Thanks all! We are definitely open to looking for something to replace the media cabinet, but have looked intermittently over the years and had a hard time finding something that closes (DH feels strongly about this aesthetically, and we also have young kids so the out-of-sight-out-of-mind thing is very valuable for both safety and sanity) and is deep enough to accommodate the receiver, tuner, etc.--many of the newer pieces made for flat screen tvs seem to either be intended as bases with the tv out in the open, or do close but are quite shallow. I'll take another look around and see if anything new is out there, though! @roarah, thanks for the photos--your space is beautiful (and I love the window seats!) I can show DH and see if it's worth revisiting the tv on the mantel idea. We'd looked at hanging it rather than just setting it on the mantel, so maybe that would make a difference. We do have a 40" tv and replacing it is not in the cards, though. We've been considering what I think is normal-sized furniture--current sofa is 84" and you might be able to tell from the photos/plan that it has quite a big of space in the room (there's room between the sofa and the bookcase for a light and a side table), so thinking if we go with an 81" sofa (one option in a design I like) that would be a good bet if we keep it on that wall and then get a slightly smaller one (72") to form an L. If we go with chairs instead of one sofa/loveseat--and I do like that look in roarah's room--I'll have to rethink that a bit, though. Off to play with Homestyler--thanks for that tip!

Can the loveseat by the front door replace the chair, creating an L shaped seating area? If you can move the coffee table in front of the other loveseat, I wonder if you'll have a clear pathway from the front door to the closet to the hall (?) door.

well, here's an example of floating the furniture if you want to get off the back wall: But, I don't think this is necessary with your layout. as grover mentioned, play around with what you have and see what looks best. In the meantime, pick a sofa and an area rug that you want. Then you can build off of that. right now everything in there is so neutral. Look at these rooms I've posted below. Some have a bold color velvet sofa, and some have a bit more leather and black/white. You say you don't know how to do color. So pick a color that you like and work it into an area rug, artwork, pillows and / or the sofa. the rich navy blue velvet is gorgeous with gray, wood flooring and other neutral textiles and camel colored leather so is a deep, forest green this one is pretty neutral except for the rug. every thing else is minimal and neutral This would look so nice w/your wood flooring, the warm colors in the rug, wood slat table, linen-type sofa, leather poufs would also work here. and notice the art work. It all just works together

Try a chaise sofa and one chair in the TV room so you have room for kids play area. In the living room use a 3-seat sofa and two chairs grouped around a coffee table and use floor lamp flanking the sofa.