Thanks Orangecamera. It's still a work in progress and mud everywhere Sorry we did look at having the steps' off set' but it didn't seem to go with only three steps and a small area. And about the zen well the cats are doing that for us much to our disappointment (it's still like a litter box to them). We went to the garden supply place still not knowing what kind of stones we were getting. We stood in front of all the bins (there where many). We even looked at mixing some. The grey stones had a bin more the size we wanted but we ended up getting the golden fleck. It was a little smaller, which was a shame, the bigger ones were so mixed in their grading it looked too messy. So this is what we finished up with. It was seagardens that got me thinking away from grey and nwduck mentioning the drainage. So this has really helped. Also everyone seem to think the wooden steps needed to go a lot lower. Next it's figuring out where the large river stones should go

Not yet. We actually have JUST engaged an architect to draw up an older school house we are hoping to purchase and use as an addition onto the left hand side of the house. Obviously if that purchase goes through, we will hire the architect to work on both the connection of the new building to the house as well as the front entryway. Here is the floor plan of the house. The small bedroom (bedroom 4) sits directly behind the lounge. We are also thinking about removing part of the wall there so that you would walk into the home and see directly into the lounge or turn slightly right and enter the kitchen.

You might paint the end wall an accent color, then put a simple canvas painting up. The chest doesn't seem to serve your needs - looks like you need shoe storage, a place for bags and to hang hats .. The odds and ends there make it worse instead of better - Try a long shelving system with art above, and move the chest to the end of a bed or in front of a loveseat. The nighstand / end table needs a chair.

Depending on your goal....beauty?it could be a lovely art piece(tall and slim) ...or function? A corner cabinet for shoes , bags ,coats?...these days home represent a place to relax and rest so I am of the school that the first thing you see as you enter should set the tone of your home,makes you smile ,or feel good