rodboyz3, we did this exact thing in 2007. We added a large den (24x26) behind the kitchen in 2002. The LR, in front of the kitchen became a wasted space. Just a walk thru. Like you, we walk into a small foyer (at the front door), take a left and enter what used to be the LR but is now a much needed dining room. We tore down the wall between the kitchen and new dining room and added a counter height bar...an extension of a kitchen counter run. This opened up the kitchen and made it and the dining more open to each other. The 60" round table seats 8 and the bar can seat 4. The flow is excellent. No more turning sideways to get past people from one room to the other (when there's a crowd). I also worried about the dining room coming off the entry but it's absoLUTEly not a problem :) I'm sorry I can't embed photos right now. I don't know if it's me or GW, but I've been having problems for a couple months now. Below is a link to three pictures. In the first picture, I'm standing in the kitchen looking out over the added bar into the dining room. You can see the small entry foyer. You can also see that over a year later we still haven't decided what to clad the base of the bar with (LOL) Click "next" in the lower right corner. See the alcove and door to the left? That alcove used to be DH's closet. The door leads to our master bedroom. That layout also concerned me but, again, it's not a problem. We created space that WE needed and worked with what we had. For this last picture, I'm standing at the large picture window you saw in the other photos, looking thru the kitchen into the den (and a lovely shot of the "nekkid" bar and back of the trash compactor :o) We're very happy with our customized space. I think you will be happy with yours too :) Monica Here is a link that might be useful: LR to DR Conversion

I love the clean, uncluttered look of your home and you've made some great furniture choices. My first thought, though, is that I would try to rework the sofa/sectional placement. It really is unwelcoming looking to me to have the back where it is facing a wall, when it could be oriented to look into the room and out the windows. It seems like if it were placed in the corner under the stairs that it would feel open and invite you to come in and sit. I'd hate to be cooking in the kitchen and have the family or guests with their backs to me. If you are having a TV in another room close by, do you need one in that room, too? If, so placing a 70" unit will probably only work as you have it. But, to me, it's not going to look like a living room but more like a movie theater, which is fine if that's what you're going for. It seems like it won't be a cozy conversation area, though. I might actually flip the rooms and put the dining room where you have the sofa now. I was looking at lights used with dining rooms and ghost chairs and saw this, maybe would work in the living room? Kind of fun. don't know if it would look as good without the colored walls though. And I thought something like these were interesting to consider for over your table:

Thank you all for your suggestions! @Enduring I definitely can push the TV back on the stand. I don't think I have enough room to allow the back of the sofa to be a walk way. @Immcnitt I like the idea of a console table. I'll see about playing around with the layout over the next few days. I agree with the chair in the corner, it is a bit odd. I do think the layout is TOO open now and makes the table look far to small. Hmm. @Jamie Our ceilings are too high, would the new lighting need to be shorter? @Jamie I would love a new rug in the living room for sure. I hadn't thought about a rug in the dining room, maybe that would make that space feel so open now.

Hey guys! so I wasnt intentionally not replying...my phone got stolen from a department store (I accedentally set it down, lol!) So I got a new phone and had forgotten my login info (I was automatically logged in) I have still been searching for inspiration. I shouldnt be, but I am still so embarrassed of my house. A lot of it is because due to indecisiveness I have not replaced the furniture I cant stand. I feel like the things I pin on pinterest or save to the ideabooks still just dont fit my living room. I feel like because of the rectangleness of the room the dining room and living room almost have to match/coordinate. It also has to match the floors and the taupe wall color since those arent going anywhere anytime soon. In the ideal world I like shiny dark furniture, especially a dining table but in my head those are all diffrent dining rooms, or open dining rooms that match the kitchen. When you walk in its BAM living and dining room. So I feel like it's just making due with the space. I'm just not really a big fan of my house layout in general, but I am embarrassed to have people over.. My husband absolutely does not want to spend a lot of money on it. We were in a place to, but when we could I couldnt make up my mind. I found this on an Instagram bloggers. Her house really resembles ours, the couch against the window wall, the open living and dining room. I like how her coffee table and dining table match each other, it looks very coordinated. And I also like the black coffee table top with the black on her TV (in the same place as ours). But she posts links to her furniture and I def cant afford that or I'd just be copying lol! I wish I could just copy someone by the book but these bloggers all have a diffrent budget than I do! Hers does have a bit of a farmhouse vibe, but I like it because it is modern. I also like the dining table because it is not cloth chairs and with kids that doesnt always end the best! The style though farmhouse is very popular right now and modernized, from what I can tell. I like walking into target and seeing the target style. I know its modern and popular. I just want to make sure the dining room matches the living room. But I'm in a play or safe kind of vibe. Rooms to go and ashley is more in our budget, cheaper furniture sets and financing options. I like the ones at world market, wayfair etc. but they can be pricey and no financing.. This is that bloggers page: