I like the first option as there's so little wall space already, with the other options, you'd end up with none.

I would consider french door as a way to close off the room, yet keep it open. It looks like there's room for the door to swing into the LR up against the DR wall.

What about putting the door in the DR right next to the LR wall instead? The LR stub wall will hide the kitchen, and the door is only a few steps more from the living area, but closer to what you need to access in the kitchen.

Thank you for your answers! :)
AnnieDeighnaugh, true, I will not have any wall space there. So that is something to think about. Since the rooms are really small, if I have a swinging door, I won't have any space to have any chairs there! The room is about 12 x 15.

GreenDesigns, I apologize, my illustration is not to scale and is missing some elements. There is a desk area on the breakfast area side of the wall. On the formal dining side, there is a huge built in spanning the length of the wall. So we cannot unfortunately make any entry ways there.

If you did the wider opening, couldn't you move any electrical so that you could have pocket doors? I assume that would require removing the wall board from the entire wall to see what's where and to re-route it, but then you could have exactly what you want.

You probably should do a scale drawing of a floor plan and cut out to scale paper dollies of your furniture that you can then move around...or do it electronically with software. I think you need to play with the location and scale including furniture to see what would work best. As I see it, if the door is single and in the corner, leaving you some wall space, then there should be room for an in swing french door....

I like the barn door idea option if you really want to open it up and encourage flow from the Kitchen/FR to the LR for big parties. I don't think you will get that nice flow with the first option.

If you just want a passageway between the two areas and plan to entertain only in one space at a time, however, I would go with the first option. Wall space is becoming highly underrated in today's open-floorplan-crazed world, and the first option not only gives you more privacy but gives you a wall to put a second sofa against in the FR, console in the LR, artwork, etc.

It's really all about what your ultimate goals are.

Like the idea of GreenDesigns. Looks your purpose will mostly be solved.

Here is a better floor plan of our space. This is almost to size, don't know why the dimensions are not showing up in the saved jpg.

{{!gwi}}

Here is the 3D
{{!gwi}}

Fun2BHere, the square box kind of thing in the living room is why we cannot really have anything inside the walls. You are correct tho in that it would be the perfect solution! We will ask to make sure of course/ My husband doesn't think it is possible tho.

AnnieDeighnaugh, this is a scale drawing and it is so wonderful to actually "see" the options!:) We do have an antique chiffarobe that is so perfect in the corner next to the single entryway(option). I would hate to move it from there unless absolutely necessary.

tracie.erin, you are right! I am so excited about having more space while entertaining. We don't have too many big parties but our rooms don't hold more than 4 extra people!
I know that I will not be able to put any furniture on that wall in the family room anyway since it is a passageway from the bedrooms (please see the new images) Now on the living room side...I am not sure. For now we are planning to have two chairs there.

tashasilvester as you can see from the new images, we have built ins on both sides and it will be too expensive to remove them.

Making such a huge change does worry me and I have been mulling over this for months now! I also worry about resale value if we decide to open that wall up.

My ideal solution would be to open it up and have an option to close it when needed. I only hope I won't regret it in the future, say when the kids are older!

Thank you all for your thoughts...I really appreciate them and look forward to more!

What about opening it up as much as you want and put the closing option on the foyer opening? If your concern is privacy, if you added french doors onto that opening, you could have sheers or obscure the glass so you don't lose any light. You maybe could have stackable sliders (shoji style) that you only open to the foyer for parties.

It just will depend on if you think you need to close off the LR from the FR ever.

Put French Doors (six foot ) centered on the wall between the LR and FR...you will enhance
the area; and when you have a lot of people over, the flow between
the rooms will be appreciated.

Consider opening the doors into the FR so that they rest on the
wall space on each side when opened.
You will love it.
joann

I also would do french doors, though 5' not 6'. That way your door swings would be take less space and require less clearance. I would also have it arranged for daily use with one door open and the other door shut. Then for the times when you have a large party or need to move furniture you can open both. If you are concerned about privacy issues then you could do wooden french doors and not the panned glass ones and when one side is closed it would restrict the view into the kitchen from the foyer.

If you are going to do French Doors, do 6' ...Our daugher
has FD closing off her breakfast area from her LR.
Her DR from her foyer, and her foyer from her kitchen.
She keeps one door open and one closed.

When they go out she closes all doors so that her big dog is confined to the kitchen and family room.

The other side of this set of doors...It's a lovely look.

OK take that back, the 6' size looks perfect; one door open and one closed. Notice how on the side that is closed, she is able to have furniture up against that side wall.

I am sorry! I didn't realize there were more replies!!

olychick, actually, we do have pocket doors in the opening next to the foyer! So that is an option. Lately tho I have realized that there are folks that might come into the formal living and not necessarily into the family area. Like neighbors dropping in to give something etc.
We will be making the opening first and then doing the doors and the pocket doors will come in handy then I am sure!
cliff_and_joann and valinsv, thank you for the french door suggestion. I am sure it will look lovely! I am not sure it would solve the privacy issue tho? It will be see through correct?
cliff_and_joann, what a beautiful home your daughter has!! Lovely!
I was wondering if you all think the external sliding doors are bad idea and if so why?
Here are two examples...
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}
Thanks so much for the replies!!

Wanted to update that we are in fact able to install pocket doors ! Work starts soon. There are many wires to be re routed, keeping my fingers crossed!:)

FWIW - I love those barn doors esp with the transom!