Not yet - I am thinking I will get a length of aluminium angle and put that on, or else a piece of timer and then paint it with waterproof paint.

I could see doing something like French doors with opaque glass so the lite could come thru to the rest of the house. Also double French doors would allow you to open the area up completely whilst doing laundry. You could even leave everything where it is (dryer) and build some storage on the left side. I would image the sink would be very useful - I'd be lost without mine in the laundry room.

I am facing the same thing !! In the same spot Your ideas sound fab. I was going to put a door on mine as I don't have pretty books like you have though. But indent the bifold door 300 in, and make it 600 wide as the hole is 900 then have shelves on one side for some treasures I will start to collect cos I have a place now for them. Do you love the arch or are you going to square it off? Do you love the small one on the left? If not...make it a square niche and modernise them / it, as I'm not a big fan but you may love them. What you propose sounds perfect. The dark colour, nice too..or moody wallpaper on the back wall before putting up the shelves.

Even with the present layout , I would have tried to make the walkways around the back of the couches . If you are changing the couch , it might be a bit easier , but you'll have to select couches that not only look good , but are the right lengths so you can get around them -- not too wide . With the benefit of hindsight , I suspect the TV , or even a smaller one , above the fire would have been better -- keeps the furniture all focused on 1 thing , so that way you could have had couches either making a hallway , or right back against the walls . Right now you are trying to do everything , with 2 focuses , and there isn't quite the space to do that . IF you move the TV , get an artwork for that wall -- not only shows some colour , some of your personality , and maybe even hide some holes and cords haha .