Is there any chance that you could change out the window and door to the sunroom into a pair of french doors? I think it would be a lovely look there, and make much more sense perhaps. You could re-use the drapery if you desired, just hanging the panels on either end. You might consider changing out the spindles to iron spindles or iron decorative panels of some kind. I think the piano is wonderful, and if that is the only place for it, so be it. I would try to tuck it down into the corner a bit more, and take down the sconces. The tall mirror would be wonderful leaning on the wall there, at the keyboard end of the piano, where the bench is. I agree with opening the piano to give it presence, and then adding a wonderful floor lamp near the mirror. I would think about taking the foyer piece and putting that in the DR once the bookcases leave. Then you could put two of the side chairs, one on each side of that, and use the sconces from the piano wall there. By moving two of the side chairs and taking out a leaf or two, you could get your table centered under the chandelier. Rather than putting the flat screen to the left of the fireplace, I would think about putting it on the wall where the tall mirror is now, and orienting the furniture to that. It will fit better with the fireplace and the bookcase if you want a sectional from which everyone can see the TV, and still enjoy the fireplace. The sectional would start from the side where the secretary is, and the other leg would face the fireplace. Replacing the carpeting will make a big difference in the feel of the room. Wood is nice if you can do it, but a neutral berber will create a lighter feeling in the room. A soft grey-green on the walls would seem to work with the fireplace stone and also the wood tones in the room.

Thanks everyone. We wouldn't really consider moving the kitchen - I guess the floorplan above doesn't really make this clear, but with the entryway the usable space in the breakfast room is really 12x12 and smack dab in front of the front door. I don't really want to have my kitchen sink located a few steps from the front door. And swapping it with the office would entail major plumbing etc, without really any benefit since it would effectively give us the same size kitchen as we currently have. We don't really mind the fact that you pass through the living room on the way to the dining room - eventually we'll make that all a sort of great room by knocking the wall down between them (presuming we stay in this house, which is likely, we'll add a 4th bedroom and master bath upstairs.) The living and dining rooms were additions by the previous owners - they actually used what we have made the dining room as a MBR, which is why our downstairs bath has a fabulous 1980s jacuzzi in it! Originally it must have been a tiny Cape but they expanded up and out. We will need to do more to stay here permanently but for now we can't handle the disruption or the cost of anything more than pretty basic kitchen remodel. I think because there really aren't that many different options with the galley, this is my only real "decision" to make - everything else basically comes down to cost and size etc. Building some cabinets into the breakfast room is the only judgement call I have to make and I just want to get it right! Thanks for all the help and suggestions - I really appreciate them!

anele - I tried the sofa on the wall with a chair at each end of the sofa, facing each other, but the problem with that arrangement is that it leave the room feeling a little lopsided. Most all the furniture, except the piano and the small cabinet near the 1/2 wall, is on one side of the room. Having the two chairs in the window helps to balance everything better. I'm not sure the table I have between the chairs right now is the best for that space. It is taller than the arms of the chairs and does kind of get in the way of conversation. I'm going to be on the lookout for a better table for that area. I agree that the wall behind the sofa will be a challenge. hill - you are right about the sofa blocking too much of the window and your comment about open, inviting and balanced are exactly what I was hoping to achieve. Here is the room today with the furniture in place and the rug added back in. It is not the right size or can I get away with it anyway? It is centered on the window and the sofa. See how the chairs are on the rug, but the sofa isn't? Another view (ignore the desk and audio equipment on the left). I I know I need to add a table to the left of the sofa. Most likely the table that was here originally (now sitting between the chairs) will come back to this location. Now I need to work on placing lamps, pillows and other accessories. Thank you to everyone who helped me get to this point.

No, I'm not sure about paint or stain on the shakes, but I live in a shake sided house and I love stain on them. We started out with semi transparent stain (but it was a woodsy, tree trunk kind of color) and eventually, as the house aged, had to move into a solid color stain. It's just much easier maintenance on shakes than paint, because it doesn't peel. But I just searched for that house again and it shows it being built with what I think are prefinished shake siding panels. There are no pics of it with the shakes a natural color, just that color was already on them and none of the other painting or staining was done, so I think they came that way. Is there a reason you wouldn't color the shakes the same as the siding? Wish some kind soul would photoshop it both ways so you could see. If you're interested in seeing that, you might start a new thread asking for photoshop help. Some here are great about doing it.