I think the marble naysayers have jumped on the bandwagon without really living with the stone. I have statuary in my bathrooms and love it. Most stains can be removed with a simple baking soda and water poultice. Acid etching is harder to deal with since it removes the polished surface, but its part of having a living stone in your home. If it becomes too bad, you can have it repolished. With a darker stone, you won't have as many issues as a white marble. In order to really know if you can live with it, I suggest you get a small sample of the stone and do some tests. Here is an example. http://www.dohiy.com/2013/04/21/marble-countertops-the-post-acid-test/ Please note that she used bleach and oxyclean to clean the stone after her test. Stay away from both since they can etch the stone just as much as an acidic food. Instead, clean with a ph neutral cleaner like isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and for heavy stains, the baking soda poultice mentioned above. You have to remember that marble has been used for centuries as flooring, table tops, countertops, etc. throughout the world and most of these installations are still here and aren't stained and etched to the point that it has been ripped out and replaced. Just think about all of he luxury hotels in Europe and how many times they have been exposed to Hangover type guests without any damage.

Hi Van Dana, If you simply want to work over it, how about: - decorating the walls with fun shelves - the entire space including the beam. How and the choice of shelves will be what would help successfully cover this up - use wall decals. You can even use a big mirror or mirror decals on this portion of the ju tting beam -use patterned wallpapers. You can give a separate one to the beam -decorate with photos/art -for the other beam you can think of light hanging decorations like a sun catcher beads curtain. For you imagination: or use decals Hope that helps? atom INTERIORS, Bangalore

Hi Palak, -first thing you can do to is use white color as much as possible along with some pastel and neutral color. -second utilize the space efficiently by creating multi functional furniture. Vertical surfaces, walls are very good way to provide additional storage for the same when you have less floor area. Sharing few images below- more white with balanced color palette, don't use dark colors. Workstation/study merges with wardrobe, full height storage units, lots of shelves on tv wall provide ample space for storage and display.

Kelly, if you would want it to appear in the center, you may have to add a mirror half way up on the left wall. Adding long barn shelves on the back side will add to the centered look. The shelves should touch the mirror for a seamless look. Back wall can be spruced up with handmade tiles. Thanks, Nitin Cornerstone Designs