I try to keep a big picture view of where I'm heading with a setting. The apartment setting layout has been vastly more comprehensive in my mind than the pool setting was before I started on it. So, I expect there will be much less need to experiment and try to stimulate creative layouts as I develop this one.

Even still, there are parts that are deceptively nebulous in my mind or entirely impossible when taking consideration of other view points in mind. The stairs and far side of the apartment is definitely one of those areas.

Key to getting things looking right is measuring them out and proportioning them. I can't just rely on using the measurements of real objects converted to scene units. They're proportioned for humans. At best, I have to at least calculate adjusted values. At worst, I need to reconsider the design of objects to suit the comfort of my Lapsa and their anatomy. The chairs were a good example of that need.

An even better example are those stairs. More on that in a bit. But, I've found tonight that I can't just set aside the stairs for later. They're quite integral to getting the exact height of the 2nd floor right. To fitting in the tight utilities room behind the kitchen that shares space. Gotta position the stairs? Now I need to know how thick the wall hiding it is, or decide if they should be open on one side to the rest of the apartment, before the half-way landing. How does this shape slot in with other apartments? Are there extensive utilities between them? How does the safety needs of a proper space station impact the design when the character designing it is trying to minimize the psychological impact of space by driving pleasant familiarity into the environment?

But wait!

The height, width, depth of the steps are all dependent on the creature operating on them! You know, I've never gone and verified any of the stairs in the pool setting against actual model poses...