I should also mention that on the corner of the L is our entryway (which we have plans to improve in the future but not for a year or two)

If you're willing to change the furniture, something lighter like some of the examples above would look so nice. Frankly I prefer the softer rolled arms because they're so comfortable and allow you to lounge around in several different positions, put your legs up on them, etc. Comfort first, I always say.

Usually those are a LR and DR space if you post pics and tell us a bit more about your style and family it helps us to help you. As for online sources you have proably already figured out most are LR / DR so that is why we need more info like do you need a DR.

1) wall may be structural 2) you may have to replace all the flooring if you remove it, unless you have more on hand 3) I'm confused, because it looks like the dining room is already in the main space, up by the kitchen/window where there's a chandelier hanging down. then I see two ceiling fans worth of LR space. the more enclosed room to the left looks like an additional/separate room, maybe intended as an office, or as a more enclosed space (family room) for TV watching. if you open it up, you need to think hard about where you are going to put the TV with furniture facing it, and how you will subdivide the rest of the space. If you can draw a sketch of the floorplan, with measurements, including things like whether there's a closet near the front door, we might be able to rough in some different arrangements to help you visualize what you might be able to do with the spaces. It's a bit too hard in the abstract to tell whether this is all one big seating space, or whether it's big enough for an entry zone or game table and a separate conversation area, and what would happen if you added in yet more LR space...