I agree, everything must have is own home. I bought a heap of small sets of drawers and labeled them so everyone knows where everything goes. Declutter, if you don't love it use it or need it, out it goes. I have a chore chart app that i follow each day and it only takes a few minutes and the place looks good. Everyone must tidy up their stuff before bed and again before going to school. With the app you can also have it so everyone has their own chores.

@Karen Hodge, I hear you!! Sometimes I think the estate agent should carry quite a bit of the blame actually. If they do their job correctly like you see in the adds on TV, they should bring these discrepancies to the attention of the sellers, stand on their morals and say if you can't get it better than this, then you'll have to find someone else to sell your home!! I know you can't make everybody "house proud" but the saying "do unto others" springs to mind. I bet if these same people bought a house not up to scratch, "a current affair" would hear about it but they don't think it wrong to simply walk out on a house that isn't being left nicely for the next family!! I have some friends that recently sold a house in Essendon, Melb and whilst the buyers were back and forth selling their own home, my friends kept watering the plants and even did things like painted out the wardrobes because of the scuff marks made over time!! They cleaned the entire two storey house from top to bottom and finished by mopping the floors as they were exiting. The buyers were so taken by the entire home, they bought it with almost all the furniture that my friends had in it!!

Of course its all about how your going to be using it and the layout. If you cozy up with a pet, human or animal, how that will play out. Are you watching TV or a fireplace or both. Think about windows and how they will reflect onto the TV at different times of the day. Is it a space you read in or play games etc. Also, children and pets or partners grubby socks, does it need cleaning all the time or be stain resistant. Comfort of course plays a huge role or you won't want to use the space. I would think on those things first. Remember its a big purchase and should be in a neutral color, I always gravitate toward a grey or dark leather, to ground the space and liven it up with texture and color by pillows and throws. Good luck

Thanks for the additional info and photos, EL, and what a clever husband to construct the model! If it were me, I would install the heater on the wall in sitting/dining room. I say this location as it is tucked away a little better than the location behind kitchen wall, and seems safer (for people walking past it when in use), to me anyway. The TV could be placed or mounted next to it, but far enough away so heat doesn't affect it in any way (not sure if that's a consideration). My folks had a large wood burning stove installed in their old house long ago, to replace the original fireplace. My mother used to cook large pots of homemade soups on the top of it, letting them simmer all day long - the aromas were amazing. Your house project is exciting. Best wishes.