IMO by removing the small wall in the corners of the living room and combining them into the middle creates a more usable wall instead of more of a passage way as it is now. You have the option of putting the TV, or loveseat on the wall. With a corner, you only have a chair or putting a small loveseat at an angle. This new wall gives much more versatility. The chaise makes it difficult but not impossible, no matter what layout you end up having because the person is sitting so far back on the piece. They are so comfortable though :). When we had all 4 kids home, we kept our big rooms as one big room. I just wanted to show you options, Your furniture as you can see will be fine too. I goofed and meant to make the new wall 8' wide and not 6'. This would only give your visitors a visual down one side of the living room and not the entire amount. A 3' opening though may be too small. You'd have to mock it up and see what it feels like for you. LOL. You're starting to sound like my DH with the your logic of just not inviting others in if I don't want them to see the living room. How wide is your dining room table? Ours is a shy 4' wide and I've rarely seen any wider. You currently have a 5' opening (my suggestion if that wall isn't load bearing) was to increase it to 7' wide. Unless you have a 6' round table you shouldn't have any problems. We purposely purchased a rectangle table so we could add on inexpensive tables to the ends if we should need extra seating. I'm kind of glad you don't like the pennisula on that wall along with some of the other things. What if you put the range on the back wall as you and your other designers had in the first place, place the sink under the window (closest to the new area for the range). Left of the sink, would be a 6' countertop, and the pennisula would be on that side creating a corner. You'd only have to add 5' onto the already 2' counter. You could then have a 5' walkway from kitchen to dining room. You would then also have the option of adding a 4th person at the pennisula and shrinking the walkway to 3' (a still decent size). I'd create a window from that door. How great to have that right next to those sitting and for work space. This new kitchen would be much like what your 1st plan was with the island, except the island would be attached to where your frig was and their would be a window where the door was.

What a great space to have for you and your family! Unfortunately, I don’t think the current blue throw pillows are doing anything beneficial. To warm up the space, it would help to actually add in some warm colors. Think fire: red, yellow, orange, or a variation thereof. Try googling images such as “gray couch peach accents”, “gray couch green accents” (green can lean warm, too.) Find an image that really resonates with the feel that you want your space to convey. This can give you a better idea of what to look for when you do go shopping. You have a fantastic neutral base to build on, so don’t be afraid to add some bold colors, pattern, or textures. I realize these images don’t lean very “Farmhouse”, but hopefully they’ll give you some ideas of just how much you can add to your space and bring it to life. Have fun! ETA: Link to google pictures of Farmhouse, gray couch, turquoise accents.

Thanks! I'm hoping it will be a cute space!! That doorway opposite the doorway is a little redundant, but it leads into the entryway/front door, so I'm not sure how it would feel walking into the back of a sofa. But maybe I am wrong! The condo is a converted 2-bedroom, where they turned the dining room into a living room, and the living room into a 2nd bedroom, which explains why the space is so awkward! What would anyone think about doing a sofa along the window/in front of radiator, and putting a chair or pouf under the TV (between built-in and bottom doorway)? Or a sofa along the right-side wall (where I have the random door/beach photo leaning) with a comfy accent chair top left next to window? Would something like this work at all or am I crazy?

Just my 2 cents - those look to be thermofoil cabinets - not sure what brand - they were not an expensive cabinet. If you spend the time and the money to do counters and backsplash then think of it as throwing that money right away. You are putting brand new materials on top of 25 year old cabinets. Sure you can lift the tops and reuse them but there is a cost to that and now you are locked into the layout you currently have which in my opinion could be greatly improved. Refacing is temporary - you are putting doors and overlays on old cabinet - it is expensive and quite often you can get new cabinets for less. It's not horrible and it looks clean. I would save and save for the next year and give yourself a great kitchen! Good luck