all heaters and stoves should have very specific installation instructions including distance above the stove to any mantlepiece and i suggest you start with advice from local suppliers and then confirm with specific written instructions from each manufacturer that you can usually find on line...There are a number of heaters that have wood fires that are designed to be inbuilt in a purpose made wooden frame so hopefully this can be done inside your opening

Lisa, you could have flat front cupboard doors or drawers at bottom of unit, and either full width shelves w/o middle divider (for TV etc) and some with middle divider for ornaments. I wouldn't off-set or stagger the shelves so you have a uniform look on both sides (with exception of where TV will sit). Having said that, you could also have shelves mirror each other exactly, then if you ever want to change position of TV (or the person who might live there in future), it is easily done. I would go for a simple design without embellishment except perhaps in the door hardware.

Hi there, Big piece of paper time! Write down the dims of the space and list the things you would like it to do: charge devises, put down for hand bag, store of mail, basket ball fixtures, invitations, bills, home management, display of collection of tortious shells....what ever!! Then list all the ideas that seem interesting, marry up the two lists and see what comes out of it! Personally I think a long blank wall is excellent for couch or other furniture to go on and to sit to look out to the garden (not with your back to outlook like so often is planned) Some put down bench, desk arrangement, some cupboards for devises charging and handbags, some shelving for a few book and current pictures etc. Some of each type of space that you need for those items and things on the list. Very important to keep it ladder friendly for manhole too. I love the look of your circle of chairs there and wonder if you want more seating in the room? I love the ideas above that have been posted: very lovely and some quite quirky! Good Luck, stay focused on what you want the area to do! Cheers Margot

moving the stair doesnt help the existing upstairs if your plan is to not change much. the living area would reduce from 3.5 to 2.5m width and would limit options unless you want to use this space as office/playroom. the existing door would have to be relocated to bed 1 and the green line is an existing beam which looks to be tight on the 12th stair down which is usually the minimum head height clearance.