Agreed that the fireplace needs updating. Not sure why it was built so big. Your suggesting mounting the tv on the left wall? I think it would be a tight fit between the windows but might work. I need seating for five in the FR not the breakfast nook. There I’m okay with seating for 4. I have a dining room and another table in the basement when we have more than four. I feel the bayed window lends itself to a round table but maybe I’m wrong?

Ok I guess I’ll have to give more thought to the table shape and size. I’ve only been considering 48” round. Any thoughts on a furniture layout for the FR that gives me seating for 5?

To seat five in the family room area, I'd go for two stationary matching armchairs perpendicular to the sofa (backs facing breakfast nook) and another chair to the right of the fireplace. Perhaps a modern wing. This arrangement will suit 3-4 comfortably for watching TV and 5-6 for conversation.

You'll want your dining table centered under the light fixture and I'm not sure there's enough floor space to allow for the chairs to scoot fully back and still remain on the rug. Also, it looks like the rug edge would infringe on the kitchen walk way. Get some painter's tape and mark out the corners of the rug to see if one would fit. But from the looks of it, I think I'd skip the rug.

I think a round table for the breakfast nook would compliment the curves of the bay.

I like that layout but am not sure the stationary chairs will allow for tv viewing. You wouldn’t put swivel chairs there like the one I posted?

The T.V console says MCM ish the table is country and the chair is kind of non descript, what is it you love about each one.

If you generally only have 2-3 people watching TV at a time, either stationary or swivels will work. It's a matter of preference. If you go for swivels, be sure to choose a manufacture with strong and lasting mechanisms. It would be disappointing to buy a poorly constructed swivel and have it break in a few years.

Patricia - What I like about the console is the MCM vibe but I know the style of my house doesn't lend itself to MCM. I thought the reclaimed doors would mitigate that somewhat, so I'd be blurring the line between modern and farmhouse. In looking at the table again, I'm not really sure there's much I do like about it. I definitely don't want country. And I like the lines of the chair. I thought it would complement the style of my sofa. Size-wise I thought it would be a good fit. The dark grey would provide a nice contrast to the light tweedy fabric of the sofa and pull out the dark grey in the rug. I didn't want to go crazy with a pattern or color because the rug is already enough pattern. I'm not married to any of these pieces and would love suggestions. I'm not sure my instinct is so good.

So I think I'm going to focus on the breakfast nook first. Take down the drapes and replace with roman shades. Add table and chairs, maybe a rug. The nook is two story and open to the second floor landing. Sound bounces around the space like crazy. I'm hoping a second rug in the space will help absorb some sound.

Any thoughts on one of these tables for the space? I'm looking for 48" round. If it expands, great but that's not a requirement.

Hi, Mary. Manon's furniture arrangement is perfect and I agree with your idea of using two swivel chairs. I can't speak to the quality of West Elm's Duffield, but it's not too large and style-wise it fits.

I think a round table in the breakfast nook is probably the way to go, but to to go with your intended media cabinet, I'd choose something more modern. Go for legs instead of a pedestal. West Elm has some your woodworker can copy. It also has this expandable one you might like:

Fishs Eddy Expandable Dining Table | west elm · More Info

Definitely ditch the curtains. If you don't need them, I wouldn't even do shades, but just leave the windows naked.

So glad that the dog is back. Grover's lovely redesigns were feeling a bit vacant.

So happy to see some activity on my discussion. Grover, thank you for weighing in with your thoughts and the mock-ups. I love the furniture placement for the family room. That's definitely the direction I'll go in. I like that the legs on the media console give it some lightness.

Regarding the table, I'm not really feeling it. On Sunday I ordered the white table I posted above because I was so tired of looking at that empty space. The sales person called me today to say that it's "over committed" and delivery is 8-10 weeks. So I think I'm going to cancel it. I don't want to wait that long. I'll look online tonight for other options. I'd prefer a pedestal table to give me the flexibility of adding one or two more chairs when needed and I like white to keep the space bright. I had an inspiration photo of a white pedestal table in a bayed breakfast nook but can't find it now. Will see if I can locate it again.

I'll post if I find anything - would appreciate more feedback!

Ok, I see that a pedestal base is probably too heavy for the space. Glad I canceled the order. The West Elm table looks more appealing to me now. The nook space measures 10' from the peninsula counter to the transition strip in the floor where the family room starts, and about 8' from the sliding glass door to end of peninsula. A 48" table would be too big?

A 48" only gives you 2' on each side between peninsula and living room. Not enough. Even a 36" table only gives you 2 1/2'; that's better, but you should really have 3' of walk space. You might be able to fudge it. Before you commit, either tape it out on the floor or make a template of newspaper so you can see exactly how it will work.

Perhaps your woodworker can make you a table to the exact size you need.

