Ok I am back..... Wow, I just read thro' all the responses and you guys rock !!! I love this forum :))) So far the consensus seems to be to open it up. To answer some of your questions.... oakleyok: The rooms are small. LR is 13 x 18 and FR is 11 x 18. So if we open it up, it will prob. be around 24 x 18 which I think is a nice size....Not too big nor small... bumbledoodle & jan in wisconsin: Thanks for sharing :) I am glad you love the openess....Its very affirming. We currently have a full set of furniture in the LR(Sofa, loveseat, 2 chairs, coffee & end tables). In the FR, we have a loveseat, 3 accent chairs and the TV which is currently on a console. One wall in the FR is dominated by a brick fireplace, similar to the inspiration photo that I linked. So I guess we will have two separate seating areas, even if we open up the rooms. Prob. one will be near the fireplace and another TV watching area.... lynninnewmex, nanny2a & bronwynsmom: Yes, I def. plan to check with an architect if its a load bearing wall or not. I've read (in cote de texas's blog) that if you put in a doorway, it wouldn't cause an issue to the structure as opposed to removing the entire wall. Is this right?? palimpset & pps7: Thanks for letting me know that traditional homes have open architecture...I never knew that. I didn't grow up in this country, so a lot of it is new to me......Now I feel better that I won't be really messing up with the integrity of the house :) Scanmike: Thanks for sharing your pics. You have a beautiful home. I really love your sunroom..I wish I had one and also some new kittens :) susanilz: I think we'll be here for atleast the next 5 yrs...Maybe 10 yrs...I don't have the energy to move anytime soon...So I guess, it makes sense to make it into something functional for us.... vampiressrn: We don't entertain a lot...But def. a few times a year, we have large gatherings for 30+ ppl....Maybe we'll be more prone to entertaining with an open area...I am feeling really pressurized cos we're having a formal gathering of nearly 50 ppl...Its a prayer meeting, so everyone will be sitting together in the same space unlike a party where ppl can move around... Initially, I was considering putting in only a regular doorway (with a french door or pocket door). But after committing to hosting such a large gathering, I am really at a loss on how we're going to accomodate everyone. This was the trigger to everything..... jamaraz: Thanks for sharing your experience...I am scared about the unknowns...Sometimes I think I am opening up a can of worms :) monablair: I am not sure it would work for us. Like I said, the FR has a fireplace and has a very cozy vibe..Maybe I could place some seating around it and have some bookshelves against the adjacent wall to create like a reading/library room (similar to the little reading nook in Somethings gotta give)....I love my books :))) awm: Thats exactly the look I wanted initially. But somehow DH is against the idea of french doors or pocket doors. He wants a more open feel I don't know if I should really listen to him. He doesn't hang out obsessively in design forums like I do, KWIM :)) He's pretty clueless when it comes to design..... How wide do you think that opening is in the pic?? I initially did want doors. But I am not sure how wide the opening would be if we put in doors(like I said, we're trying to accomodate nearly 50 in one space) Also, with french doors, I am thinking if it will hamper the space/furniture placement when we open the door. tomorrowisanotherday: Yes, I really don't want to lose real estate value...I will have to somehow figure this out and make it work.... dlm: Thanks for sharing your pics :) Your french doors are so gorgeous...I don't have any in my home and I really love the look of one :( teaforwendy: We do have a door connecting the FR to the breakfast nook & kitchen. Its not as open as I would like it to be but I don't mind it too much for now...Maybe it could be a project for the future...... kjmama: Yes, we did talk before :) Infact, I searched and pulled up your thread yday to get more ideas. How's the doorway working for you?? Are you done with decorating? Any pics to share :) Please keep the ideas coming...Right now, I am def. leaning twds putting in a doorway...Our "handyman" is coming to take a look tomorrow...But I need to check with an architect about the load bearing aspect of it before we start on anything....Will keep you all updated and will also, try to figure out how to post pics meanwhile..... Thanks once again :)

May I ask just what is a "servery" and what does one do in a "conservatory"? You must not be in the US. It looks to me that the current family room has easier access to the kitchen than does the current dining room. That would be a plus for doing what you want to do. As of the floor plan, it looks entirely doable and it makes sense to reverse the use of the two rooms. It looks to be awkward to carry food service all the way around and down the hall to the current dining area. If you have servants, that might make sense. Since most of don't have any such, it makes sense to have the dining area adjacent to the kitchen. Most people don't even use the more formal dining areas of their homes, except at holidays. The modern sensibility is that most little used areas of that nature just amount to wasted space. So, if you spend more time gathered with friends than gathered around a more formal dining area, make that change.

you may want to try sofa on the wall across from the window and love seat on window side. good job not crowding the window, by the way. if you move the sofa, keep the loveseat away from the window (you should be able to walk behind it) more on that later. having the sofas across from each other will open up the room and say "welcome, come on in" when you put a sofa across the room it says, caution keep out. your choice on how you want the room to feel. keep the sofa and loveseat the same distance from the fireplace sides, center them on fireplace not the room. if you want to keep the black footstool, try your red throw folded and draped over it and/or add a woven tray similar to your beautiful basket. (the tray will act as a place for snacks/remotes etc.) A lovely tall/and wide plant would be great behind/and to the side of the furniture on the window wall. (use a quality faux if you aren't a plant person or don't want to maintain it.)

I had 3 different guys come to my house to see if they would be able to stain an unfinished floor. All of them said that they wouldn’t be able to match-the one I have is factory finished, wire brushed and moat likely had multiple different stains that they were only able to do at the factory. The cost would be about 4x the wood floor and no gaurantee that it would be match I have.