Thanks for the feedback everyone; you make good points. We will also have a TV down in our rec room in basement which is great for our two teenage sons and our 12 year old too (not as easy to supervise as you have lebwhite). We will put their X-box downstairs as well. The TV on the main level will be our second TV. Our daughter just turned 6, so we don't want her watching what the boys do most of the time (although she does get exposed to big boy TV). My husband and I very rarely watch TV (I am too addicted to GW for that LOL) and he is always working. We don't even have cable, and just rent movies on the occasion. I would say the four kids do screen time in one form or another more than I care to admit. As porkandham suggested, I will be sorry not to have the fireplace in the same room as the TV, but we are to have radiant heat, so it will be cozy everywhere! The fireplace will be used, but is also wanted for design reasons. Also, I agree that it would be nice to watch TV in the large great room, but something has to give (i.e. find a new spot) as I am not finding an easy solution to squeezing the fireplace, TV, display shelves and window seat all into the great room. Suero, thanks for the sample furniture layout that would work if we use the playroom as a TV away room. When you suggested two chairs perpendicular to the couch, were you thinking having those chairs on the side of the big window, or nearer to the entrance of the room? If we do put the TV in this smaller room, would you recommend french doors and hall door to keep the TV sound from traveling throughout house. I know the author of Not so Big House is keen on this kind of closed in away room, visable but not heard from main room especially the kitchen (see Fun2Bhere your idea is in line with a famous architect you are not the only one who sees the benefits of a separate TV room). Also I really wonder what to do about the proposed railing between the foyer and TV away room. Should we keep it as a half wall, even though the railing will make the foyer seem larger?

I think I would swap the smaller sofa and put it n the tv room and put the larger one centered, floating in front of the fireplace. I'm not usually a fan, but since your window is off center, I'd try putting the small sofa at and angle, right of the window and face it to a tv in the opposite corner. For the bay window in the formal space, I think it would be a great spot to put your barrel chairs with a 36" round table height side table. What a wonderful place to have morning coffee, read a magazine, play a game of chess, etc or even maybe do a small puzzle. Like this arrangement, but a small round, game size type table.

i would not place over the fireplace, that is too high. you can put on an arm on the left side of the book case where the slot is for a smaller one or leave on the wall it is on, then i would give it a larger console. i think i would continue to have the sofa face the fireplace then have two swivels on the right side of the couch so they can turn to the fireplace, the tv, or the couch. i would not even ask about shelves i would quickly have them filled. if that step down gives a problem i think the least expensive solution is a slanted piece of wood shoved against it. well and glued down. if you ever want a little more color or zip, let me know can give you at the least some cool pillowsl. let me know.

Like Julie Anne, I would use a round table with 4 chairs over by the sliding door. If it expands to oval shaped with 6 chairs, even better! However, I wouldn't do a second table under the chandelier. Instead I would have that chandie replaced with a flush mount fixture and add a chandelier over the dining table. Then I would put a sofa facing the fireplace. The tv can go in the nook to the right if your tv is small enough, or over the fireplace if it is larger. In either scenario I like the idea of shelves in that nook. Put a pair of chairs in front of each window. The ones to the left of the fireplace can share a round table between them. I wouldn't use bar stools, personally. They are hard to slide in and out on carpet and they will restrict your furniture placing options. Instead I would tuck a bookshelf into that spot (because I always need more book storage!) Or just ignore it entirely; when you have guests they will enjoy leaning in the counter just as much as they will enjoy sitting on stools, if not more.