Here are some resources on sound-reducing construction. The one immediately below, and the one that is hyper-linked, look pretty good. The other one (''Suppressproducts'') might just be an advertisement for their products, I am not sure. Basically sound is vibration that is transmitted from the source to your ear by rigid materials (sound travels well through hard materials like wood) and air. To reduce sound, you want to reduce the transmission of vibration. Air gap is better than a rigid connection. A heavy, soft material (e.g. rubber) is better than an air gap. Techniques are: - Double layers of drywall with dampening material like the referenced ''green glue'' between them (not simply screwing one sheet of drywall to the other) - Staggered studs w/ separate floor plates (essentially making two walls, no physical connection from one side to the other) - Sheet of sound dampening material between the staggered studs (reducing sound transmission through the airspace) - Sealing openings in the walls (electrical boxes, holes for plumbing, gaskets around and under door frame) - Special doors, or (less good) a conventional solid door, or (maybe an in-between alternative) a conventional door w/ a sound dampening layer on one side. - Dampening material between subfloor and joists, and between ceiling drywall and joists - Sound-proofing paint (I've not heard of this stuff before, I am skeptical it does much) Since the bathroom is a small space, you can use these techniques without too much additional expense, and just the loss of about 6'' if using staggered studs and double drywall layers. http://www.soundproofingcompany.com/index.php?/library/articles/elements_of_room_construction http://www.supressproducts.com/soundproofing-articles/Soundproof-Sheetrock.html Here is a link that might be useful: Link

A picture on the wall above - yes. But, on the actual piano then It depends... Do you plan to actually play the piano? If so, you definitely need a piano lamp to make reading music less of a strain. Anything else though I would vote against if you are a serious player. Many decorative items on top of a piano can vibrate with serious use - and in our home that drives my very advanced pianist daughter crazy. The only thing on our piano top is the lamp and what ever sheet music books she wants easy access to as she plays. For me - I never played seriously so it doesn't bother me, but the clutter and dusting around mulitiple frames is more annoying. When I look at some of the sample pictures posted by Mon I cringe and automatically think the piano is not used in those homes, but instead a decorative item.

"If it's west facing forget about the windows because that will bring so much heat into the house in summer as well as afternoon glare, it will be uncomfortable." Wouldn't the trees help with that? In the summer, the trees will be covered in leaves, so the light from the west would be diffuse. In the winter, the trees are bare, but one might appreciate the light and the extra heat. Perhaps it depends on the location. Those trees are quite close to the house. I admit, I like a trapazoid window. I think every house should have something a little off the mainstream to make it unique. A trapazoid window looking into a bank of fluttering leaves would seem pretty special. It's whimsical and would really bring nature in. I'm not sure about placing it that high though because then it looks uninentional to me. I get the need for privacy, but maybe a triangle window with a full sized rectangle window below it which you could put a blind on for privacy when necessary? A triangle window would still be cool and it would be a celestrial triangle window.

IMO The rug is absolutely beautiful! Keep it. But the lighting is not. Makes the room look like a doctors office. Ceiling light in this type of room doesn't do anyone any favors. Much better is a table lamp or wall sconce in each corner at chest height. You also need a peice of art over the tv - same width, but taller. You can go up to match where the window rod is. Here are some ideas. https://www.art.com/gallery/id--b964518/mid-century-modern-art-posters.htm?SSK=Mid%20Century%20Modern%20Art&WT.oss=Mid%20Century%20Modern%20Art&SSK_ssg=Mid%20Century%20Modern%20Art