That's a lovely room!

I'd probably make a wood "topper" that juts out about 10 inches on the side away from the entry into the sunny room and turn it into a sort of desk. Kind of like a bar/island, but with a chair that fits under it (bar height?) so you can use it as a desk. You could put shelves up on the 2 sides with the walls for decorative items.

If you don't want to turn it into a desk, I'd probably still build the shelves to make it look somewhat like a hutch or bookshelves, but unfortunately it has a solid base. If you will have a tv in that room you can put it there.

What about some corner floating shelves? Great place for collectibles, books, etc. Add lights to highlight the space. It may be too high, but what about a vent-less fireplace? Otherwise, just take the drywall all the way up and ignore, but it seems a shame to waste storage space.

I would upholster the top of it and add some throw pillows, it could be a great place to sit and put your shoes and socks on.

I think it is too high for sitting- it appears to be nearly 30" off the ground

How about treating it like a dressing table, just one you stand in front of.

Who will use this bedroom? If a child/teen perhaps extend the bulkhead to accommodate a mattress. Part of extended bulkhead could be storage/cupboard area.

Or extend bulkhead, to make a cupboard, half of which would be functional, the other half (bulkhead half) faux. Could be trimmed to look as one functional unit, eg fake doors.

Thanks for all the suggestions! It will be a guest bedroom. I agree, it's too high for sitting on.

Hang a large framed mirror on the main wall above the bulk head, add some large coffee table books and a silk plant.

The only thing that i can think of at this time is to built a full wall on a slope and use it as a storage cabinet for shoes etc...

Make it a focal point of the room by adding a tall well lit fish-tank, or add book shelves that are to your liking.

Build a bookshelf on top that's cornered, looks good from either side

It's a good height to park an open suitcase or two, a basket w/rolled towels and extra toiletries, a table lamp, and large mirror on the wall and some hooks nearby to catch robes, coats, etc. for your guests. I don't think most people would be tall enough to reach shelves above it.

True, my first idea was stand in front dressing table. Thought I'd give it another suggestion :)

Yes too high for sitting in my opinion, so I would attach shelves to the two open sides facing out to the room, and leave the center space empty. Another option, build a closet in the space with some slatted cottagey shutter style doors,

I'd get a beautiful oversized birdcage and a friend for life. Or make it an aquarium or a rabbitat -- if you're willing to bunniproof, litter train, and give lots of outside-of-cage time and attention.

Id built it up to the remaining ceiling and recess a 8 inch book shelf into the top of it and hang a wall electric fire place on the lower part. It would never appear as its a bulk head.

Depending the height you could turn it in to a desk or even put a desk right next to it for some extra desk space

Was just in a home where they turned this area into a closet. When you opened the door, a clothes rack was attached to it, swinging the clothes out to you, and there was ample shoe storage on the bottom shelf.

Hi! We have the exact same dilemma (same bulkhead, almost the same dimensions, same issue -- we're not moving the staircase), only it's on our kitchen. I think we'll likely end up drywalling up to the ceiling on one side and put built-in storage on the other side. Curious to see what you end up deciding. Good luck!

The scale is quite large for the room. I think I would frame it in all the way to the ceiling and dry wall as suggested above. Get rid of the wood top overhang and keep it plain wall all the way from floor to ceiling. Then, I would put cabinet type doors on it in your base board trim paint and use for extra hanging space or shelves for blankets and extra guest pillows. You could have a high cabinet as well for things you don't use often. It should be trimmed in the style of the rest of the house and kept simple.

I love the idea of floating shelves with touches to make it homey for your guests. EMBRACE it!