I think it's hard to tell since the photos don't show the whole room, but I'm guessing the wall with the three pictures is the FR and the valance area is the kitchen? You have a dilemna here! The little ledge wall looks like it runs into your kitchen right? The problem I see is there isn't a natural stop from the FR wall so you're going to have a strip if you don't make that color the FR wall color. But,if it runs across your kitchen, it may look odd too. How about you paint both rooms the same color? Or pick a slightly lighter color for the FR. That way it will all blend in nicely. It seems like these two rooms are fairly connected, so having them coordinate with the same paint color or very similar colors may keep them in sync. My first house had a very open plan with the the outside kitchen wall running the full width of the house into the FR. The hall wall shared the kitchen as well, so for three areas, they all shared walls that made it next to impossible to paint the areas anything other than the same color or I'd have stripes down the wall where one ended and the other started. At least your stripe would only be 3-4"! Goodluck with paint day!

It's like a transom that isn't matched with a door or window. When my parents built their house they deliberately left spaces like this between several rooms and glassed them in from both sides. They can be opened (I think some of the glass slides), and they display some of their glassware etc up there, but thanks to the glass there is no dust problem. Buying some tracks for sliding glass panels and installing them yourself might not be rocket science. Even easier might be to install something fixed. You would simply get long pieces of wood, maybe 1x2s (thinner might split when you nail or screw it), and attach strips of it off-centre on the ledge itself, up the sides of the opening, and across the top. Then put a panel of plywood, glass, or plexiglass against that frame, and install a similar set of strips against that panel to hold it in. You cold get as fancy as you wanted with painting or wallpapering the plywood, using coloured or stained/leaded glass, or what have you with plexiglass. Heck, it could be a piece of artwork. You could change it out from time to time. You'd still get dust on the ledge a bit, but one of those long-handled dusters would take care of that. I also like Dilly's suggestion of hanging a panel inside the opening or across it. You could actually just treat it like a window and explore various drapery-type options such as a valance or a high curtain even - a curtain from both sides would keep the dust out. Sheers would still let light through. All you would need to install would be a rod on each side. It all depends on whether you want the light coming through and whether you care if sound etc is transmitted (good point on that one, Dilly!). KarinL

Cmarlin, the front door is to the right of the bump out where the dining room is located. There is also a coat closet there, but I couldn't figure out how it worked with the bedroom closet, so I left it off. I so wish I was able to get a copy of the floorplan. Adellabedella--I understand what you are saying about the lack of updates, but surprisingly, this seems to be the norm in my area. I have probably looked at every one of the couple hundred MLS pictures in my town, and I wasn't really impressed with but a few of the homes I saw. Even the very expensive homes didn't really have great finishes and so many of them were decorated in, at least in my opinion, the most horrible of styles. I am in the New Orleans suburbs and honestly there is just not that much money here as compared to other areas. There are a few enclaves here and there where there is some affluence, but my town is mostly solidly middle class, paycheck to paycheck people. So in actuality, the finishes in this house are not that bad for the area. The floors are a great upgrade as they are beautiful in person and I'm sure cost whoever put them in upwards of $10K. I also would love to slowly add my own style to the home. I am not in love with ceramic tile countertops, but this countertop looks to be in great shape and didnt really bother me that much. I think I could definitely live with it for a while. The cabinets are nothing special, but they are OK and I actually like the color. They aren't as washed out looking in person. For the exterior, a paint job would definitely be in order. The sides of the house are in red brick. I wonder how much it would cost to leave the area around the entry stucco and just brick the front of the garage? At the least I would repaint in probably a neutral tan sort of color or maybe even a subtle blue gray like BM Stonington or Coventry Gray. For the interior, my first priority would probably be to add propery drapery to the windows in the formal rooms and the family room/kitchen. I know this alone could easily cost in excess of $1K, and that is if I go with a Pottery Barn type drape. I was thinking maybe simple panels of lined silk in the formal living/dining with some nice substantial rods, and a lined linen in the family room. I really like Pottery Barn's lined linen drapes that come with the stitching that allows you to insert the hooks. I would also change out the Hollywood-dressing room globe fixtures in the bathrooms. I would love to do sconces on either side of the mirror in at least the master. Next I would probably focus on the master bathroom. Don't really think I need to move anything or change any plumbing, but I would love an old fashioned small marble hexagon on the floor and some new vanities with marble countertops. As to the price--I really don't think I will buy the house if they won't come down off of the list price. If I could get them down to under $225K, I probably would buy. I really just wish there was a least another one or two homes that I could consider so I don't feel like I'm settling for the first thing that comes along.

Hi Eve. The neighbour's palisades are not a common view on this forum... You're clearly from SA! (I am too) I would keep the current desk. I much prefer working at a large desk, regardless of the clutter or lack thereof. And you have the space for it. And it's wood (don't really want to switch that for the modern flimsy stuff do you!) Consider a smaller secondary desk, a sorta work-in-sight desk, for what you're not currently working on, or the printer, spare stationery, etc. You could put that beneath the window, with bookshelves to each side, and the main large desk near the west wall, facing east. Alternatively, the main desk against the south wall. (shown in the pics below) You should have space for a second chair, relaxing type, away from the desk. Keep a rug, whether this one or another. It makes a place cosy like nothing else. Lose the mirror - they should be functional or reflect something of interest. Replace it with art, something that gives you the calm feeling you're looking for. Look into wall lighting, for ambient cosy light. Were I you, I'd focus on getting the shelves first. You could have someone build them to fit the space perfectly, though free-standing. This will get you started on organising the space, which will work wonders. And the other additions can come as ideas, time, and budget allow. Suggestion - at the time of day you typically work, clear everything out of the space, aside from the desk and chair. (That means everything on the desk too). Move the desk and chair around to various positions, and sit for a bit in each. You'll find yourself visualising the rest of the space when you do. Find what suits you. Sometimes facing into/out of a room, lighting, random unexplainable preferrence, perception of space, etc, all makes a difference and you'll notice it best in reality. The pics are more or less accurate in dimensions. You can replace the pinboard and art with bookshelves along the north wall, can't have too many.