rhome, thanks for responding. Just trying to make sure I understand. Do you mean make the doorway thicker in the direction from the kitchen/LR to to hallway, where the actual frame under the sheetrock is, or make the sides of the doorway wider in the direction from kitchen to LR? I didn't understand about creating a doorway from the kitchen to the LR. (Sorry for being obtuse.) But yes, we do want to be able to get to the switches coming and going. Also, there will be a door in that doorway, so the width itself can't shrink, but I could put any width trim there When we put the beam up, we had to decide whether to veneer it or put sheetrock on it. We decided at the time that sheetrock would be easier. Now I'm second-guessing that decision, but at this point, I don't think widening the whole beam is an option. I did think about trimming the whole beam as I would a doorway so it could be trim color, but that also seems to me to defeat the purpose of having chosen sheetrock, which seemed the easier thing to do at the time. What I'm really second-guessing is the design of the addition that connects the house and garage, but since we did that 12 years ago, what's the point? I wonder how it would be to make the breakfast wall the same color and change colors around the corner in the kitchen.

Thanks! I'll get the dimensions of the room as soon as I can and post it if they'll help with ideas on furniture placement. Joe - we were actually wondering if there were any mounts that lowered, pretty cool! Will keep that in mind We do want to keep the mantle. If the TV was on the far wall, thought it'd be more visible from the breakfast table as well as the kitchen since it's one long hall.

Thanks for the very helpful feedback! I’ll post TWO separate responses below – one specific to the WINDOW issue - and then a second specific to the COLOR issue – accompanied a few other helpful images. Windows: Re TEMPERED GLASS mention by Patricia Colwell Consulting. Good point. We’ll check local codes on that front and also get an updated quote from window supplier. Re: WINDOW UNITS - comment by HALLETT & Co. that windows should be being ganged or mulled. I just want to clarify if you are saying that the three windows should be joined together to form a single window unit? If so, my husband prefers to avoid that approach given weight and resulting deeper header requirements (which will make the increased window height issue an even greater challenge...). Or are you saying that we should visually connect the three windows by using something other than the selected stone/stucco (or other) in between? Re: UPPER WINDOW vs LOWER MATERIAL - per HALLETT & Co. comment to move front material UP to the bottom of the (upper) windows. We did try that in original V1 image – but then lowered somewhat to improve proportions. I understand what you are saying about the traditional application of such (ie stone/stucco) materials – but in the V2 version, we did lower that material to avoid that awkward, narrow strip. Do you think the lower material need to be raised right up to the lower edge of upper windows – more similar to INSPIRATION image below ? Related to this topic - comparing the v1 and v2 images – I do agree with raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio who thought that additional space helped to create a more graceful transition. But I’d appreciate any/all feedback. Inspiration Image - HGTV Dreamhouse picture below (which inspired some of our design decisions) - and below that - our current house AS-IS :)

Without the measurements that a pro would know to provide, there is no possible offering of a solution. That a pro would not need offered. I suggest you contact an actual design pro to do an as built for the space, and then use their services to space plan what is a very expensive project.