Hi, Denze! We just published an article yesterday with many tips on rug selection and placement, including how much room you should leave between it and the wall (spoiler: 12 inches) - http://ourblog.atgstores.com/?p=9278 ... We hope you enjoy the rest of the tips and wish you luck on your decorating!

You should contact a staircase contractor to provide info and pricing for this cantilever stair design. http://www.caliperstudio.com/fabrication/project-types/stairs/stone-cantilever-stair

I would brighten it up by painting the walls a more neutral color. Adding new bedding and fun pillows, artwork, etc. will add punches of color that will work nicely with the neutral backdrop. As a student I know designing in a budget friendly way is important. If you have an Ikea, HomeGoods, Gordmans or At Home to shop at, these are all great places to pick up interesting and fun pieces without breaking the bank. As far as space planning, from the picture it looks like a fairly long/narrow space- I would keep the bed at the back, back a sofa up to that and add a couple of comfy chairs and maybe an area rug. Dont forget the artwork too, this adds a very important layer to your space. Hope this makes sense and helps!

Hello Jagriti, For internal walls , you may want to identify and fix the source of dampness to avoid recurrence. You may then treat the wall with 1 coat of Asian paints damp guard or Dr Fix it damp-proof solution and then with putty mix of same material followed with 2 coats of this paint again. Follow the instructions as given on respective products. Thanks, Nitin CORNERSTONE DESIGNS Bangalore.