What a gorgeous room. Well, view! It has great bones and so much potential with the right furniture placement. If this space is currently walk through, I also like the bookshelf idea but to expand on that, I'd actually stud wall and plaster up as a dwarf wall, then install a suspended desktop behind the long section for a desktop workstation, with the smaller return to have concealed shallow cabinetry, say around 200mm deep doors with shadow lines, so it houses your odds and ends. With so many finishes available, you could splash out on a stone top or timber to link the horizontal plane with the new floor, and emphasize linearity, or keep it all in our chosen neutral to avoid it as a feature. That small but practical 2mtr area could be a great central hub, somewhat behind the key living area, but a very versatile space bridging the adjoining areas. Otherwise this bannister area will always be a walk through space.

Beautiful view kalgansouth! If I read correctly the recess is to the left of the wallpapered main wall and out of sight until you are in the room? It depends on your overall scheme really & the recess is maybe meant to be for a dresser or bench so a mirror could be the best idea to reflect the view!

I picked up the dark coloured carpet runner. This seems to make the hallway look very narrow. I suggest to perhaps try and remove it and see if it looks wider without it. My suggestion is yes it will. For the side wide cavity in the wall surface, you have a choice as others mentioned. However, do stay away from dark coloured paintings if necessary as it does make the hallway look narrower. My choice would be, remove the dark carpet from the hallway and use a large mirror in the wall area. It is than your choice what to put on the surface area of the cavity to compliment the mirror.

Hi Karina S The recess romans and curtains dont work. Roman blinds are best when they are face fitted for 2 reasons: 1: To stop light seepage from the sides 2: The roman stacks when its up and mounted in the window blocks daylight. I would not recommend recess fit for roman blinds. Curtain stacks in your case will block the window sides when in open position and hard to draw next to the bed. Never use shortened curtain lengths either- they never look good. You could consider roller blinds face fitted with a wall to wall pelmet to conceal the roller brackets etc. Best wishes