My greater discomfort is that my existing full size fridge on the other side of the kitchen is going to stick out until we can afford a counter depth version in a year or two. That's where you might want to bump out the base cabinets (if possible). Deeper countertops are great but will be more expensive. If that wall is a straight run of cabinets (no corners), bumping out the base cabinets would be easy to do with the bonus of not having to replace the refrigerator.

with your bump-out is not going away, it needs to not have interest drawn to it. Blend it in!. The trim/railing and cabinetry (wood elements) should all be painted a slight contrast to the wall color. The wood paneling should be removed and that will allow the ugly seam above the exterior glass door to be gone. As for the bump-out finish it with wood (top and front and side if there is a side). Paint the wood as the other trim. Unless you are willing to spend a great deal on recreating the railing and doing a great deal of construction these ideas may be your best out ?

The entrance to our house goes right into our living room/family room. Since we do not have a large living room I was contemplating doing a bump out and moving the front door entrance a few feet further away and creating a longer hallway. I'm not looking to have an enclosed mudroom, as much as I'm looking for a foyer, add some additional SQ footage, so that the entrance to the house be so close to the living room. I feel like we have the space to push out, but I'm wondering if the brick in the exterior of the house would be problematic to remove. Looking for any suggestions on whether this is worthwhile project or tips on how to move it forward.

Thanks for all the photos. You do not need to do a bump out--expensive and won't give you the feeling you want. Can you remove the fireplace--it's in an impossible location? If you can remove it, I'll have some later suggestions. If you can't remove it, here are some suggestions: --Plan a long, low storage center--bookcase all the way across the far wall where you have TV with cubbies and shelves below for books, baby toys, etc. Something like this. Get rid of those black storage boxes by your current front door, which makes that feel so crowded. Put those things in baskets in the TV storage baskets. This is a very streamlined, practical setup. Plus the layout works. --Buy a small low, good quality, comfy leather sectional with low backs on all sides a camel color and up on legs to give a feeling of airiness. And because it facing another room, it will give you a feeling of spaciousness as in your inspiration photo. Placethe long side of the sofa against window but a several inches away from window. Place shorter side so back faces entryway and TV can be seen and forward enough to put a cabinet/credenza/dresser/sideboard behind. --Get a sofa table or narrow storage credenza to put against the back of the sofa. Look on Craigslist or thrift shops for something warm and practical. Style it attractively--again storage that looks great yet is a practical place to stow keys, shoes, phones, etc. --If you can get rid of the fireplace, do so. In it's place, put a good-sized credenza--you won't need a sofa table if you're able to put a great storage piece where the fireplace is. After you work out all this, rethink you gray walls, which close in the space.. Go for a warm white walls with warm white curtains ceiling to floor. Look for a nesting coffee table up on legs for airy feeling and rounded shape to avoid corners because of your baby. --Change your door color to a teal inside and out. The yellow doesn't work well with the floors. --You might even have space for a small swivel leather TV chair in front of TV wall facing sofa, but don't get anything more than small sectional.