I have a cabinet already should fit there, so did think about that already...maybe I am just having a hard time picturing it. We are designing a 'contemporary' house, so I would say it is fairly modern with touches of older/more vintage pieces. I will take a picture of my cabinet tonight to see what you guys think. But I guess most photos/when I think of buffet cabinet I picture more traditional pieces. If anyone has a more modern take would be great!

Having only 4 feet above your face sounds tight to me. Guess you could have a couple of people hold a thin piece of plywood at that height as you lay on the floor. Think I would move the doggie den somewhere else and use a couple of those feet for the sleepers.

Art gallery wall definitely - either one very large dramatic artwork or a selection of black and white prints - could be some of your own photos enlarged, printed in black and white and framed in black. But you also need something under the stairs on the floor. I liked the plant suggestion, or perhaps a large basket or some sort of natural material holdall. How about a stand/table for umbrellas, bags etc?

If you have lived in England...with washing machine in the kitchen as a normal everyday thing, then I don't think people mind, they probably LOVE having a laundry ! Our front door is basically the laundry sliding door, so I'm putting our laundry into a cupboard so it's hidden, I think it put people off buying the house...entering via laundry. (10 weeks on market, we were the only offer) A pantry ' in a laundry' or vice versa doesn't worry me. My last laundry was in the garage. And big sep pantry in kitchen, I would rather a pantry with machine..than no pantry. A pantry to me is big kudos