Personally I would go with a fan because in summer when the mozzies or the flies are out having a fan on is useful for comfort. A light will just draw mosquitos in. If you want a nice hanging feature you can always suspend an object D'Art in a corner out there to give the same impression. Or you can screen your alfresco area in and enjoy a pendant light. I have the same thing on my house a beautiful alfresco area that I've decided to screen in for several reasons, one being the insects. Nothing worse than being eaten alive during a dinner party and needing to move the party indoors as a result.

We put a covered, insulated long roof on our north facing outdoor area adjacent to indoor living spaces (in a manner much like yours) 20 years ago. We have experienced 20 grey winters inside our home since then with lights on constantly by necessity, but the summers are fantastic with the inside well sheltered from heat. To some extent we consider this the lesser of all possible evils, but winters are not fun inside. We put a skylight in the alfresco roof which - because of a steep roof pitch - allows some light inside in winter, but not enough. Have you thought of turning the alfresco 90 degrees so that some sun can enter the home easily in winter? A deciduous vine on a pergola over the exposed windows could shield the house in summer. This newly exposed space could be garden or decking without a roof. BTW, I would definitely stay away from indoor skylights - even triple glazed ones let in far too much heat in summer. I have met so many people who regret their decision to put in even a very expensive and supposedly heat proof skylight - a number who now clamber onto their roof every summer with bricks and a tarp to cover the skylight. Some who’ve given up on taking it down in winter - such a waste of money and what an effort! I’ve heard solar tubes provide light without heat but they don’t offer the beauty of a Velux style skylight. Good luck with the build. And may I suggest you reduce walking distances inside - you want to age-in-place gracefully, if you can. EDIT: Looking at your plan again I realise you have 2 windows (one on either side of the alfresco) that will allow northern light inside in winter - assuming the alfresco is due north, which I think you said earlier it is. This is MUCH better than the situation we have - ALL windows (actually 2 x long bifold doors) are covered by the alfresco roof in our situation. You are starting with better bones than we had, even if you change nothing. I would make the window to the L on your plan a door (if it isn't already), to really maximise the light that enters there. The window to the R is in the kitchen, so not much you can do there, except perhaps go for the largest window possible. So perhaps this is not in need of a massive change??

With grey and white to go with, you're right on trend (well, in NZ anyway). Keep those colours. With the furniture, cut the newell posts off the bed and square up the headboard and baseboard (or get rid of the baseboard altogether if you can. I did my headboard with a piece of MDF and covered it with a sheet. I'd do the same with the dresser - cut the newell posts off. Those things really date the furniture. Paint all the furniture either gloss white or black and change the handles to silver or brushed chrome. Just make sure that some where else in the room is the same silver/ brushed chrome. Maybe a photo frame of a couple of lamps? I think white.High gloss. Black or grey plain (no pattern) drapes as close as you can get to the wall colour. That way they disappear and don't become a feature (unless you got for very expensive and make them a show piece). I'd put the drapes behind some shimmer voile sheers that drape across the floor a little. Now you only have to choose accents and you'll have a different look any time. Pinks, blues, purples -whatever takes your fancy. Don't forget to add in a few different textures to soften things up a bit, ad see if you can pick up a 2nd hand cheap chandelier.I think I spent about $300 total from a nasty blue flocked wallpaper and apricot curtains, and a couple of other bits and pieces. Would love to see the finished product!!

Having a bigger art piece lends a more sophisticated look rather than having random and unrelated basic prints. And do you need a corner desk? Or can you just have a long straight desk? Fill the holes and touch up the paint. Have a storage unit running under the TV to pack away the office clutter. You can have a bookcase, Hang the clock on the window side. Pull the furniture off the wall.