Your inspiration photos seem to solve your needs. A long bench, with drawer or basket storage below and a double hook (possible a shelf) beneath each window, would give you a lot of storage. You may even have room to add a tall, pull out cabinet at each end or you could modify the closet to have a pull out as well as hanging area. You could add ceiling height, deep cabinets over your washer and dryer and a countertop for folding. If you must have a hamper, as in your pictures, buy a decorative one and store it under your window. After that, just add a rug and it would look great.

A picture or two would help greatly, if you can post some.

Good idea to add doors to converted garage and use it as an office/play room. If you use the sectional in the original living rm., can you remove the middle seat area to make it shorter? Then put it in front of the living rm window and your t.v. and console opposite on wall next to pantry bump out. There will be more walking room to office/playrm. Unfortunate your sectional ends can't be reversed for this reason. Or keep current sectional in office and put new furniture in original living area that will fit the space, such as a shorter sofa under the window and two chairs. Or shorter sofa to make an entrance corridor along front door area and chairs in front of window. Add taller bookcase to bump out area and another chair angled along back of kitchen wall next to t.v. console.

@Maddy Jens congrats on the house it looks beautiful! I grew up in a 1929 bungalow with no formal entry. Your new space looks like there may be room for an entry to the right as you walk in. A bench (with storage) below the window and a thin profile console table with mirror on the wall to the right of the opening to the dining room? The fireplace seems to be the focal point of the room. Keep a couch with or without chaise add-on on the wall and perhaps round coffee table with two chairs facing the couch? If you need desk space that could go where the rocker is now, against the wall perpendicular to the fireplace wall. Beautiful house! Enjoy making it your own :)