Thanks everyone. @aktillery & @grandmaof3, you hit the nail on the head - it's all too cluttered. Most of the money for our kitchen reno basically went to buy an extra 12" of width for that room, now I realize just how big an improvement it is to have more space and less stuff. We don't do shoes in the house mostly, and we've experimented with various schemes over the years to corral them. Stuffing the shoes in bins has worked okay until recently but my kids are crazy tall - the 10yo now wears men's sized shoes - and they're getting harder to jam in the bins. I don't love the look of the Ikea shoe cabinets but I'd be tempted to get one simply for the function, except it just doesn't work with the descending staircase wall. The step chests that @Annie posted are an interesting option to explore, hmm... I've been hunting for some shallow sideboard/console/buffet/hutch for that space between the door and the banquette. Then I'd probably dump the bench/shelves at the entry entirely. But I feel like it might look a little weird to have nothing there at all. @Annie, I don't need desk space - both kids have desks in their rooms that still go unused (early elementary, homework tends to be done at the kitchen table.) But I would like some kind of screen; sometimes it's the best way to lure them out of the living room where most of the TV watching goes on. And when we have friends over we tend to put the kids at the banquette and have adults in the dining room. Rationalization, but we have not managed screen-free parenting unfortunately! @Tibbrix, I've been stalking CL but I'm also sort of gunshy about the whole thing. And I can't decide whether I want something painted (and if so, what color) or stained. And of course I've been hunting around all the usual suspect stores/sites from PB onward. @daisychain, I've seen a few old chests used as sideboards, I need to explore this option more. Thanks for all your help. I'm going to keep hunting and maybe post some possibilities here...

How about a counsol table with a couple benches or ottomans underneath it. They can be moved over when you need extra seating and they are out of the way when you don't need it. I inherited this one from my mother. I love being able to display things on top, store things in the drawers and easily wheel the benches out when we need extra seating.

You are fortunate to have a large room! As for the side table next to the sectional, it's not too much if you need it. If someone often sits there, they do need a place to put there drink and/or a snack. Maybe you need the table for a lamp, too. The one you have there now may a bit small, it looks like just the box of tissues takes up the whole table. Before you purchase a new one, why not wait until your area rug comes so you can get a good idea of what type of end table will suit?

I like the art, but not over the mantel and sticking up above the built-ins. Have you tried flipping the two pieces of art? The table left of the kitchen entrance will be too small for the larger art, but you could find another spot for it. Then put the rectangular piece above the mantel to repeat the shape of the glass windows in the top of the built-in. The warm yellow/gold/brass tones in the two pieces should work well as your bling in the room. Try a low brass bowl on the coffee table.