I once had some commercial equipment removed from a cafeteria. After seeing the 1/4-3/8 inch thick grease buildup on the sides of the fryer, my appetite for fried foods disappeared for a time. We actually started by scraping with a 2 inch putty knife. Then, we tried everything we could find. For places you could cover, we sprayed with oven cleaner and covered with plastic which was the method used for the company's candy production equipment. They sprayed everything on Friday night and let it sit for the weekend and cleaned it on Monday. The best product I have ever found was "grease control" from the Odo-ban company which is actually an emulsifier so much more green than the toxic chemicals found in some of the cleaners.

Eventually when you come to resell, a pool is an added plus. But for your own purposes, emptying the pool and adding a deck over it with a hinged door and steps placed below would be great for storage (as per option b but bearing in mind you could revert). All the best for your lovely new home.

So you're running two threads on this space? I think you'll be happier with the responses if you stick to one thread for the entire makeover, as it is all inter-dependent - foyer - living - dining. Now that I know that the living dining are together I'd suggest you use measurements from the blocked space above the windows to determine stripe width in the dining space if you go with the wide horizontal stripes I suggested. The pattern is already set for you if you take the measurements. You could also make the stripes the width of your lower window section, or half of it, but use the horizontal lines already in your space to determine the other stripes you may add.

Thanks everyone, I'm planning to get my floor tiled up soon, and then later the whitewash. So before all that, I wanna do away with the construction part, if required to transform this hideous corner. I had the roller blinds in my mind to hide these iron windows, but I will also look at options for changing them windows entirely if budgets allow. I might have to use some false ceiling work as well. Posters, I don't think can find space here, but a lounger sofa-bed is a surething with some nice lights. Please do share some pictures of the lights and loungers and floor tiles if you may, for suggestion. I'll be obliged. Thanks again!