Has anyone tried wattle fencing? Works great for raised beds. That's what I did with these two. Instead of filling the whole thing with dirt I did the whole lasagna deal. Working like a charm. Mine are 1.5 feet high but you can go as high as you can find sturdy uprights for. All you need is bendable branches for the weaving, sturdy "sticks" for the uprights and compostable material for the middle. They look rustic and work beautifully AND I don't have to get rid of my brush from the winter.

My guess is it will probably take 2 guys at least a whole day to complete the installation. So do the numbers: hourly rate for 2 guys with multiple specialized knowledge and maybe some kind of certification -- check with your local building codes to find out any special requirements. Then multiply that hourly rate by 10. That's just a guess. It could be a lot more, depending on unknowns, like what do we find when we drill through the roof.

My opinion would be to stick with the character of the rest of your house. If you have Coastal and Craftsman features, don't go too Contemporary or Formal. Both examples that you have posted. ;) Besides the siding on the outside of your home, do you have any hard surfaces, like brick or stone? If so, match those instead of bringing in a third element. We recently built an outdoor area for our home. I had my heart set on a stone fireplace, but the house is brick and stucco with a wooden screened porch. The more that I thought about it, the more I decided that bringing in another element was too much. Matching brick would be the way to go. I am so happy with my choice. We also have columns that mirror the columns on the inside of the house and painted to match the screened porch trim and stucco accents. A cedar wood pergola is stained to match the darker taupe of the majority of the stucco. All colors blend in with the brick. If your house is all siding, then I would go with the stone. for inside and out. I believe that the plaster both outside and in, as shown in photos 2 and 3, would be too contemporary and formal for your home. I like the interior stone and wood trim photo that you posted with the hearth, but sadly, you do not have room for that set up. Another opinion...I'd take down the knee walls. You don't need them for a division. The one between the window is taking up valuable wall space. You can create a natural division between the dining and living space with your furniture. I know from experience. We put a built-in in our living room, and I wanted it to have some character, so the middle section sticks out about 10 inches beyond to side sections. That middle section has become a thorn in my side and prevented a couple of different seating configurations that I would have much preferred in that room. The bump-out gets in the way. I think that your knee walls will narrow your walking space, getting around furniture, such as a sofa. Again, just my opinion.

Cladding it in drywall then covering in a stone slab is 3K? What is your fireplace now? It appears to be Carrera bricks. I would demo the mantle and hearth..those bricks look cheap compared to the field. Then finish the right side...but the brick is neutral as is, painting it gray (ish) will make it really scream LOOK AT ME. Can you have that unusual box cover made up and painted up? That's a statement of its own.