If your grandkids are still young, what about a slipcovered sofa from Ballard's or Pottery Barn? We had two Ballard's loveseats several years and one home ago that were well-built and comfortable and the slipcovers could be taken off and cleaned. They weren't labeled to be machine-washable but I did it several times with good results (note: I did NOT tumble-dry them, but rather line-dried them).

Definitely the Gianna leather sofa at Macy's. It has a close out price. I have two of them and my daughter has one. We paid full price. Love, love, love them.

Very pretty house!! Without a floor plan and square footage... I'm having trouble with the love seat on the wall to the right. In the shot you have of the whole area you don't have your cabinetry - which is lovely! - but my sense is the room will feel unbalanced and too heavy with a loveseat on that wall. That may not be the case with the cabinetry in. But, I'm thinking more of an L-shaped sectional that will float completely... with one L floating in front of the windows a few to several feet, and the other in front of the island. Maybe with the L on the window side being a chaise so as not to block the view. And maybe two chairs with an end table between them on the wall to the right for a little conversation/reading/whatever area.

As for fabric - I know this is a love it or hate it fabric - but given the grandkids I'd really think about microfiber. I have it because of my dogs - the hair doesn't get embedded into the fabric, I can just wash dog slobber and whatever else off, it is easy to vacuum, and it holds up well. (They use it for cushions on boats if I recall correctly because it is so durable.) I'm a clean lines and contemporary person too, and I think it fits well with that style because it is clean and non-fussy. Just my thoughts....

If you are thinking about an inexpensive sofa for a few years, have you looked at Ikea? Their Ektorp line looks like the Pottery barn style (loosely) and they have a few MCM inspired pieces. I can't say they are great, long term couches that stay comfortable for years and years ... But they are inexpensive and several styles have removable slip covers.

The wall to the right of the fireplace runs 11 or 12 feet before the door.

Here is the floor plan:

I'm hesitant about leather. I don't find it as comfortable as some cloth and I worry about it getting scratched or marred. We are on the other side of the country from Ballard's and I find it difficult to buy a couch without sitting on it to see how it feels. I'm short so too deep a couch doesn't work well for me and that's hard to tell looking at pictures.

I guess it's time for a trip to Ikea and Pottery Barn as well as some other local furniture places.

Thank you Beeps. We did the kitchen remodel about 6 years ago with help from the kitchen forum. The fireplace wall remodel, family room cabinets and new floor were earlier this year. There use to be a large '70s faux rock hearth with a very small fire place taking up most of the wall and a lot of floor space. The cabinets were made by a local cabinet maker to our specifications.

Somehow, I can choose the hardscape of the room and even the carpet with confidence even though they are a considerable investment, but I fall apart when trying to find a couch or fabrics. It makes no sense.

Try Thomasville. I'd use a sectional with a wedge between the two side pieces for more useful seating than a corner piece.
Click on the right arrow for a schematic of all the sectional pieces.

We have a Thomasville sectional that has held up very well these past 8 years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Example of sectional pieces

Thanks for the floorplan. I'm still liking the idea of a sectional that floats in front of the windows and then in front of the island. Then a couple of chairs on the wall with the doorway that leads to the pantry and utility room. You could actually do a curved sectional in that space also, but it seems like that might not be the best use of space.

I think I figured out my problem with a loveseat on the wall you wondered about - not only would it feel unbalanced, it will protrude so far that it will be partly in front of the fireplace, or at the least the fireplace surround, and I don't think that will look good.

A sectional like I have would actually work... but I don't have a pic of it. It has a chaise on one side, but the back goes all the way down on that side except for the last few feet, and there is no armrest on that side. Nice for reclining and watching TV. Feels a bit more open that way and that would work on your windows side.

I had my sectional custom made because I needed a particular size and, of course, nothing was made in that size. Also because I'm tall and like a deep seat and firm seat so was able to get those things done the way I wanted. It didn't cost too much more than buying something from a furniture store. Well, more than Ikea but... :) And it is deep enough, and the back cushions are not attached, so it makes a comfy extra bed when needed! You'd hate it, however, because it is deep.

Good luck. Flooring is much harder for me! :)

Went couch shopping at a couple of stores yesterday.

Ikea: the couches were generally too deep for me and not very comfortable. I didn't see any color choices that I loved for the room.

McCreery's had a lot of couches - after sitting on every couch they had, the Flexsteel Digby couch was the most comfortable though a half inch to inch less deep would be better for me (but maybe no one makes that -sigh). I think the look is pretty good for the contemporary/transitional feel of our house.

We would probably go with a lighter color than the picture I linked. They say that their Kashmina fabric (nylon) is "practically childproof" and that spills will bead and clean up with soap and water.

What do you think?

Here is a link that might be useful: Flexsteel Digby