Here is a picture of the space showing the current opening between the two rooms. You can look down the hallway to see where I would put the new opening, The new opening can only be 40" wide unlike the current opening which is 7' wide.

Would love some thoughts!

Your house is gorgeous. And I think my DH and I would be happy as clams if we had just your main floor as our house(!)

What if you left the existing opening with barn doors, but added an entrance from the hall? You could leave the barn doors closed as a default, with the only entrance available for use being from the hall. That way you still have the option of opening the entire space up when you want to. I know that doesn't address the noise, but it does address the traffic flow/kid clutter.

If you do move the opening, will you move the barn doors? Or use some other type of door? Or have no doors at all? Because I don't know that you'll eliminate much noise if you're just going to have the same general opening shifted 90 degrees. If you are in the kitchen or DR or LR, will you miss being able to keep an eye on the kiddos in the TV room?

I don't see a problem with moving the entrance if it will work better for your family. I'm assuming that since you built the house you plan to be in it a long time so i wouldnt worry about open vs closed. I for one am not a huge fan of open concept for the reason you mentioned....noise. How about maybe putting in French doors with thick glass and pretty curtains/blinds or frosted glass so the view into the tv room would be obscured and you could leave the doors permanently closed for now but have the ability to open them up in the future?

Just curious....if the barn doors are all the way closed can you still hear the tv in other parts of the house? We are thinking of putting them in our FR as well....thanks for any info and good luck with your decision...your house is very pretty!

We did the barn doors because French doors need too much space to swing open and closed. The barn doors do have a more space between them and the door frame so yes I would say they are not as insulting as a regular swing door. Ours are solid wood so that helps but they are heavy and loud on the metal track when opening and closing frequently. I do like the look of them and the track.
I'm thinking I should make the new entry on the hallway side but keep the current entry and barn doors closed for day to day use. Now I just need to find a creative way to decorate/design around the wall where the barn doors are on the livingroom side. The wall is a focal point from the dining room and kitchen as shown in this picture.

What a lovely home, and a great family space! As the twins get a little older, like next year, they may play while the grownups are cooking or cleaning up, or lingering over dinner (they don't ALL help out in the kitchen LOL!), so you may want to be able to see them from the kitchen and dining room.

For that reason I like JoaniePoanie's idea of a door that can really separate it when you want to, but have open when you want to. And have the entrance to the hall. You don't want to soundproof too much...you want to be able to tell when it's TOO quiet...that means trouble :)

I answered in the other forum. I wouldn't close off the opening, but I gave a more detailed response over there.

Something to keep in mind with kids is that they grow and things change. I found with my now teens is that every 3 years I could have easily done a mini remodel/redecorate if budget had allowed. Your families needs will change faster than you realize, like it already has.

I don't have any suggestions, just wanted to say, stay flexible.

Oh, then totally leave the barn doors and just keep them closed. Since they stick out from the frame, is it possible to hang art on them on the LR side but where you could still open them...or if that won't work an interesting mural or stencil?

Can you post a pic of the barn doors...would love to see them and the tracks and also know if sound still creeps through with them closed.

Here's the post Pal mentioned on the building forum linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Should I move the entry to our family room?

Definitely keep the current opening and also cut a new entrance from the hallway.

Lovely spaces, btw!

Joanieponie here is a picture of the barn doors and track. They are mounted on the family room side.

Someone suggested I could mount art to the doors and I think that's a very interesting idea that could look really great!

Seems like everyone feels it makes most sense to keep the current entry and add a second one to the hallway. I'm on board with that and think it's the best option too. I sure am glad I received so many opinions because I was so tempted to close up the wall entirely and I probably would have been kicking myself later.

I better call the GC first thing in the morning to let him know he doesn't need to bring drywall - just his hammer to bust out a second opening. He'll be thrilled since he thought I was off my rocker wanting to already Reno our new house he just built!

Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the pic Soesoe! Your house is so pretty andI think these doors are fabulous---glad you decided to keep them.

Soesoe, since you decided to keep the sliding doors, maybe you could ask your builder if he can think of a way of insulating that space between the hanging door and the wall. Insulation in that gap will help with the noise that travels into the living room. It can be done in behind the sliding barn door, out of sight, near the opening where the wooden door will always cover it. Even a 2 inch wide strip of insulation filling the gap between the wall and the door, with a soft brush-like or felt strip finishing the final bit of gap, against the door, would help. I have seen the soft brush edge insulation in windows and the felt style on stick-on insulation strips. It keeps the insulation from rubbing on the door and marring the surface.

Nancy_in_Mich that's a great idea and I'm sure would help with the noise. I think I know exactly what could be used, it's sort of a fuzzy weather stripping and like you said it wouldn't even be noticeable.

I'm getting more excited now about making the spaces feel more like home! Thanks all.

I, too would keep the barn doors, yet keep them closed for the time being and add an entry from the hall into the living room. If that entry needs to have a door, I would suggest a pocket door if present framing permits. This option would allow you more wall space within the entertainment room.

Your home is lovely, BTW, and I especially love the beams in the living room! Even when those toddlers are older, you and they may well appreciate the additional privacy of more restricted passage from room to room.