The bookcases are dated. They would still be useable as shelves in the storage room next to the garage. The ceiling on the left side of the house is just beautiful. I would carve a shallow space out of the storage room (18” or less) and recess the entertainment area into that wall. Put your entertainment area in the “gorgeous zone”.

China cabinets are not currently in style. I would put a wall there with a buffet area facing the dining area. The area next to the fireplace should coordinate with the entertainment area, but could have a separate function such as computer area, home office or reading nook. A sketch is attached.

Here's some examples of what you could do for the tv. (some have it above the fireplace)

For the wood bookcases, I'd paint them white, maybe leave the one under the window, and get rid of the others. (you could also put doors on them for extra storage)

( this shows tv on the right, but yours would be on the left)

Thanks @Beth H. : Is there a design/style benefit to having the TV built into that hollow area vs. making the wall flush with the fireplace next to it? I love a lot of the ideas you sent!

Thanks for the photo. I did not understand the previous photo and mistook the brown for wainscot instead of cabinets. There is no need to recess an entertainment system into the wall as I had suggested. You already have the basis for an entertainment center.

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@armchairshopper Since the depth of the wall is relatively deep, is there a benefit to building the entertainment center into the wall where the current cabinet is?

It all depends upon how you want to use that storage room. It is so long and narrow that the space is hard to use efficiently. I could envision splitting it into 2 or 3 walk-in closets with entrances from the great room for a walk-in closet with shelves and clothes racks for out of season items, an entrance from the garage for a closet for tool storage, or possibly a mud room, combining that exterior entrance with a path to the great room.

Here is a great instructional video on TV placement for your viewing pleasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=psclZo0hYSI&feature=emb_logo

Congratulations on your new home.

MAE

Hello Jes,

This great room is truly exceptional as well as challenging. I would love, with your permission, to put together a 3-D rendition of your great room. As a designer the exceptional and challenging is what I love to work with the most. If you accept my offer I will need a couple of things from you.

1. A picture of the room with your back to the wall with the amazing long cabinet, to include your kitchen area.
2. Measurements: a. of the wall with the fireplace on it to include the width of the opening.
3. The total width of the long wall that includes the long cabinet, the sliding doors (their width) and the door that goes into your storage area.
4. The measurement of the long cabinet and the smaller one in the alcove.
5. The measurement of the sliding glass door that lead out to that beautiful patio.
6. The measurement of the windows opposite the fireplace.

Yes, that is a lot of measuring but I sincerely believe that this already amazing great room has unlimited potential and can become spectacular and have that WOW factor as well as being functional and comfortable all rolled into one.

I would enjoy putting the 3-D rendition together so I can present you with the possibilities that are at your disposal.

MAE

@armchairshopper. Do you think the wall that backs up to the utility room is the best place for an entertainment area in this great room? The utility room has the boiler, etc. in it. How would you frame the family area if you mounted tv on wall above massive wood cabinet? I feel like it wouldn't allow for a large dining room.

Would you keep that 10 foot wood cabinet, or remove? We are very much undecided. We were initially taking about mounting the TV by the fireplace, but that seems to create a "dead zone" where the wood cabinet would be.

I do think the wall that backs up to the utility room is the best place for the tv. I would change the uses of the rooms. The gorgeous zone becomes the entertainment area and the long cabinet would become the focal point of the room. The long cabinet is unusual, both the design and the wood used. I would not paint it. Without seeing some up-close photos, I can’t be certain, but it might be crafted of (solid) walnut. I would float shelves on the TV wall as in the photo provided. A portion of the bookcases can be relocated to the back wall in the entertainment area. For wall colors, I would consider something like Sherwin Williams colors SW6525 Rarified Air or SW6238 Icicle to suit the airy mood.

I would change the former formal living area into a formal dining room. The fireplace is awkwardly located, with a modest mantle. It is not unusual to have a fireplace in a dining room.

Eventually, I would want to expand the kitchen into the adjacent area, with a large island for casual dining. The kitchen designer can design a server that makes the column less noticeable and creates a buffet space for guests in the adjacent dining room. This plan would require a big budget, but could be done over a number of years to keep the cost manageable.

I would split the utility room into three spaces. A storage closet could be constructed in the front of the house and enter from the garage. Since the space in the middle has a notation indicating that there is water, it could become a future laundry room. The space at the back of the house could become a mud room. Get a storage building for your lawnmower: it is a lower cost per square foot. The current stacked laundry area could become a future linen closet or give room to expand the downstairs bathroom.

I need a lot more closet space than the downstairs bedrooms have. On the marked up floorplan, I expanded the closets in both bedrooms. Putting a closet in an area with a window is a challenge that can be overcome by a good closet designer. Click to enlarge my marked up floor plan.

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Consider building in a base cabinet and countertop in the space and keeping the upper part of the space open. Then you could attach your tv to a ceiling hung tv bracket above that base cabinet so you could swivel the tv to be seen from either room and at different angles. You could add a drywall channel if necessary to hide the cords within the sides of the niche if you are unable to thread them through the adjoining wall. Paint the base cabinet your wall color.

Then you could use your wood cabinet as a sideboard in your dining area rather than paint it white or leave it as is only to have it be out of place and "stick out like a sore thumb".

https://www.google.com/search?q=ceiling+hung+tv+bracket&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimoMq9s5nrAhUo1lkKHW5BDUwQ_AUoAnoECA8QBA&biw=1366&bih=654

@armchairshopper I like the idea. Can I email you a few questions?