Well...I need to find this layout program so I can not use so many words, but in the meantime... I'd try dividing the space into 2 areas, divided by the front door walkway. Both of my ideas involve moving that TV, though. I don't feel that TV is ideally placed for this room to function well... Option #1 - Move the TV and couch to the R side of the room. The TV/entertainment center (though I like TV's on the wall these days) could serve as the 'focal point' on that side of the room while the fireplace does the same for the other half. It's all about lounging/watching TV over there - while the L side provides a conversation area around the fireplace. I'd put a chair on each side of the fireplace (wing backs, etc) - which would also serve to hide that window unit. Option #2 - Move the TV over in front of the window unit. Put the couch facing the fireplace and perhaps a chair on each side with a coffee table/ottoman in the middle? The R side of the room then becomes a conversation area away from the TV. Or, a game table and chairs could provide another function. Or, if the family is musical, a piano and sitting area would be nice. Or, if the family is full of bibliophiles, bookcases along the perimeter and some cozy sitting areas for reading would provide a third option to help the house/room function. Or, I could shut my mouth and try to go play with the floor planner. Time to try to put my money where my mouth is. lol

Hi, gang! A bit behind on messages (here and on the related posts)...busy getting ready for the move. Thank you for all of the feedback! It's so helpful to hear different perspectives. First up, let me just say how MUCH I wish I could throw many of your ideas into action! (Sadly, there are some structural things I'm having to work around...notes on those to follow.) A couple of quick notes that will catch several of the ideas you had at once: Regarding the house: It's not new construction (rats!) but rather a 1980 "ranch" that looks like a story and a half from the street. I'll post some shots of that and the garage situation. So, I'm a bit stuck when it comes to major shapes/layout. Regarding the remodel in general: Our budget is super small given what we had to pay in order to live close to DH's office. The kitchen is going to be a tight, tight squeeze. Pretty much, it's "do as much as I can in there and hold off on the rest." ie, live with the outdated bathrooms, need for a backyard clearing, older windows, etc. for a good while. Regarding the wall to the living room: Yes, we'd love to open it. BUT, both structurally and financially, we can't. The fireplace is on that wall. Ideally, the kitchen would be much more open. That's why we're taking out as much of the breakfast room wall as possible. Entertaining: Yes, we'd love more connection between the spaces. Sigh. I've been trying to work out somewhere to have a place to put out food for such events. I know I can fit one somewhere! Other than that, we only eat at the table. And, believe it or not, we don't have a tv. (I know, I know, we're so strange. haha!) The dining room: You are right. It is a strange, strange place to put it. In real life, the library is the home's dining room. For a few years, we aren't going to use it that way. It's being setup as a library so the little ones have a place nearby to play/read/etc. (We'll be homeschooling, so that's a factor, too.) I've drawn up builtins to flank the window in there, but they are hutch style for when it reverts back to a DR. Why the sunroom for dining? Most nights, DH isn't home in time to see our little one before bed, let alone dinner. So, a huge % of our meals will happen in the breakfast room, just me and the littles. I'm investing in a cute butler's cart for the night's when we are blessed enough to sit around the table in the sunroom and eat, then hang out while we watch the kids play in the sandbox on the porch or in the yard. It's odd, but for the short term, it makes the most sense for us. We'll see in real life, right?? :) Regarding the garage and groceries: Yup, it is what it is. Boo. When we were house shopping, the realtor had us make a wish list. Mine included the comment: "Driveunder garages are a deal breaker for me." Well, if I didn't ever eat my words. DH says it's "no big deal" and will work out great. As the baby lugger, I know it's going to be tough for a good number of years. But, something had to give in order to get into the area where we needed to be. And, the garage it was. As for the basement: YES, there will be a fridge (ours is nice but too deep for a galley kitchen) and hopefully a deep freeze, too. So, I won't have as much to haul upstairs. The plan is that only the "use it soon" stuff will head on upstairs. There's also a huge unfinished room where I could put extra cans and whatnot to rotate into the upstairs pantry, if need be, though I don't think it'll end up that way. We use very little packaged food. Pantry: Yes, there is an existing pantry in the laundry room. It's not huge, but based on our food usage, it should do nicely for our dry goods. Most of my dry goods are kept in glass jars (beans, rice, flours, oats, bran), which I also have slotted some open shelving for in both kitchen and laundry. I need to double count my jars when we unpack and make sure I've calculated enough linear feet for them. I like them out in a single row instead of on deep shelves. Cans? We tend to have ten or less around the house at a time, unless there is some crazy sale on something I think might be convenient. Ok, I think that covers the things that were mentioned in both posts. Now on to the other stuff.... Pllog- Thank you for the feedback! I like the way you phrased the junk response and will be trying that (as I sit here and look at the pile of junk on the raised bar of our rental. haha!) Grocery landing space. Hm. I'll have to think on that. The table would be a tight place. And, there's not much space to the left of the sink. Perhaps it would be wise to store my butler's cart nearish to my point of entry from the stairs so I can dump and roll. Windows: It sounds like we need to try drawing it up several ways and see what looks right. The initial goal was to have balancing windows on each side of the range. But, if it's going to look like a mistake, that wouldn't really make sense. :) As for hired help: YES, PLEASE!!! Ah, wouldn't THAT be something!! I'm already stressing over how I'll find time to clean this place. We're going from 1700 sqft to 2800, as well as gaining a basement. I'm a bit worried since I'm also adding a baby at the same time. I've already warned DH that I'll be grocery shopping nights/weekends while he keeps the little ones so it will be more efficient. Luckily, he's excited about that. HA! We'll see how it goes... How long will we be here? That IS the question. DH has trouble "committing" mentally but also isn't one to uproot. So, odds are *really* good that the kids will finish school here, but one never really knows. So, I dare not say "forever" lest I jinx us. :) Will check out Plummers...hadn't heard of them. Thanks! Jaynes- Thank you for all of your notes! Another entry for the kitchen would be grand. Alas....fireplace. I'd love to have a big open kitchen. Maybe someday. :) Boxy- Agreed! The original owners (only owners, now in their 90's) had it built. He was a builder, actually. I guess it suited them. But, I like a bit more in and out to my rooms. I guess things were different in 1980. I do wonder the same thing as you about the living room. It seems so large. I've been struggling with how to furnish it correctly so that it doesn't feel cavernous...while still not blocking the passageway to the sunroom. Will post a photo to give you an idea of what's happening on that wall the prevents bumping the kitchen into this space... Here are some pictures to help with thinking through the grocery conundrum. Front: could park at base of walkway, but it's still a hike up the hill....would end up having to either tote kids up first and put them upstairs or leave them waiting while I pile everything on the porch (which isn't really an option, honestly). Current plan: have playroom and fridge in basement. Kids go in first, then groceries. Any moms out there who can help me come up with a plan that will work?? Kind of hard to see, but drive is on the right... Rear: There's a door inside the 2 car garage which puts you in the mudroom. The stairs sit between the mudroom and play room. Living Room fireplace wall that backs up to kitchen/laundry: Temporary Library (originally the dining room, a bit tight for how we plan to use our dining room at the moment which is to say that it will be mostly for larger gatherings): Pantry is just to the left, through the doorway shown: I'll see if I can find the drawings for the library/dining built ins. You all likely have some great suggestions for keeping them multipurpose.

