Flyleft, I've not seen it in English, but the French poet Verlaine has perfectly captured that feeling: This is someone's translation, but it's like a plaster cast of a souffle. The sky above the roof, So blue, so calm! A tree, above the roof, Waves its crown. The bell, in the sky I watch, Gently rings. A bird, on the tree I watch, Plaintively sings. My God, my God, life is there Simple and serene. That peaceful murmur there Comes from the town. O you, O you, what have you done, Weeping without end, Say, O say, what have you done With all your youth? Le ciel est, par-dessus le toit, Si bleu, si calme! Un arbre, par-dessus le toit, Berce sa palme. La cloche, dans le ciel qu'on voit, Doucement tinte. Un oiseau sur l'arbre qu'on voit Chante sa plainte. Mon Dieu, mon Dieu! la vie est là , Simple et tranquille. Cette paisible rumeur-là Vient de la ville. * Qu'as-tu fait, ô toi que voilà Pleurant sans cesse, Dis, qu'as-tu fait, toi que voilà , De ta jeunesse?

My coat closet is in a small unheated small vestibule on my house exterior, could you build one around either your front or back door. Another less costly option is a pax wardrobe in the living room near the door for storage and coat hanging. My shape house is similar to yours here is my front vestibule. One side is empty in the winter I have a boot bench and the rest of the year a small mail desk and the other is a reach in closet. there is a second door from here into my house.

Alas never took a photo of it as far as I can remember. This one is similar and looks to be about the same size. MIne had more detail outside but no drawers. I was looking for a larger piece but the labels on the shelves won my heart and being small it fit nicely into the small bedroom. Celestina, I had a half rack of that sort of design made of cast metal that might have been brass that fit nicely in the front hall. Fastened to studs it took up far less room and couldn't fall over. Sold that on eBay long ago and had never seen anything like it since until just now. Pictures are upside down but it is exactly the same design. If you could find a shoe cubby that looked okay with the old fashioned vibe it would terrific looking so long as you manage to keep it cleared off. You wouldn't think something that simple could hold so much! I really like the pieces acm found particularly the wood and metal 3 shelf one. Just work really hard to keep the number of things hung to a dull roar.

If you keep the stairs as is, you might consider using the entire space beneath them as storage space -- even the steps can be made into drawers facing the person walking up them and/or the storage can be accessible from the side. Consider the possibility of adding a shelf (with or without a hinge top door) around the room(s) above the windows for lesser used items (you'd need to have a (folding) steps tool or step ladder to access) -- books in open shelving in the living areas and, in the bedroom areas, winter items in summer and vise versa; holiday items; travel accessories, etc. BBQ tongs can help you retrieve a blanket from such shelves as fall turns to winter ... no step stool needed. Choosing vertical furnishings can give you more storage for less floor space used. A storage ottoman can do double duty as can some coffee tables. Using upscale wood filing cabinets for end tables and side tables can give you lockable storage.