Wow, that's a tough room, width wise! I like the original arrangement better, with the tv on the shelves, although I think I'd remove the loveseat and put in another chair. I think that would really open up the space and give you more arrangement options. As it is, I'd try it without the coffee table, as that makes it much more crowded looking. You could do end tables where you need them most; maybe one a set of nesting tables, which can be pulled out when you actually need them for guests. If you use the coffee table for feet, then I might look for some smaller round or round edge square ottomans/tables that won't take up as much room visually or physically and can double as tables when needed. I would probably paint out the wainscoting the same color as the upper wall. I think it adds to the visual clutter. It also adds another of very many small square/rectangular elements...the trim in the wainscotting, the shelves (which I would de-clutter by paring down what is displayed and probably also paint them the same color as the wall), and now the rug. I'd look for a quieter rug that is not geometric to bring some softer, cozier elements in (thus the rounder ottomans/tables, too). Maybe more like these:or these: I'm not usually a drapery fan (at least for my own home) but I think if you hung draperies around your windows, generous with the width and height and amount of fabric, it would really cozy up that wall and soften two more rectangles. There are some great window covering experts here who might make some recommendations as how to do it in the best way. And no to dark brown walls. I think in that space I'd want to bring in more light, in paint, draperies and a rug. Your furniture is already dark, as is all the wood. I'd look at pictures online and find rooms with colors that make you feel good while lightening up the space, whether a warm, light gray, a tan or taupe, or even a soft, light gold color, like the one in the room above with the yellow ottomans and brown couch.

It's been several days since I have posted, but that is because I have been giving these ideas much thought and have been talking to many professionals. What is your style? Do you have pics saved in an idea book of the look you are going for? This is an excellent question. I have looked at thousands of pictures of kitchens, and I haven't seen one that I can say, "That's exactly what I'm going for." So, to best answer your question, I'll show you the materials I'd like to use: ginger maple shaker fronts, white solid surface counter, "oak" LVP flooring, "painted" backsplash tile, and, if I keep some wall on both sides dividing the kitchen and dining room, I'd put the blue paint in the kitchen, yellow above the chair rail and the blue below in the dining room, and yellow on the walls of the rest of the main floor. So I'm not sure what you'd call it - transitional? Although I am very excited about being able to see and chat with people at the dining table while I am cleaning up in the kitchen, I think I do prefer having the more traditional mental division between kitchen and dining room with even just stub walls, and I do like the chair rail, if I am able to keep a bit of wall on the sides. Maybe that is the very definition of transitional? But practical matters of the small house and large family and a limited budget must be considered above my personal preferences. Although the contractor said "it doesn't cost that much to reduce the bulkhead," "it doesn't cost that much to move the sliding glass door," and "it doesn't cost that much to move pipes for the clean-up sink," all of it together - with the cabinet vendor that he uses - did cost much. He just came out this afternoon to do some measurements and discuss ways to reduce cost. This plan below is what I discussed with him: (1) Instead of messing with the bulkhead at all, keeping the wall only as far as the depth of the bulkhead (about 23"), but then have little to no wall on the other side. I can't have 23" on the other side for symmetry, because that wouldn't leave enough room to walk around people seated at the table, but I'm hoping that would look fine if we put cabinets up to the ceiling in the corner where the bulkhead is. He liked this idea a lot, because you just don't know what's in there. (BTW, I offered to pay him to open it up and see, but he won't open it up to have a look, or do any work at all, until a full contract is signed, first payment given, and cabinets ordered.) He did warn, however, that the cost of the cabinets and counter there will probably cost about the same as what he was including for reducing the bulkhead - so this solution does give more storage, it doesn't actually save any money. (2) Instead of a sliding glass door, put in a 30" standard door using the opening for the existing window in the dining room. A sliding door would be much better than a swinging door that hits those seated at the table, but it will be rare that we have people seated while others are going in and out, so I'll do it if it saves a lot of $$. He loved this idea, and said it would save me about $1000, but when I asked about what he'd recommend about the HVAC register that is currently on he floor in front of the window, he said it would be too costly to move it, and I should just leave it. It seems the register plate would get kicked up and rusted with traffic in and out, so I am not sure how good of a solution this is, after all. (3) I thought having a pantry closet with shelves and doors would save money over the cost of cabinets and countertop in that alcove, but he said the labor to put the shelves, doors and drywall would be more, so I'll go back to the cabinets. (4) Lose the second dishwasher. If I have a prep sink, it won't be so bad having one dishwasher with dishes piling up in the clean-up sink. As you can see below, I'm concerned about clearances and flow; losing the dishwasher will cut the cost some but also will give better clearances if I have to keep the 23" of wall below the bulkhead. I played with a few designs with two dishwashers and only one sink, but none of them seemed to work nearly as well as this one. Bbtrix - the range is centered in this design :-) and I'd love to know if you think if the stub wall that would stick out about 6" would still create a strange divide between the dishwasher and door, now that the dishwasher and door are much further away from each other. He liked this idea, but it still requires moving pipes, so let's hope that "doesn't cost that much." (5) I've fallen in love with the white solid surface countertops and the painted backsplash I pictured above, but I may just have to go to laminate countertops with the 4" backsplash if that saves thousands of dollars. He recommended granite over laminate or solid surface. Many granites are beautiful, but my countertops are primarily a work surface that functions better if it is light-colored and simple, and I find granite dark and very busy, and the few granites that are lighter in color seem to stain easily. I've heard laminates have come a long way, I just liked solid surface more because it's more reparable, doesn't have seams, the integrated sink, and I like the soft feel of it - maybe that's not worth the extra $$. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me and has been liking my comments - I warned in my subject line that this would be a challenge, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into!

I would hate to see that big sofa blocking the window and the cabinet left of the FP. Don't do a loveseat; they're a pain to arrange. Two swivel chairs at the window would keep it open. Be sure to center the sofa with the FP. This will give you a path down the right side to move from the DR to the far doorway. Will your two lamps fit on top of the cabinets? If so, you might consider selling your table set and just using one large square coffee table in the center, 18" or less from all the seats. Just a side note, your art is all hung too high. Individual pieces or groupings should be centered 5' above the floor or hang bottom frame 5" above furniture for better visual balance. Have you though about new art for an update? You could do a full gallery wall opposite the window.

more pics to show what's on the other side of the wall. powder room, pantry kitchen and dining room kitchen is almost done