Okay here is a better rendition of the current/ original layout. Top left kitchen with one window, top right family room with fireplace and TV, bottom left dining room, and bottom right sitting room/formal living room. My goals are to open up the kitchen to the family and dining room. I feel this will help the flow a lot. The kitchen and family room are also very dark, so I want to let in more light. I also plan to move the wall between the family and living room so the hallway runs straight. Currently I want to keep the sink where it is since it is under the window. We discussed it more, and we really don't want a prep sink in an island as we don't feel it wouldn't be worth the cost/functionality for us, though I understand the rational. We cook, but usually not extravagant. I realize though that I'm breaking the zone principles and the ice, water, stone, fire rules. I'd like to open up like this, but still struggling to layout the kitchen in a sensible way. Any other suggestions to improve the whole home/kitchen layout/flow/functionality? Thank you.

I don’t have opinions on all your questions but I do think the stone coffee tables are too flash, and wood is the way to go. I think you don’t need a dining room rug. It helps keep the space feeling airy to have the bare floor. Get a simple console. Maybe you‘ll want to reupholster your dining chairs someday, but I see no need to replace the whole set. Get rid of the torch floor lamp. If you want art upstairs put a big piece on wall of the upstairs hallway. Don’t put it on the overhang between the windows and the mezzanine. I never like gray, but that’s up to you. I like the present color of your rooms. I tend to like to do something unexpected and unique in decor, so I would be thinking about painting a slightly different color (or wallpapering) that one part of the ceiling that is the underside of the mezzanine balcony. In the end, I might decide against it. But it’s tempting to wonder what might be interesting and pretty as an accent

Below are just a few ideas for what you might be able to do with that empty space. Perhaps you could try a sideboard there, make it a small desk/office area, you could make it a reading nook, or another small sitting area.

Hi, This is the upstairs. I want this to be the main living area since the view from there is best. The 11x8 in in Meters (sorry) The ceiling height is 2.5m. Right now this space is divided into two bedrooms and the sitting area (where the arrow with west is). Here is the current floor plan that is there right now.