Lisa T, We are just two people so adding a small table against a wall is a great idea! And, if we place the table against the wall where the chairs are in the drawing above, we get amazing space utilization (even better than if we place the table on opposite wall where the TV is in the drawing).
Below are photos how new arrangement works in dining area and in adjacent living and kitchen areas. You have to use your imagination!
PHOTO #1 BELOW:
In photo, I am trying to show HALF of a table for 2. Other half will go where counter is. This will center table along wall in back of powder room (where chairs are in the current diagram). And, we will have plenty of clearance so can enter this space through doorway. We are removing the door so it will just be an opening and we will be able to walk into dining area and then on into kitchen area.
A small table (2 feet 6 inches X 3 feet 6 inches) against the wall will seat 2.
Move small table off the wall to seat 4.
Move small table parallel to the wall and extend it with leaves to seat 6-8 (but will be a bit narrow, according to chart below from dimensions.com).
PHOTO #2 BELOW: Making change mentioned above, allows us to have more room for furniture in living area! We can have a couch in front of the sliding glass door and two chairs opposite TV to be mounted on wall.
PHOTO # 3 BELOW:
Please excuse the mess! I just want to show that our 194 inch wall with kitchen cabinets (shown in diagram) can now be extended by 36 inches of upper and lower cabinets and we will still have 6 feet of floorspace before we get to the chair that's closest to the dining/kitchen area!
We can use some of that 6 feet of floorspace between end of cabinets in kitchen/dining and chairs along wall in living area, and here's how:
Mark transition from wall of cabinets to dining/living space, at the very end of the row of cabinets, by adding a tall plant. That will take up, 2 feet of floor space.
We can put in a 36 inch cooktop in kitchen instead of a 30 inch one. This will move the wall of cabinetry 6 inches more toward living area.
We can add 9 inch pull out on each side of the cooktop (for frequently used spices and oils). This will move wall of cabinetry 18 inches more toward living area.
In TOTAL, after making above 3 changes, we are taking up total of 4 feet (2 + 1/2 + 1 1/2 = 4) of floor space along the wall. So we'll still have 2 feet of floorspace between the plant and the chair in the living area. And since it's a plant (and not a cabinet), it will feel like there's even more than 2 feet of space.
Note: I don't want to confuse things, but the diagram I shared above shows the wall of cabinets in kitchen as 12 inches longer than it really is. Since these calculations are based on this diagram, we really have 12 inches more of floorspace, and that means there 3 (not 2) feet of space between plant and the first chair. So we have a nice amount of space on floor.
Lisa T, wow, your comment came just at the right time! Thanks!
I took the last 6 hours or so, non-stop to figure this all out and write it up --and now I'm exhausted and hungry!
Would love to know what you all think! Do you see any issues??? Please don't hesitate to be critical. Thanks!!!
Q
We like having color on vanity. Like the 8 inch high legs. Would rather not have bowl because it's kind of messy...is that right? But contrasting bowl looks great. Do not want to do fancy faucets like this. And Charles could be OK with brass in powder room! Unfortunately, this vanity is custom made. Also like round mirror. Not wanting mirror with lights anymore. They don't add enough light. Don't want medicine cabinet after all. Our ceiling is too low for pendant light. So sconces maybe.
Q