I do agree that you need to find a good designer early on but I disagree about working from scratch. This plan and any of several hundreds of similar others plus your list shows the basic configuration you have in mind which is a good way to start. That is always the first step in designing -to lay out a basic schematic of the space requirements and room relationships but this needs to be done while simultaneously thinking about the exterior styling and also how it will fit to the site. A good designer or architect will view this as what it is -a suggestion of room relationships. A bad designer is actually a plan drafter and will simply draw whatever you tell them to draw -good or bad.

I have the same hall way, so really loved everyone's ideas! I have thought about clearing out a closet on one wall, removing the doors and putting a sleeping closet in there that stays open to the hallway to give it more width. It would only be cot sized because of the depth possibly with book shelves and a light looking like one of those European wall niches with a bed. Because I love rustic, I would layer it with a collection of wool blankets, fun pillows and maybe a pictures and/or old postcards. I have lots of guest and a child could sleep on the cot. Now, to figure out what to do with what is in the closet! What do you think of that idea? My hallway is actually the same color. I've also been thinking of running a 2 pieces of wood down the hall apart enough to hang pictures between them in an effort to make a more tidy gallery, but fear it would lengthen and skinny up the look of the hallway. If the ceiling was darker than the walls would it cause the widith to look wider? Here is a link that might be useful: Winchuck River Store

Just some screenshots I feel relate to your I feel like if you can get one sectional instead of all the different couches it would look better, behind the sectional you could place a sofa table with a couple lamps ect. and a end table at the other end. This shows a TV in front of the window. You would not mount the TV, the console would ideally be slightly wider than the TV, it would also be elevated off the ground to allow air space, you would also set up your curtain rod to be the width of the TV console (which should be high enough to cover the length of the curtains) this way they don't need to reach the ground but remember they should be hung as high as possible, then put some blinds on the window, and it would be nice with two bookshelves too. Everything needs to be lightened up to open it up, move away from the black and dark furniture pieces. If you end up having room at the end of the sectional possible you could fit another accent chair, and you should be able to keep the small hall tree/ coat hooks space at entry.

A photo would really help to elicit helpful opinions. If the floor is wood or tile I would suggest several beautiful tribal Oriental runners. Paintings you cannot have too many of in my opinion, or other types of wall art that appeal to you such as antique maps.