bmorepanic- Thanks so much for trying to brainstorm, this one has had us stumped for months now! Your plan would solve a lot of our problems, unfortunately in the dinette area the existing five windows are almost floor to ceiling (the sills are only 18" from the floor). I agree, in our kitchen seating was given prominence by the builder, and the working area not so much... Lets see if I can explain the view situation - the dinette area faces the front of the house and the view is in the back. The dining room has two walls of windows, and if you're seated at the kitchen table you have a direct view over the dining room table through them and also through the kitchen door which is full glass. The windows around the table look out over the front yard and the neighborhood. A window on the refrigerator wall would look directly at our next door neighbors' house and deck, which isn't that far away. We do like having a big table in the kitchen because we tend to relax there and it's my favorite spot in the house to sit. Also, my parents spend time here and the big table is nice to have then. (Oh, you asked which way the ceiling joists run - it's front to back...) If we are stuck with the original two ideas which do you think would be the best? Thanks for the help!

A 200K project like that needs a Local Hired Pro.

I would stop the tile where the wall between the kitchen and dining room is. It's a natural break point between the two types of flooring. Re: the dining room, I think a round table that can extend for larger parties would be ideal and would make it feel a bit more open and easier for traffic flow.

Would choose an oval dining table -- rounded corners. You might also consider one with "leaves" that can be added and removed from the center of the table so you don't have a table filling your up so much of your dining space unless and until you need it for a lot of guests. Would forego any knee-knocker coffee table -- might choose a storage ottoman with a reversible top that could double as a table as needed. Sectionals limit furniture placement options and even one obvious tear or bit of damage or really bad stain that you cannot remove can result in your losing a lot of your seating to get rid of it. Also, to help with furniture placement in the living room, you might want a half wall -- such as a peninsula -- beside the refrigerator, one long/short enough to leave a 4' wide opening between the living room and dining room. Then use a smaller island -- or kitchen island cart. You could even build your peninsula with its (base) cabinets accessible from either -- with no knobs or pulls on the living room side -- or build the living room side as a bookcase between two cabinet doors.