Thanks for the response. We are planning to place the laminate on the entrance step with tile as well. The stairs will also be redone (railing replaced with wider hand rail and newl posts added to bottom and top of stairs). I guess what I really want to know is if choosing a wood look tile to match the vinyl we chose upstairs is a good idea? We are also considering installing Saltillo (terracotta tiles) on the entry step to math the outdoor front porch. What to you think? Kind of like this photo

Any reason in particular why you are keeping the tv over the fireplace? That must be over 8' high. That's some serious neck strain. I would probably recommend a similar layout to the previous owner. It has lots of seating, divides the entry from the living area. The window looks fine with current shutters. If you do not have furniture, start with the rug first. Find one large enough for the room. Use the colors in the rug to guide you for picking out furniture. Artwork and other wall decor can come later once you have the basics. You could always put the tv on a stand to the left of the fireplace. Have fun.

Oh dear. Now I see why the confusion. Husband wasn’t quite finished with the build of fireplace when I took the picture. In this picture you can see fireplace better With the side boxes. It will have two side boxes...one for fire wood. One for the grill and tools stored inside the box. But you are correct, many places near house to put the grill. Then carry food to wherever we put an eating table. The issue with the patio near house is there is bright hot sun especially summer evenings, and it obstructs our beautiful view from inside the house. This picture is from right outside our bedroom, which was going to be screened in but we decided we don’t need the screen.

Agree with @JustMe's suggestions. The white cabinet on the short wall actually constricts the traffic path past the sofa, because it prevents you from taking a diagonal path at the wall - you have to clear the cabinet before you can angle past it. And visually it's a "look at me" accent piece in a small area. Not a good look. I'd remove it entirely. On the wall where it is now I'd exchange the horizontal piece of art work for the smaller vertically-oriented piece of art work that's around the corner from it. It will look bare to you at first but give it some time. Leave that smaller wreath-facing wall empty. That will give you more physical and visual space to move the sofa over. A 48" space between the wall and the sofa arm is sufficient, especially without the white cabinet. Your room will look more spacious with the chaise side of the sofa pulled away from the window. Right now it looks jammed against the window. Center the rug on the sofa. Only the front foot of the sofa needs to be on the rug. Stationary drapes on either side of the window will give your room a much more finished look. It will also draw attention to your large attractive window and to the view beyond. I would go with blue. Not sure what you have there now - is it a blind? Before you buy anything new, see what you can do with the stuff you have. I'd remove the wreath that's centered on the window wall. It's neither in the kitchen nor the living room, and doesn't add to either room. Wait until you have added drapes to see whether that wall needs anything. A good strategy is to remove the smaller decor and wall items until the larger stuff (sofa position etc.) is decided. Then see what you need to add. Sometimes, "filling in" spaces with decor just adds to a cluttered look and draws attention away from the more attractive parts of your room, e.g. the wreath draws attention away from the attractive view out the window. Do you need more evening lighting in the living room area? Maybe an arc lamp behind the sofa in front of the wreath wall? Or plug-in sconces against the wall to softly light the wall without any glare? But that's the step after the big pieces of furniture have been placed.