Hey guys, thanks. I was thinking of the same furniture configuration, with one couch along the window and another perpendicular to it - with a table in between them. The a big square coffee table- wide plank wood, dark, with a ledge below so I can store my current magazines and catalogs. Perhaps a jute rug to finish - although I have to think more about this since my cats will have a field day with anything I put there. I can then take stock and see what else I can add. Unfortunately my Grandfather's non-motorized 1922 Singer sewing machine won't have a place in the new room, although I'll reserve that decision until after the basics are in. I am pretty sure I will need two couches (no sectional - we have one in the basement) but want to make sure I have considered all my placement options beforehand. Mona asked: One question, if you're going to leave a pathway because of the way you place your furniture, then your furniture won't be centered in the room. Where are you placing the 52" TV? Centered on the wall? Or centered with the furniture that will be facing it? We planned to put the TV in the center...there's really no other option outside doing a corner piece which we've already jetisoned. Do you have another suggestion? Vampire: I am planning natural woven roman shades for each bottom window. I still have to select the actual material since I want privacy but also want it to look good from the outside. The left wall is a traffic lane, so I cant put any furniture there unless I dramatically change the furniture config and builtins.

I'm not sure why there'd be any advantage to having closed cabinets in a walk-in pantry that will be closed off with a door. (If it was wide open, like a walk-through butler's pantry, it would make a difference.) Just another step to open the doors, and you won't be able to see everything at a glance. Doors also limit the space...Things can go to the edge of a shelf, or hang over a little bit, without causing a problem. Any fraction of an inch in the way with a door, and it won't close properly. You could, perhaps, still use the cabinets, but without the doors? Still more limiting than open shelves, though. I can't remember if you'll have another place for brooms, etc., but if do the L, the empty wallspace is a good place to hang such things and keep them off the floor and out of your way. My pantry door is 28", because that's the largest we could fit. I wouldn't want it any narrower. Have you looked at the pantry thread in the gallery section of this forum? It has links to older threads that show insides of different pantries. Maybe it'll be of help... Here is a link that might be useful: Pantry thread in the gallery

Thanks for everyone advice. Let me see if I can answer some questions. The laundry got moved to the basement to make room for the pantry. I tried to get it upstairs but unless I was willing to do stackable in a hall closet, there just isn't room upstairs. In our county, all new builds and renos over 50% have to have a sprinkler system installed by code. No CoO without it. I currently have 2 small kids. Laundry is an all day chore on Mondays. I probably do 8-10 loads on Monday and then I'm done for the week. During the Sumer it's worse since the kids swim 2x per day and they go through towels like mad. I go through a roll of paper towels about every 2 days. I'm always running to the basement for a replacement roll. The nice thing about the pantry was that I was at least hoping to keep on of the big packs close by. The lift would in essence be a dumb waiter and it would be 2ft x 2 ft. If I don't get the lift, DH agreed to a laundry chute by I still have to carry the laundry back upstairs. I think it's interesting that the person who installed one said that would be one of the first frills to go. To me that says a lot about its true usefulness. And this isn't our forever home, we're here for 16 more years. When the last kid leaves for college, we're selling this place and moving to a one level condo in Fla.

Hi @Maegan Coolbaugh. Sorry for the delay. I've generated a 3D build of your room. Placed your tv on the opposite wall with a panel behind it. A couch facing the tv and another one next to it forming an L shape.Two swivel chairs that can easily be rotated in any direction or moved away when not in use. Completed the seating arrangement by adding a rug. It is important to pull up the area together which can be aesthetically achieved by adding a rug that goes well with the items placed on it. If you are planning to take down the short wall near the stairs, great! Else you can simply place a see through bookshelf which can act as a partition to diving a small space dedicated to reading/work or serve as a private conversation spot. Placed dining near the window. It could also float a little more towards the kitchen. I placed a crockery unit to provide for some storage. You can add more storage based on your requirements. Let me know if this was useful or if you would want me to work on more layout for you.