Is there a wall for an alternate access point instead of the living room door? What's behind the LR fireplace? Is that an outside wall and could it be entered from the garage (if that's what is behind the FP?) What is the demographic for your neighborhood? Cancer patients can really benefit from saunas, so if the local population tends to be older, it might be a selling point. Depending on local regulations, you might actually have a built-in business opportunity here. Check with your health food store or a natural practitioner to see if you might provide a needed service, assuming you would be willing to welcome clients into your home.

I agree with mell. Get rid of the of the bushes in front of the door and keep whatever is on the left (but trim it short). What to plant? It depends on many factors. What kind of look do you want to achieve (formal, informal, whimsical, other)? How much time are you willing to dedicate to the garden? I think that maybe some miniature / drift roses would look good in front of the door. If you are willing to dedicate time and work you could fill tha space with low grow seasonal plants (pansies, snapdragons in winter, Blackfoot daisies, eringeron in spring, vincas, portulacas in summer and fall, to mention some). Omar

We had a house built in 1920. It appeared that they must have used scrap lumber for building it as the living room 2x6 joists spanned 12’ and were sistered. We eventually had a steel beam installed to shore it up. But, the roof had no collar ties and we could see the roof slowly developing a dip. In addition, the replacement window on the first floor become difficult to operate. We had collar ties installed to help pull the rafters back together and interestingly the replacement window operated properly again. The rafters coming apart we’re putting pressure on the exterior walls.

Hi CV, here’s my two cents. I recommend, if you are seriously contemplating selling, then speak to a real estate agent. The market is currently a sellers in some places and not others and open to people paying more even with theses incremental changes and you’d get the same amount of money regardless to doing something or not. But if you’re just kinda playing with the idea. I say do it up proper. First off I don’t understand the purpose of the room it’s just stuff in there. What’s the purpose of this room. If you really want to lighten it up, enlarge that window. The header is already there so make the window taller. Then you won’t have to replace a header. This shouldn’t be expensive but dependent on window type and features it become costly. Overall this should be relatively cheaper since you already have the window there. And if someone tells you it’s a butt load, they are the wrong one to do it. Of course wall will be cut and outside wall will be cut but there are ways to minimize extra damage. Such as cutting from inside-out depending on exterior material. I’m doing this currently myself. Only I’m extending the header. So it’s bit more cost. Remove that cabinet, you sound like you don’t want it anyway and you already removed it. The shutters only have value to the person owning the home. No one is buying a home for those little shutters. They will most likely be removed if you sell. There’s no increased value from that one window with those small window covering that don’t even extend across the full window. Curtain and or drapes will be put up anyway and then what’s the point. That’s a niche item. Again, this is where a real estate agent will come in handy to say these are big in this area or they are not. If you want to move, leave them and let the new people decide. I’d say open the wall by the kitchen more. Increase the room flow. It’s already pretty much open. I like some separation of spaces but this room is already open and just screams to do this. I see the pass through window bar for eating. That’s just not something people are asking for in there house.. not with that design appeal. People want Similar but designed differently. I’d suggest Just widen it a bit more. If you don’t want a full open expanse then just widen the door area. But regardless of the wall it just screams to be designed better. Again it goes back to what is the purpose of this room? Again, I say figure out or maybe you already do but if you could share what you really want this room to be it would be most helpful. Either way if you decide after or before making changes it will determine what you do and where you’re going with the space and layout and flow due to purpose. I say that only because it’s shown as a collection room sorta. The Desk and tv are so close and out of place. Granted I get yoUre moving things around to make changes so it could be misleading but even from your description I don’t get what you want this room to be outside of making it brighter. This could be an awesome den. Library. Or game room with a desk not feeling out of place. I’m excited for what you do. There are so many options and opportunities with even the smallest changes. Share what you end up doing if you don’t mind. Good luck and I hope this helps some.