Min- Congrats on the lot...I think it's going to be a wonderful choice, for you and your family :) An informal entry is great, because it means it gets used...by everyone! I'm so glad you get to use your table. If that's the case, then I vote for making the 'dining room' the piano space, with bookcases and maybe a couple of comfy chairs in the corner, by the window. One thing about the entry...if you put the hooks by the door, everyone stops to take off their coat and you get a bottleneck at the doorway. Instead, I'd move the hooks down to the area between the den doors and the stairs. This way, everyone gets inside, before they stop to sit down or take off their coats. The bench idea is interesting...but I would put it opposite the hooks, towards the kitchen. Again, you don't want people stopping too soon and there would be more room to sit down and not block 'traffic'. Instead of having it open, I think I'd put a back to the bench and have the piano tucked behind it, against the wall to the kitchen. A piano should be against an inside wall, so that's where I would put it, instead of against the garage. Then, you could have chairs in the corner, by the window (against the garage and window walls) to sit down, read a book, listen to music, etc. It would also be a nice 'adult' space, when the kids get a little older :)

I have two room dividers which currently have anaglypta type wallpaper that I did a paint treatment on. However recently in a store I saw a divider made of 3 vintage doors that had gathered sheer fabric. I'm planning to do that with one of mine - it was a lovely soft look for a bedroom. I'm planning to glue old dress patterns in each section of the other one. Other ideas: ~Stretch yarn or twine between tacks from top to bottom. Or buy one of those bead curtains and use the beaded strings. ~For a rustic look attach twigs. ~Fretwork panels are available at home improvement stores. ~Bamboo roll-up blinds could be cut and attached. ~Attach heavy rolled decorative gift wrap. One can often find ideas for projects by wondering around building supply, craft, or dollar stores. Or let your fingers wonder the internet! :)

I wouldn't dissect the room, it's pretty cool, I'd be wary to overthrow a balance But I understand your sentiment. What about some folding screen that can be put away when not in usage? (was considering it myself,,just everything I really like is too expensive, and no real room to put it when not in usage lol. We do have a separate guest room for now, but when it's overflow of guests we put them in a family room-it's not open to others spaces except enrtance, but still..just a bit more of privacy would be even better)

Yes and yes. Basically anything so my kids dont have to go outside and get eaten by bugs or laundry get rained. Just want access from the inside. I thought along those same lines. Opening up my room that joins the Laundry room. We called numerous contractors and all seem to come up with the same...55k not counting/considering the structure engineer, planner and every Tom Rick and harry that wants a chunk out of my money. I said forget it, considering that I bought my house for 110k and to knock down a wall or cement a wall to enclose it would be almost half of the cost of the house???!!!