Judging from where the sunlight hits and the boxes are, it looks as though you could fit another slim -- laptop depth -- work area into the alcove to the right of the existing desk, as you mention kids, plural. What a lovely view for them to gaze out at while they think!

Are there little bits and pieces that you could salvage and put into a shadowbox? Just little things that mean something to you or that would remind you of good times you had in your home.

Hi nikki. This post has my creative juices flowing. The vertical space you have in abundance is seldom seen in regular interiors, and I will impart some ideas that I have implemented in commercial spaces. The bookcase is an amazing idea, it will not only solve a storage problem, but will add instant personality and style to your space. Bookcases don't dictate a style, so they are timeless and seldom date. They can be interpreted and styled in many ways so they have flexibility most other pieces do not. The flatpack bookcases come in many sizes, height and widths, so using this to advantage, I would measure the wall to the right of the door, and then mark that distance on the left side also. This is the area I would shelve! Only I suggest full height for maximum effect, and designer conviction! Floor to ceiling, in smaller widths is often featured in your trendy mags, Milans furniture fair loves to set up bookcases that emphasize space and light, the higher the more dramatic and the more customized they appear. Flat pack shelves mean you could afford to do this, and cleverly sort out your best fit scenario. I would even punctuate some of your bookshelf backs wi your accent colours with smaples of wallpapers that feature your accent colours. Places like masters offer free samples of them, or you could even colour photocopy prints offline. Simply temporarily set them into. Backs and display your face objects in these ones. The remaining wall left without shelving, upon entering the room, I would either paint a colour, or line it with horizontal timber planks. ( engineered flooring planks) are cheapest and most effective as their surfaces can be cleaned easily. This will add major wow factor and lengthen the wall visually, it will also clear the entrance sufficiently and allow the bookshelves even more effect. I myself would mirror this section of wall, which would be expensive, but would open the space dramatically, and look super clean. Just remember to leave a shelved area open for your tv, and forward think for another objects like lamps of entertainment units that may need housing. Lastly, depending on your style, I would track down an old painters ladder with cross bracing on eBay etc, and paint it black or turquoise. Lean it (fix it) against your shelving or even blank wall to tie in your amazing new library. Good luck!

Hi everyone, I'm planing to make my grandma a surprise and do a makeover to her apartment. I'm facing multiple issues. I'm overseas and in her area can't find any architects/designers on Houzz, so I'll need to find inspiration and when I'm going on holiday in few months organise with a local contractor. One other issue, it's an old communist type of apartment, with heaps of walls and small rooms, which I'd prefer to keep this way, otherwise I'll need to involve engineers and so on. I'm thinking to do mainly bath and kitchen (apartment layout 4-kitchen; 7-bath), the rooms are fine, maybe some new fresh coat of paint. For kitchen I'm thinking to put a barn style door, they seem to be in fashion and will save some space. One issue here, kitchen will need to have some sort of eating area as well, maybe a small collapsable table I was thinking, although, it will make it harder for her. There's concrete floor, which I'm planning to keep as it is, maybe put some clear epoxy or repolish it, with some white cabinets? What are you guys thinking? Bathroom wise, I'll need some advice on the bath tub area. At this moment, there's a nice iron tub with cast iron legs, I believe that with bit of love and new paint it will look nice, or remove it completely and put a walk in shower with nice glass wall? Thinking of having vintage tiles laid and some white tiles on walls, maybe similar to subway ones, or square? Probably will go with a lot of white stuff as there's no natural light coming through. Thanks in advance for your input!