I love your new drapery - gives a more finished feel around the windows and softens the 'edges' a bit. Of course, I would never close them, as I dream of having all that window area in a room! What are you thinking of as regards a couch? Leather or fabric? Color? Style? Does the black floor screen have a purpose (and is it painted or louvered as it appears? Are your shelves adjustable? They appear to be, as I see a couple that are of different heights. Take advantage of that as you rearrange things, so that all the shelves are staggered. It will help make the whole wall more interesting. As for what is on the shelves, you need to take everything off, and group it as you do. Collections like tankards, or figurines that are related, or related colors, all the books by size in one pile, or by subject matter if there is a strong theme with some of the books, all the sets of candlesticks. You are kind of setting up a store around the room, which you wil shop. Then take a critical look at what you have. Are there things that just ended up on the shelves that have no particular meaning or value to you? Maybe it is time to pass them along or sell them. Do you have too many pairs of candlesticks that are totally unrelated? Could some of these items rotate out periodically? Would some of them look better elsewhere in the house (say in the dining room hutch)? And, while you are at it, are there things elsewhere that you would really love to see in here? Now measure your items, and see what the tallest shelves you need might be, and roughly how much space. Do the same, just roughly, with all the things you have to see what you need for a majority of the space. Always be sure to leave a little space above items, so they don't look wedged into the shelves. Breathing room will show them off better. Then re-set the shelves, and try to stagger some of the heights from one section to the next, so that you have a some smaller shelf heights mixed in, and in different places. Now you can start putting things back. Maybe try placing the larger items that have less flexibility, and the larger collections of things that need more space, and the unique pieces that need to find the best 'home' on the shelving to show them off. Then perhaps put books on the shelves in varioius spots. Finally, you can fill in with the smaller things that can go in more places, can sit on books, etc. As you place things back, don't forget to stand things against the back, like plates or even small pieces of art. Books can stand or lie down in a stack, and small items can sit on a stack of books, larger ones act as bookends. Try to have a variety of things that carry your eye through the shelves vertically - don't line up books on the left, bowl in the middle, candlesticks on the right on every shelf as you go up a section, for example. Think of a meandering trail that brings you through the shelves. Try to mix up color a bit, and leave some space on some shelves for resting places for the eye. It will take a while, and you will likely have to tweak a little once you have done the first placement, but it will be wonderful! It looks like you have lots of great things to use, and lots of space. You just need to re-group and re-arrange to let everything show to its fullest advantage. I am also looking at your room arrangement. How many people normally use the space, so how much seating do you need to watch tv? Do you use the game table and chairs in the corner often, and for what purpose? The reason I am asking is that I am wondering about taking the single bergere chair and ottoman, a side table and lamp, and putting them in the corner where the table/chairs are now, to create a reading corner. Taking the two matching chairs and putting them on the end where that chair is currently (the bottom area of the pix, if you will), with a table between them. Then moving the table and chairs to the area where the two chairs and black screen are now. People at the table would be able to sit there and play a game or have a snack and enjoy the fire and the tv, and it would give the grouping a bit more room, rather than having it feel isolated in the corner.

jlc, I also have concerns about the appliances. It's a bit suspect since they insist we replace all the light fixtures for safety because they were in contact with water, but said nothing about the appliances. They also seem to think that the vacuum is fine having sat under a stream of water not once, but twice. I think that the appliances come under the contents insurance and we can challenge that later in the process (but I get all excited thinking I might actually get a gas range so I don't let myself think about that). I don't think the fridge will fit in that nook. I'm pretty sure we tried that route during the last reno, but it wouldn't hurt to measure anyways. dietician and annkh, I love that little micro! If we don't use it in this house, I'm going to keep it in mind for my in-laws lake house. Their micro is about 30 years old and I keep thinking I'll replace it, it seems a shame until it actually dies. Thanks funky camper. There really isn't anything to do but carry on. And if you heard me complain about this north-facing dark condo that has absolutely no outside space like my hubby does everyday, you might not think I'm handling it so well :) I know I need to draw a diagram, but I am so lousy at that. I actually have a woman who is going to be drawing up layout plans for all the rooms. I'll try to post those when they are done. Glad to hear I'm not the only one that likes the wood cab. It's also a good place for my KA mixer. I just have to remember to have the cab above it mounted about an inch higher so I can actually lift the mixer head all the way up - a wee mis-calculation on my part the first time around. See - a disaster is just an opportunity to correct past mistakes :)

another thought is to extend the kitchen into the dining room and use more of the back wall for cabinetry and counterspace. it looks like there may not be enough room for an island in your first solution. I might still consider removing the wall between the kitchen and living room to open it up more but instead of the kitchen going into the living area, it will go into the dining area. would need to do plans to see how it would work and the current windows in the bay window may need to be reconfigured to be shorter for countertop space. idea would be something like this... island would extend to include the table....

If it were me I would make both areas double function, meaning, I would have a comfortable dining capacity in both areas, but I would also have a place to just sit and relax in both areas, either enjoying the view out the window or the warmth of the fireplace and the conviviality of the kitchen. I’d also want a table near the kitchen for those times I didn’t want to haul my lunch or breakfast or evening soup all the way across the house. I’m a big fan of off-center dining areas utilising banquettes and benches, so that is what I would think about doing in your dining area: A high-backed dining bench on the wall to the left of the window, fronted by your table and chairs, and then make the rest of the room a place to soak up the sun (your pooch has already figure it out) and to read when guests aren’t there for lunch. I’d give the living area near the kitchen a clubby feel, with a deep swivel chair positioned at the fireplace, and a table at a height comfortable for dining while sitting in the cornered sofa set. If you can find a table on wheels might even be better. You definitely need a serving trolley if you are keeping the dining table at the opposite end of the house from the kitchen.