It looks like the best way to set up your furniture is going to be kind of like in this design we did for a client below. Keep your sofa where it currently is, add in your TV console, and then you can get two of the swivel chairs and add them where you currently have the chair angled. Then you can add another chair in the corner near the TV. That should easily work with the arrangement.

Kings Road Guest House · More Info

Kings Road Guest House · More Info

Courtney Thomas - thanks for the input. You’ve validated the layout that Manon posted above, which I think will be great for the space.

Grover - I laid out a blanket as best I could in a 48” round. I measured and have 36” all around including from the peninsula and the family room. I remeasured the space and it’s approximately 10x10. I think a 48” will work if I keep the table light and chairs small scale.

I know this doesn’t go with the media console I had in mind but it might work in the space?

https://www.pier1.com/amelia-48%22-natural-stonewash-round-dining-table/3189148.html

If you have 10', then 48" should work. A little tip to get a bit more space: put your chairs so they are at an angle to the peninsula.

Here are some round pedestal tables if you're not sold on white.

Three Posts Barrington Dining Table & Reviews | Wayfair · More Info

SCTL Dining Table & Reviews | Wayfair · More Info

Madison Park Signature Helena Round Dining Table & Reviews | Wayfair · More Info

I'm kind of stuck now on a table in a light finish with legs. I do want to keep to a more transitional style but I think this table complements the more traditional aspects of the space, like the window and door trim and the chair rail in the family room. Is it too country?

I don't think the table you posted is too country. However, I think a simple pedestal would be more streamlined - and functional if you want to squeeze people around the table. Legs will get in the way.

I'm a fan of glass topped tables. I have one. They take up less visual space too.

Spills are easy to clean up, we have done art and paint projects on it with my son when he was younger. You just have to be careful with scratching,but not too careful.

Example of pedestal glass topped table. Probably not the perfect one for you but this is just a idea.

https://m.roomstogo.com/product/Dining-Room-Sets/Cindy-Crawford-Home-Key-West-Tobacco-5-Pc-Round-Dining-Room-with-Oval-Chairs/4323934P/

So I took Issy Mn's suggestion about a glass topped table to heart and searched for something I liked. I came up with the Pier 1 Marchella Round Dining Table in antique white. I like that the pedestal is not a heavy base. I'm deciding between this piece and a white tulip table. I know they are completely different styles but I feel I can design the family room around either one of them. I'm leaning toward the Pier 1 table, but would welcome opinions.

Glass table tops are a love'em or leave'em type of thing. I think they look really nice - and as noted they tend to take up less visual space. However, I don't find them welcoming for an eating table. I like the direction you were going in with the white pedestal table. Here's one from Basset that has a simplified base. Also a collage paired with patterned chairs. I like the idea of round chair backs with the round table.

Basset Round

Quick update - I finally bought a table and chairs a few weeks ago, and really like how they look. It kind of gives a coastal vibe to the space, which I'd like to play off of in my family room.

So next up I want to do something with the fireplace, purchase 2 swivel chairs and get a new coffee table and media console. If you were me, which would you tackle first? I'm thinking the fireplace, maybe stain the bricks and paint the metal surround. Or should I get the furniture first then do the fireplace?

You can do the fireplace any time. Here it is whitewashed, with and without the surround painted black. I'm not sure I like the black surround. It looks like a big black hole.

Grover, the white washed brick looks nice. Did you add the basset hound?

My MIL had spot lights (really small flush with the ceiling) added in ceiling to highlight /shine on the fireplace mantel (I think two shining from different directions, adjustable ) and it really added a lot of ambient light for the whole room. I would imagine the LED lighting available today would be good, not as hot as the halogen (I think that's what she had) that she used. Can you add some of those in your mock up?

Mary, pretty table you picked out. Looks good.

Sorry for the delay in responding. I have a senior graduating from high school this month and we have been busy with senior activities.

I'm not feeling the whitewashed on the brick. Too country I think. I'd like to tone down or get rid of the pink altogether. I definitely don't like the black surround. I agree with Grover that it looks like a big black hole.

I finally opened the fireplace screen (first time doing so!) and it's so dirty inside the box, I don't even want to go near it. Not sure I'm up for the fireplace project yet. Would like to get it converted to all gas and paint inside the box too. Probably best if I wait until after I get my daughter off to college later this summer. Would like to add additional lighting too as Izzy suggests.

Can I ask for opinions on furnishing the rest of the room? I've decided against the chairs and media console I referenced at the start of this dilemma. I want to have a transitional-coastal feel to the space, if there is such a thing.

I've had my eye on this swivel chair from All Modern in the Classic Smoke fabric. The color pulls one of the tones from my sofa. Two of these to go side by side across from the fireplace. The height of the arms and back are the same as the sofa, so scale should be good.

Ugh. Picture didn't post . . .