Wow! Lots of questions! Haha! Let's see. We live in New Orleans and are a very casual, fun, energetic family. DH and I are in our mid 30's and have a 9 year old and a 6 year old. Both kids are active outside of school. TV is a big part of our lives because of sports, movies, kids, etc. But Mike's Den is where lots of the sports programming will take place. :) We are planning to offset the TV and put it to the side of the fireplace for two reasons....1) Now that the kitchen is further over, if someone is in there, it will be more centered to the room as a whole and 2) it can be a bit lower and more at eye-level if it's not above the fireplace. We can make the built-ins accommodate the TV at a level more comfortable for viewing. There will also be a playroom/media room upstairs for the kids. So the Living Room TV will be the group/family TV I suppose. We take turns cooking but both work. So we aren't gourmet cooks but we enjoy cooking meals. We enjoy conversations from the kitchen, thus wanting the open plan. I'd say that because of kids' evening activities, we probably cook 3-4 days a week maybe? Other nights we grill or get take out, pick something up or go out to eat on the way home. The porch. The house (again, in New Orleans...flooding) must be elevated a bit). This porch is elevated with the house. I know we will also have lower space for a table and chairs and the grill, that we haven't laid out yet. We actually did talk about widening the porch. How wide would you suggest? My dad suggested 1-3 feet wider. What do you think? The front door...you see the stairs to the right of the kitchen? And the open pass-through there under the stairs in the drawing? If you go through that pass through...actually straight from the back door, you'd pass the turned stairs above you and a guest room above, master below (in the drawing) and the front door is that way. It's a narrow, New Orleans lot...50x122, which has made things interesting to lay out! :) Thanks again guys! Your feedback is great! Oh, and again, the furniture placement and the kitchen appliances, etc. is just there in the drawings as a guide. It's not fixed or anything. It's just a visual thing for reference.

Yes, we plan to have a closet/utilize the space under the stairs leading up to the 2nd floor (this closet accessible via the study). No closet under the stairs that lead down into the basement currently. Can you fit a closet in this one? Only concern is this is the only real wall in the great room. Unfortunately we need all 3 spaces - formal dining (now serving as main eating area), study, and guest bedroom. I don't want books/computers/laptops/electronics in the dining room. I play the cello - need separate music space/area, so I'm combining music area (place store music books, cello, music stand) with a small desk/books located in the study. Both in-laws live out of state (as do most siblings) and for various reasons, we've had family stay with us for extended periods of time (i.e. months), so don't want to go into guest bedroom to access my computer, electronics, pay bills, etc. Live in northeast OH, so mudroom area/place for coats is essential. benjesbride - That floor plan you sent is almost identical to ours! Only difference is the right side of the house continues to come forward, ours doesn't - ours has to recede due to lot restrictions. If it helps, here's the topo (house on the pie shaped lot)

I am thinking possibly a painted table and chairs with a washed oak top? Would also delete the shelving to the left of the kitchen area and replace with long low console that you love....not to match the dining set, different and not oak or washed oak. Put your art work to one side of console and a lamp on the other side of console and a wide empty of vessel of some sort....consider changing out your chandelier and the black/orb knobs in the kitchen to Brass for a more modern look...bottom of chandelier should be 30-36 inches above the table top. Example of washed oak/oak table, console, chairs, and chandelier......

Need measurements of the space, but before you buy anything, remove the round rug and turn the table. The space is more generous than yours, but this picture shows what I mean.