I can try to push the furniture closer together. This is a big space but a bit hard to layout as the fireplace is an angled wall and there needs to be a space to get to the sliders. We haven't done the sofa on the wall below the windows as we like the recliners to face the tv and fireplace. Here is the floorplan so you can see what is hard to see in the pictures. Thanks for all of the wonderful suggestions and ideas, I truly appreciate them all. I ordered curtain panels to match the dining room ones today so I'll see when they get here what else I want to do.

Pictures don't enlarge so we cannot see anything. Make sure they are jpg

I wonder when natural brick and stone became a feature so disliked in the decorating world? Is it the Gaines effect? Pinterest? IG? All of the above? I mean, sure, throughout history people have painted masonry, but never to the extent as the last few years. It was something thoughtfully weighed and considered, usually due to bad brick quality … not a trend for any and all situations. Especially not with stone. Looking at real estate in my town, a large percentage of the houses have exterior and/or fireplace masonry painted over … and they look like badly done DIY projects. I’d never buy one. Reading old threads here, it was rare for anyone to suggest painting or limewashing masonry. Instead, the features were pretty much treated as background, and creatively integrated. I hope the tide turns, as there won’t be many houses left with interesting and natural features. Sorry to veer off, OP, just something that interests me. It is a discussion board, and I’m discussing. :)

Ruh roh, cat's outta da bag! It's only a matter of time til someone says "French Drain" when it comes to storm water management. Unfortunately, french drains are not the-end-all-be-all. Realize that storm french drains are installed 12"-24" below the top of grade, so water must first soak into the soil before you can cart it away. The adjacent area would need be saturated before the water moves horizontally to the underground pipe. And proper discharge is if you have an area that is lower than the pipe depth. The main intent of them is to alleviate the saturated soil around them, but wouldn't you want to direct water before it has a chance of puddling against the house? They do not address grade that is sloped improperly, which you will be fighting against no matter what solution you choose. So regardless of whether you do a french drain, gravel trench, swale, ditch, sump pump pit, or even plastic poly ground cover, the grade needs to slope away from the house. Period. And often, that is all you need to solve a problem.