What a pretty room and home you have. I have to agree with everyone, the windows and view are fabulous. I don't agree, however, with a window bench. One thing I would do is pull the sectional back so that there is no rug coming out from underneath the sofas in the back. In other words, pull the sectional to the far corner of the rug (next to the glass top table). This will shift things over a bit and move the recliner out of the walking path. Visually, it will look better also. It's not that far in either direction, so it won't be too far from the television either. If you have radiant flooring, you probably won't be able to put in floor outlets. Moving the sectional to the rugs' edge will possible allow a table with lamp or floor lamp at the outlet on the large wall (closest outlet to your desk). I agree, a comfy chair and table with lamp in the far back corner would be perfect. Especially the lamp. Is there an outlet near the glass top table and chairs so that a floor lamp could be placed there? If you get three good lamps in the room, you'll be able to turn off the can lights for a relaxing evening. If you cannot do floor outlets, I might only do one sofa table (against sectional back facing kitchen). I can't tell how much space is actually there - would there be a decent walking path to the glass table? If so, something more hefty than the table you linked from CB2. Make sure it is not taller than the back of your sofa (minus the cushions that stick up). If open below, buy a couple of woven wicker baskets with lids to hide toys, games and/or colorful throws.

Thanks everyone for your great comments! Buehl, love your idea but sadly, no, I can not close up that window. It is the window to the street, the porch and I love it. Even if I didn't love it the Historic Preservation people would never let me get rid of it. So it stays. It sounds like you all agree adding the fourth counter makes it too small. What if the counter was 18 inches instead of 24? Would 6 inches help much? I still need storage underneath. Bmorepanic - you are not the first to propose cutting down the other side. A second designer I hired suggested cutting that down to a 15-18 inch pantry only (pantry for dishes, not food - food pantry has a good home) floor to ceiling piece of furniture painted a different color. I actually love the idea but here's the rub...that counter is totally our favorite place to work. Our dishes are in the uppers there and that works with where the d/w is...we hate to mess with that part of the space. I am thinking I could make something that was a pantry-like cabinet but still had a counter...not as deep but we could still prep over there... and keep the 24 under the other window. My husband and I don't love the bigger counter moved to under "street" window because it is weird to face the street while you are prepping...and at night the blind comes down and that is even more strange. At the other counter you are facing whoever is sitting at the counter so that seems a happier place to work. Our goal in adding the counter under the window was to have a place to plate the food out of the oven. We also have to have room to store: all kitchen gizmos, pots and pans (we have alot) but I think we could also hang some. I would also love to have a spice drawer, pull out pantry for oils, and a tray storage. Am I high to think I can get all of that in? I know if I go shorter than 20inches it won't happen. Ugh! I can tweek my plan now but I have to decide by Monday if the counter under the "street" window is 24 inches or less. If it is going to be 24 inches then I have to reconfigure the garden window so the sink can be centered. If it is under 24 inches then I can tell my GC to center the garden window and take another week to figure it all out. But not much more. I would love to hear more ideas - it is so helpful to get input from people who understand kitchens as opposed to someone who designs kitchens. My guy threw boxes and uppers everywhere and now I fear I am cooking in a space the size of an airplane bathroom. Here is a link that might be useful: amacs renovation blog

Sabrina Alfin Interiors - I like the idea of switching out the chairs and light. Getting rid of the table itself isn't an option right now. We purchased and redid a gorgeous craftsman style house in the PNW (the table fit in perfectly there) two years ago, and as soon as we were all settled in we had to relocate to Florida for work. Not too many PNW craftsman styled homes here! With all the expenses of the last few years, a new table isn't on top of the priority list, but new chairs and a chandelier are totally doable. Sammie J, decoenthusiaste, and oaktonmom...agree with you as to the bizarre lay out. As it is now, the dining room is the corner part of an L shaped layout - with a massive TV/great room on one side (not shown in the photos), and the informal seating area (by the kitchen) on the other side. Unfortunately, it isn't an option to flip the rooms. For some electrical code reason (the details are fuzzy), we can't add the type of lighting that we would want for the dining room if we were to swap the rooms. It has something to do with whatever the previous owners had done when they re-plumbed/rewired the house a few years ago. Oddly enough, this layout is very common and preferred in homes in our area.

I would hire an interior designer, but first, I would also "get to know my neighbors". One of the benefits of a condo or stock plan home is that the floor plans are similar and you can get great ideas from other owners. You can find out if they used designers and who they used. Then you can work cooperatively with a designer to achieve your vision. There are some amazing designers who are true artists and can make your space an amazing, well designed, functional home, but like every other profession for every amazing designer there are 5-7 who range from good to mediocre and 2 or 3 that are simply inexperienced or lack talent. In my experience working with both interior designers and design professionals from high end furniture stores and kitchen stores are mixed. I have had some fabulous suggestions that really worked out well and many uninspired solutions that I could have done as well without assistance, a few suggestions that made me shake my head in disbelief (placing the fridge where it can t fully open, moving an entire wall instead of moving a doorway) and too many that exceeded the agreed upon budget including one who told me I needed to replace 1200 sf of tile to work with the wall color she selected. Some of the best advice I have gotten has come from posting pictures and dimensions of my space on Houzz. Some of my best solutions have come from reading discussions and designer feedback on Houzz. Good luck with your condo!