First, emails: Here's a post I copied from the "read me if you're new to GW Kitchens" thread on the kitchen forum. It's very helpful in many ways. "Here's how to get GW emails when someone posts to your thread: "Getting Emails Sent To You...3-step Process There are three things you have to do to get emails sent to you when someone posts to a thread you started: "Be sure you have a valid/current email address in your profile "Again in your profile, be sure you have the "Allow other users to send you email via forms at our site." box checked (at the bottom of the profile page) "Be sure to check the box labeled "Check here if you would like copies of follow-ups to your message emailed to you" when you submit your post. (Below the "Message" box) Hmmm...maybe a 4th step...don't forget to "Save Your Member Profile" when you make changes! (button at bottom of profile page) "If you do all 3 (or 4!) things, you should get an email when someone posts to your message. "Note: Some members have said they still have problems getting emails. I seem to always get emails, but I have noticed that occassionally there will be a several hour delay and once there was a several day delay...I don't know why. "Also, check your Junk Mail, sometimes the emails end up there. Add "gardenweb_user@gardenweb.com" to your "safe senders" list as well. "If you still don't get emails, check with your internet service provider and be sure emails from GW are not being filtered out as junk." --- Those black shutters really give your house a crisp look, don't they? How about spicing it up with something in the red family, like SW Sequoia, Cheyenne Red, or even Cape Cod Red! I like your diagonal trim and don't think it detracts from anything; it adds interest. Don't forget to post finished photos! Wish I knew how to photoshop!

Your pictures don't show much in the way of surroundings, so it's not possible to gauge what else the problem could possibly mean. But I doubt it is more than the common settling that is seen around foundations over the course of years. It looks like the steps have sunk more than the adjacent walk. The fix is either to have it jacked and support placed underneath (a process called mud-jacking) or to demolish it, compact the supporting soil well, and then rebuild a new steps, or steps and walk. Obviously, the latter option will be more expensive. However, it's a small job so might be relatively costly for the mud-jacking process. You just have to contact mudjackers and get prices to know where you stand on that. The mud referred to in mud-jacking is a concrete mortar mix. But a newer version of this process uses polyurethane foam. You might watch some Youtube videos of the process and see if it's something you could take a stab at (of course using home-spun solutions) as a DIY project. The jacking is done using conventional hydraulic and mechanical jacks and the mud or foam is squirted into the cavity created when the concrete is jacked back into position. A couple cans of Great Stuff might be enough to pull this off. If not, you'd be back at square one with little lost.

We had a sunken living room right in the middle of the house. No good reason for it, just an 80's thing. We got it filled and it's all one level now... 1000x better. But we did it during a whole house renovation which we are in the middle of right now. So we were replacing windows and sliders, updating electrical, etc anyway. It's a big job, especially how you explained yours and especially if you have sliding doors, baseboard heat or anything that will need to be replaced by filling it in. What about just filling the "seating area"?

can you match the grout of the stone above it?