It is this wierd crawl space under the stairs that is unusable from the floor up to 24 inches high and then has space for storage and a shelf above that, which has an angled ceiling. It is absolutely bizarre, and I had resigned myself to building a cabinet in that small usable portion with a pull-up out shelf that opens at the desk for charging cells, IPads, etc. it can hide all the cables and wires. I had thought a sink on the corner near the fridge was better but then put it on the right side because that Franke Beach sink is designed to have accessories on the left side of the round small sink bowl. But no biggie, I can find an alternate sink. Any you recommend for this space at the end of an island? Does the additional 24 inch pantry where the fridge used to be make sense? And then the 36 inch accessory garage with cabinetry above and drawers below make sense? I have 65.5 inches of wall space before I have the wall disappear on that wall, and the upper counter starts. Pretty sure I can move the sink over to the left and free up counter space to the right of the sink. Does the dishwasher work in that location? What width works between the cooktop and island edge where sink will be? Does a wood block that is raised on that end allow for a sink at comfortable height? My kitchen designer says you don't want the soapstone and chopping block at the same height. Finally, the island length dropped to 90 inches in my sketch to stop the indentation. Is that smart or will I regret those extra SF on my island?

SoFl, I wanted to add that Bolero smells similar to Sugar Moon. I could have a garden comprised of those two just for smelling. Guess I'll have to add Sharifa Asma to my list now if it smell similar. : ) When I comment on a post and go to it from my email notice, it take me directly to the last posts and if it's a short one without pics, I just read it in my email.