I'm not a fan of TV's over fireplaces. I would close up the niches if you could and then use a console with the TV above it. Since you already have limited wall space with all the windows having the niches is just overkill.

Hi Jordan - You're having challenges with this room for a number of reasons. The obvious being the long narrow space, and the second reason being the wide opening to the kitchen. Both reasons are very conquerable! Your fireplace is currently the focal point in your room. You mentioned bookcases on either side of the fireplace. Budget permitting, built-ins would look great with the fireplace and increase the wow factor of the room. It would definitely stand out a make a statement. With regards the furniture, a sectional with the left side backing onto the long wall would make a great conversational area and give lots of room for TV viewing. If you want additional seating, two armless or moderate side accent chairs facing across the couch with the backs to the kitchen would create more seating. However, because of the narrow width of the room, you need to keep the sofa and chairs in appropriate size to the room so that people can pass through the space and the room doesn't feel like its being taking over by furniture. You could put a large square ottoman in front of the sectional so people can put up their feet, relax and watch TV. Behind the sofa in the front section of the living room, you could create another conversation area or reading nook and add additional seating. Your two love seats may appear too small for the size of the room. Also placing them parallel could make the room feel like a bowling alley. You could either draw in sofas to scale on your floor plan, or use an easy software program. to get a feel for what type and size of furniture would look best in your room and for your family's needs. Good luck!

I'd go for lighter tones as well as less bulky -- if the carpet will stay, then you might look for non-brown for at least some accent chairs. Your space feels tight currently, and I think that would be helped by having a single couch and a couple of chairs -- it also gives you more flexibility in getting a conversational arrangement. Two thoughts just to throw out there: (1) Sometimes people like to put a couch with its back to the walkway, to separate the sitting area from the entrance a bit. Your room isn't open to the next space, so it may not feel as necessary, but an option. (2) Sorry, husband, but that TV is mounted too high. It needs to be at eye level for the people sitting on the couches, which means it's a foot or two higher than ideal -- better moving the mount than paying for all the chiropraxy later. :)

I am a craftsman house lover. I built a new craftsman and we moved in 4 years ago. Why did I build instead of just buying one of the many craftsman bungalows in my area? Because every single one we looked at had been remuddled. I could tell exactly what decade the house had been remuddled based on what they had done. Most had been remuddled to the point that bringing it back to it's former glory would have been more daunting than building the new craftsman we built. Those that might have worked would not work for us because of location or because of things like stairs and bedrooms upstairs with no chance to add an elevator, or even a stair lift later on. (We are seniors) Sadly more and more of these beautiful old homes are being ruined by those who think HGTV is great design.