areas labeled "LRM/FRM" yet, or have they told you? There's talk of adding undefined space. What needs are they already not filling and why? Back to the kitchen, you could have a very nice kitchen where the original galley was, of course, especially with the door in off what you're calling the FRM area now, so the one counter could go long. It's a shame the door to all the utility areas and garage is in that wide area. I'm wondering about that space beyond, though. Flying totally blind here, but 1. Any possibility of adding some of the back hall/pantry/laundry space to the kitchen nook and putting the kitchen down there? If you were to extend it toward the garage, would it be possible to have a kitchen with windows and/or window plus glass door to both the front and rear? That might create a very nice feel for the kitchen, slightly eccentric in shape, views front and rear, breaking the standard galley box. 2. Or, how about slicing off about 6-7' of the garage end of the family room and turning it into a family entry that didn't run through the kitchen, reorienting some of the functions off the garage? This would allow the kitchen to fill in that end with cabinetry uninterrupted across the south side and no through traffic. Perhaps the stretch of the current kitchen/nook wall separating it from the family room could be pushed into that 6-7' hall a counter depth's worth to add that space to the kitchen? Could the powder room be accessed without going through the kitchen? For the FRM/LRM area, this would have the effect of "shifting" the FRM toward the back yard, adding further definition and eliminating that long rectangle feel that'll be there whether a wall separates the spaces or not. I like that, on paper at least. The FRM end could even have its own shape, not echoing the other. 3. It seems the rear yard is pretty much filled with pool and pool decking outside the LRM part, plus? If that's the case, could you make that view and an indoor-outdoor connection a defining element for the LRM side itself? 4. You have a nice piece of yard in the corner formed by the garage and FRM area. Could you add big windows/doors to orient the FRM to a view out there? It could be a complete change of mood from the pool area (presumably, still flying totally blind here), AND the window(s) would face south for sunshine all day (in summer sun arcs high so mostly wouldn't come in). If you have mostly paving elsewhere (?), this area could be green. One issue with these 2 spaces is is that they're both oriented to the same view, same sunshine, same privacy, shape, ceiling, etc. If they're going to be different spaces they would benefit from different characters that fit different moods, times of day, etc. Note that the typical subdivision home orients front-rear only, so developing this asset alone, opening to the outside on 3 sides, would give notable distinction and make both the house and the yard feel richer and more spacious. 5. Or vice-versa for the living areas, with the LRM oriented more inward toward TV, bookcases, game table, cozy conversation, etc., without direct access to the back yard, that being reserved for the FRM side, which could be more of a sun room area oriented to outdoors activities on both sides. ? Likely all impossible or unsuitable, but maybe something'll spark an idea. :)

HI -Ms . Spence --- Are you renting or did you just buy ? How tall is the empty space and do you need the extra storage that you would have to have a ladder to reach ?? Can you change the pendent lights for some nice big white globe ones that will give better light and fill the visual space . You could have more upper cabinets all along the top but make sure the upper cabinets now will support ones added to the top of them. Or even just adding more 12 inch uppers . Or find wicker baskets that are square with lids like a picnic basket or suitcase or even some decorative cardboard boxes all matching to fill the space . The only trouble with that is you need to lift them down to find things . Or just ignore the space and if you painted the walls a lighter color then that top space could be painted black to balance with the black appliances and then ignore it as bare space ....... I see now you are renting so maybe just ignore or focus on something else . Ikea has some shelf units that have squared openings you could lay up there if you cannot ignore .

I would have loved to live here in my single days. Such an eclectic space! I think the first thing you need to figure out is your storage needs. What do you need starts with what do you have. Figure that out first so that you can get the clutter out. Think cube storage shelves, storage ottoman, baskets... a lot of this can probably be sourced for free or cheap on Craigslist or Nextdoor (or any of the other resale apps). Find a small table for 4 somewhere and start collecting chairs. Do you have a homegoods? They have quality curtains for $15 and rods for about the same. I’d also start hitting up thrift stores in good neighborhoods. You’ll be surprised at what you might find.

Well, I was going to suggest the ubiquitous fiddle leaf fern, but looks like you have a cat, and they are toxic to cats. You might Google plants that are non-toxic to cats and see if anything grabs your interest. I think some palms may be ok with cats (and they can grow fairly large), or you might look for a contemporary plant stand and just sit a smaller plant on it -- maybe a giant tropical bromeliad or something along those lines. That said, if your cat is prone to pester plants, it's probably not a good idea to include one in your décor. (Definitely don't put a fake plant in this pretty space.)