Well, knew this was a rather obscure sort of question, but have been amazed to learn of all the talents and varied expertise so many of you have,so I thought I'd throw it out there. From what I've read, the rectangular placement is best for a small room and gives a feeling of movement. This might not apply so much with the height of the tall four poster. Not a biggie. what I've learned from all of our moulding and added trimwork jobs is that it's hard to go very wrong, and that most all rooms are improved by it.... even if not perfectly done.

We have a small oddly configured living room with a sliding French door on one wall, the front door and fireplace on the opposite wall and our TV armoire and bookshelves on an adjoining wall, the combination of which makes a very unusual arrangement with very limited placement. A small sectional was really the best use of our space and we love it. Both DH and I ask ourselves why on earth we hadn't purchased a sectional before we did. It honestly has made our very difficult room enjoyable, giving us plenty of seating and floor space. We also have a square coffee table ottoman that we can use for either resting our tootsies or additional seating when necessary. Granted you can't rearrange a sectional, but if it fits your needs and makes your room more inviting and workable the need to move furniture around is a moot point. Our sectional measures 94" x 94" and is made by Clayton Marcus. It's a traditional/transitional style with no skirt, which makes the look cleaner and more tailored. I would encourage you to look at various smaller sectionals.

Mitch and I were just marveling at how total strangers are figuring out how to work in a baking center for him. This is so awesome - thanks! I'm a little slow, we are back and forth between the new and old house and don't have internet access or computer access all the time. Here's the general layout of lisa's idea. The window by oven may need to be smaller and the fridge is a little too close to the corner...only 21" vs 24" but I figured those can be ironed out if we decide to pursue the outside banquette option. I also redid the interior banquette with the doorway a little further out and 90degree corners. Put a prep sink at end of peninsula and made island smaller. Still haven't decided about interior vs exterior banquette. But there are things I really like about Lisa's idea. The most significant being that I really like having the one wall with no cabinetry. It widens the kitchen and gives it "breathing space." It also gives me a wall where I can put our family planning calender and some other family things to post on the wall. I never would have thought of insetting the pantry cabinet. (by the way...I had too many feet in that hallway. It is a foot more narrow than the drawing. I need to redo that.) The sink stove and fridge all seem closer to each other. And I like that deeper island. And yes I am one of those people who appreciates that it can be centered on the cooktop. Not necessary, but I like it better. I can picture how pretty pendants over the island might frame the cooktop. I also like the fact that the table can be extended out more easily because there are no cabinets across from it. we just put a banquette into the playroom today and I see why you made the table longer than I had. The people on the ends get crowded in otherwise. In fact I'm wondering if we do keep the banquette on the inside if I should forgo the cabinets across from the banquette or make them less deep or just put a narrow furniture buffet there. I had an interesting question come up when I was thinking about adding seating to the island. We have island seating opposite the cooktop in our current kitchen, but I usually sit on the couch which is in line the cabinet run with the cooktop. I just assumed I sat there vs the island because the couch is more comfy than the chair. But it occurs to me that it might be because I am to the side of Mitch when he cooks vs facing his back if I'm at the island. I had initially conceived of the banquette as my couch equivalent. But if it's actually the orientation to the cook...that wouldn't be the place I hang out. Which did lead me to decide if the banquette is outside the kitchen I'd probably rather have a dining table. But the space is probably too small. Or maybe instead of cabinet banquette...a freestanding bench. I shortened the kitchen a little... I also realized that one of the reasons I liked the position of the inside banquette is because I can see the swimming pools from there. I may be able to see the pools from the exterior banquette, but would have to cut a couple trees down. Just wanted to update what we were thinking. I'm waiting to hear back from all the adults that will be in the house and see what their thoughts are on the inside/outside banquette and the flow of the two plans.

I've lived in a home that was custom-build for us, and having as many windows as possible really adds to the quality of your life. One window in a living room will not give you the quality of light you want. Is there another outside wall where you can add windows, for instance on either side of the TV? Light exposure from two sides is so much better in a room that's lived in. I'm going off track here but the window situation, and the corner fireplace, have me concerned because this is a new house for you and getting these things right is really important. About the furniture arrangement, I would put the couch facing the TV, a love seat at right angles to it and two comfortable chairs on the other side, facing the love seat. I hope you'll have adequate lighting so that this area looks inviting at night and you can also read there. I don't think it's going to be possible to have seating that can focus on the fireplace also. Perhaps you can have just one chair with its back toward the fireplace. That's what I have and it doesn't look bad. However, my situation is different and easier because I have the TV in another room.