I put the TV on a separate wall than the wall which will eventually have a wood burning stove. (The mantle and backdrop is already in place. Right now I am dealing with homeowners insurance that doesn't want me to have one.) I don't watch much TV at all, and I really dislike - for me - having an ugly black box being the center of living room attention. When I have guests over, we're here to talk. I can think of exceedingly few occasions I'd be watching the idiot box with guests. Probably if they were here several days, we'd rent a movie or two via Amazon Prime. (Moot point right now, COVID and all.... but hopefully that won't last...) And with a wood burning stove, the exhaust pipe will go up and bisect the view of any TV over the mantle. I sat down on the couch to figure out the best viewing height - which is well below what the mantle might ever be, at least on this couch. It would be fine if I could lean back and rest my head, to have something over mantle height - assuming I'd go with a regular fireplace. But at six feet tall - there just isn't a couch or sofa like that. Plus as others have said, what about decorations? I enjoy decorating my mantle for various holidays! After all, that's really what mantles are for, right? The thing is off to the side, and it does not get glare there, either.

Everyone seems to be commenting on the kitchen /breakfast room. How about this sketch as an improvement? It flip-flops the kitchen and breakfast room, which seems like a radical idea, but I think it works. Benefits: - You still have space for a window over the sink and could even have another kitchen window on the short side of the "L". - The stove could sit on the short leg of the "L" and could vent directly to the outside. - The wall dividing the kitchen /family room is gone, but the island still provides a visual barrier. The rooms are much more open to one another. - The breakfast room is spacious and could have multiple windows (sunroom-ish), and although I didn't draw it that way, it could still be a banquette. - The pathway that's liable to be a bottleneck is now to the breakfast room instead of the kitchen, and that's likely to be less of a problem than a bottleneck into the kitchen. People go into the breakfast room and sit down -- they don't pass through multiple times like they do in a kitchen. - Your husband can still have the penninsula. It's just relocated to the back wall of the kitchen, overlooking the breakfast room instead of a walkway. - You still have roughly the same amount of base cabinets, though the configuration is different. You will, however, lose some upper cabinets because this kitchen is much more open than the G-shaped kitchen you have in your plan.

Sueb – Hmm. .we do have a finished basement. I prefer to be upstairs for tv, but maybe that will get used more in the years to come. Ha ! ‘whoever loses’ Daisey – I feel like I’m getting so old, lol. We don’t watch tv on anything other than the tv, but I’m sure that’s something that will change eventually here too. Mayflowers – but he comes from solid Scandinavian farm stock That made me chuckle. I think a sectional would work and give a two sitting spots while not going over the entrance like the current loveseat. I don’t know about an end table then. I don’t think there’d be room to the left (when facing the tv). With the current entertainment stand the tv viewing seats would be about the same. I’ve been working on some plans. I need to refine and clarify a few things, but I’ll be posting eventually asking for feedback. Melle – Nodding head yes. The couch and loveseat was the ONLY furniture I found IRL (traveled all over creation) that I liked. Didn’t measure anything. Then I went bonkers buying stuff off CL with no plan and no measurements. That’s how I ended up where I am today, lol. It’s been long enough now I can justify making some changes.I had to look up that chair. I never heard of it. Thanks! Mtnrd – An L shape sofa or section may be in the future. Ha, I already went to DH about knocking down walls or adding windows and after the bewildered look heard a no. Melis – We need to do something about our DVDs. We don’t have a lot, but I need some storage space. If we keep them I may end up putting them in a large holder and putting the cases in the attic. We think about getting Netflix on and off. I have a relative who loves it. Fori is not please – I love your name! Unfortunately I don't know if it would make a viewing difference the way the unit is made. It's also three sections. The whole thing is as long as my couch – 8’. Beanbags! Oh we have one! A big black one that’s in the basement family room. :) DH loves the thing. Roarah –I may end up getting some floor pillows in the future. Oh, I’ve love a fireplace! BBGalore – The entertainment stand is one of those things…I actually still like the piece itself. It is dated and that’s starting to bother me. It’s very solid, well made, and I like the storage. But I also think the whole room may benefit if I found it a new home. Crl – DS currently has his own chair that he likes, but he’s been on the furniture more lately. I’m looking forward to removing the chair actually! Just waiting…. Lynn – I think eventually here we’ll get a larger tv. I’m fine with a small one, but I think DH would be pleased with a larger one. Our gym has a very large tv that DH was happy to pick out, lol. Busy – you can angle the tv on a wall mount too... Yeeah, I realized after I typed that I think you can adjust the angle. “it has the corner that we could all (5) comfortably sit on it, with plenty of room to spare!” That’s good to hear. I never wanted a sectional because I don’t like that it’s all one large piece. I hog the loveseat to myself and DH the couch. Kitty – Thanks for sharing the story about your friend! I should bring that beanbag up. I bet DS would like it. Suzy – Pretty room!

TVs on fireplaces are too high for optimal viewing, and from the couch you’ll have to crane your neck. I’d rather see a pretty piece of art there instead. Not sure about between the windows either; I’d place it also my one of the walls with an entertainment unit myself.