Formal living rooms are rarely used from my experience. I can't tell you how many times I have "re-done" them for clients because after living in a home for a while the home owner realizes that they are wasted space. My advice to you about a formal living area is to leave it undone for 3-4 months and utilize the rest of your new home. See what is missing. Do you need an office, a den? A library? Quiet reading area? An exercise room? A craft room? Or maybe you really do need a formal entertaining area for your multitude of guests that come around every weekend where you entertain very high-brow style. But figure that out first otherwise your investment will be wasted. Part of why you and your husband are drawn to different furnishings is for these reasons: 1) The function of the room is not well established. So he envisions sitting on a big bulky comfy couch watching TV, and you envision sipping tea on a gorgeous ethnically inspired piece of furniture and chatting with your friends. This can only be vetted out with time and understanding how you as a couple will use all of your house. 2) You have different ideas about home design. Your husband is interested in comfort and you are interested in style. You will need to find a happy medium. Instead of saying well his style isn't going to fit with my style, think about how he can have a comfortable piece of furniture in the room that is perhaps tailored enough to go along with some beautifully wood carved, ethnic pieces. And this may actually enhance the look and make it look less "themed". And at the end of the day you may want to consider hiring a designer to help you through the process - often times that can help you weed through the process of balancing out form and function and his wants and your wants in the space. Best of luck!

Ah, okay. It is a bed then. It can be converted into terrific seating with cushions, maybe a long bolster against the wall. I like Studio10001's suggestions. Going back to Chookchook's comment up top, I suggest that the first thing you do is find sheets or fabric your daughter would like for her bed and when the two of you have decided on that, post a picture of the fabric here and we can all pitch in with further colour (and other) suggestions. I'm intrigued by what's hanging on the lines strung across the room. ?

It's a bit hard to tell, it looks like some of the proportions are not correct. Given what you have drawn it looks like entering and exiting your shower is going to be awkward. I'm not certain that you'll be able to open the door all the way because of the placement of the tub and vanity. Here are a few suggestions: Ditch the corner tub, and use a rectangular one that is installed with the long end on the wall opposite the vanity and shower and install the toilet next to the tub. Slide the door to the right, and you'll be able to have a larger vanity and/or shower. If you can use a pocket door or something of the like you'll gain wall space like sandpat mentioned. I don't see any storage planned. Have you thought about where you'll keep towels, toiletries, etc-?

Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.