I love having a dedicated INformal dining room! Yes, it's 'The Dining Room,' but it's not formal. Long farm table, comfortable chairs, warm lighting, flooring and surfaces that won't get damaged by kids or spills. A really warm and welcoming place to eat meals as a family or with friends. The 'breakfast nook' has just never been my favorite. Even when the space is nice, the furniture is rarely of a caliber that brings joy to the users... I'd replace that with two comfortable wingback chairs and a tall side table -- the kind of place you could have a cup of coffee and read the paper, or sit with a glass of wine while your spouse makes dinner or cleans the kitchen. The other great use for a 'breakfast nook' IMO is as a kids' homework area or auxiliary baking table. Another great use for an unused dining room is (if you can close it off) as a TV room. Get the TV out of your family room and reclaim that space as a family gathering area without the constant racket of a TV.

NafNaf--Forgive me I am not sure what is different in what you are suggesting? Virgil-- I am not good with the descriptions, but the the house sits in a hill and the sunporch is above the basement patio at least for part of it, the garage is under the house. The lot is pie shaped with the great room facing the narrow end of the pie. I have been working on this all morning and moving furniture in my current living room and measuring and graphing again to double check. Right now my plan will fit a 7.5 x 9.5 sectional facing the west wall, that wall will have built ins and house the tv. The far end of sectional will be about 8' from the TV, this is the exact set up we have in our current home and the configuration is very cozy but nice, also the "L" will be open to stairs, hall etc so not closed off. On the fire place end, I feel like I can set furniture(possibly a pair of 4' settees arranged opposite or a combination of smaller chairs and a settee) about 4' from the back of the sectional and comfortably flow between the sitting areas on the stair side---I measured with the swing of the doors etc. I am keeping in mind that yes its tight if the doors are open but that will not be often. So with my furniture arranging I realized that the slider will just not fit, its much better with large windows that open. I am thinking 4, 6' casements.

What Size Chandelier Should I Choose For My Space? This article will try to sum up how to choose the correct size chandelier for your space. Taking into account the height of your room, the size of the furniture in the room and the size of the room. The first step: The Diameter Get a measuring tape, a piece of paper, a pencil and possibly a calculator (I'll bet your smart phone has one). To determine the diameter of your chandelier: Measure the length and width of your room. Get your calculator (if you have one) and add the two numbers together. For instance if your room is 10 feet wide by 12 feet long, you will get the answer of 22 feet. Anyway go ahead and change that 22 feet to 22 inches. There is where the diameter of your chandelier comes in you need a chandelier that is 22 inches in diameter. If you are looking at a chandelier over a dining room table, figure 12 inches smaller than your table is wide. For example if your dining table is 4 foot wide - 48 inches, your chandelier should be 3 foot wide - 36 inches. Better too big than too small. So a good range to look at over a 4 foot wide table would be 36 inches to 40 inches say. The second step: How Tall If we are looking at 8 foot ceilings in this dining room, it should hang about 30 inches from the very bottom of the chandelier to the top of your dining table. If we are trying to figure out how tall a chandelier to hang in your foyer it should drop about 7 feet off the floor to the bottom of the chandelier. So think of it this way, for every foot of height estimate 2.5 to 3 inches in chandelier height. Trust your eye. The third step: Now Where to Hand This Chandelier Don't limit yourself to just a dining room or an entry way/foyer. You can hang a chandelier over your claw foot tub or free standing tub. This chandelier shouldn't be too large, a mini is usually enough to dress up the space. You can have a chandelier in the master bedroom, just put a dimmer on it and you have created a romantic glow, much safer than candles for those special occasions. A mini chandelier or two over your kitchen island, a large island 10 ft or so could probably take 3 mini chandeliers. The Fourth step: What Kind of Style Should I Choose If you lean toward a rustic decor, a chandelier that has antlers or wood beams could be an option. For a modern contemporary look try a drum chandelier with crystals too add some sparkle and bling. For a more shabby chic look how about a beaded chandelier for one with a distressed painted finish. Most chandeliers have the option of an adjustable height, usually means coiling a cord, taking out a link or two, or some have a sliding mechanism that allows height adjustment. It all depends on the style of your chandelier. Check out: http://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com for lighting options

I have a huge slider in the back of my condo. I have a sheer for privacy, curtains, and valance. I'm very happy with it. JCPenney did the valance and someone else did the curtains. First picture is with the sheers closed and second is with the sheers open.