Thank you Rosie and Mtnrd for looking at this layout. Rosie, you bring up some good points, and you've made me realize that I can treat that French door wall as if it were solid window. I had to go back to the architect 3 times to get the door from the bfst room to the porch, since she'd originally envisioned that as a window and didn't seem to want to change it out to a door, since she kept "forgetting" to change it. I envision using that door to the porch most of the time, but I think, because we're in the South Carolina Low Country, that I want the option to open the room up as much as possible when the weather is nice. What you can't see is that at the end of that 8' wide run of porch is a round gazebo type room on the porch that is where we will actually have our main porch furniture and spend our time. We're on a large lot on a river and look out to Live Oaks hung with spanish moss and a small pond. I'll post a pic of the whole plan so you have a feel for the rest of the space. Re the built-ins. The built in on the north end is a wet bar, and on the south end is a bookcase. I gave our KD/cabinet guy my inspiration pics, which are all balanced built-ins, and he's a genius. He came up with a plan that beautifully balances the different functions of the sides and makes it beautiful. this is one of my inspiration pics [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/formal-living-area-traditional-living-room-chicago-phvw-vp~151875) [Traditional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by Rockford Interior Designers & Decorators KannCept Design, Inc. - the space is very similar re the upstairs - and I note that the window wall is solid. I will take that under consideration. This was one of the other pics. We are ending up with a darker blue cabinet design going it. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/cherry-hills-transitional-living-room-denver-phvw-vp~572005) [Transitional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2112) by Denver Kitchen & Bath Designers Exquisite Kitchen Design Mtnrd, the two objects are a small table and one of my extra dining chairs. The other is against the wall in the dining room. I think I misspoke about the trays defining space too. There is a tray in the dining room, dropped headers and posts around the kitchen area, a "balcony' upstairs that overlooks the living room space which actually has a vaulted ceiling broken up by a windowed dormer to bring in some natural light into the living room. It does all serve to define rooms, although if you followed all that I give you kudos! It was easier just to say trays. :) This post was edited by mlweaving_Marji on Tue, Oct 29, 13 at 22:29

Kitchen isn't too bad. Ice water stone fire is close. Where's the dishwasher? Move the sink to the left a few feet and you have a staging area from the fridge, washing then prep. And cooking right across. You don't have a cleanup zone that doesn't interrupt a cooking zone. That could get annoying. They're right about the aisle. And if you're thinking standard depth fridge it's even worse. I would post on the kitchen forum. They're pretty good over there. I dont understand your layout by the fireplace. Why are all the couches floating? 16' is a big space, but it feels small in your drawings.

The door is to the backyard yes. I am definitely debating between the last two. The sofa facing the tv is comfortable for viewing but the fireplace looks best with the two chairs framing and everything fits. May move the sofa table behind the couch when we get an actual tv stand. You guys have been a great help. Side note how close can things go to the fireplace. Example can there be drapes on those windows or would that be too close?

Congrats on your new home! Will you have a tv in this room?