Have about $70,000 in budget for these 4 rooms so trying to maximize impact. We live in a Denver suburb and our backyard is a large city park (we can walk out to it - summertime means free music concerts and family events).

First set of pics are our great room with kitchen and nook - Need help in placement and figuring out a use for the space behind the sectional along the windows (desk and computer are moving).

Second set of pics are of formal dining area with 'mineshaft' cutouts that I do not like.

Will be putting in mudroom addition behind the kitchen nook and moving the patio door to enter 90 degrees from the current door so that we aren't walking into the nook anymore. From here I'm open to ideas.

Great Room: Add bay window behind couch for sitting nook? Or do larger addition to create a large dining nook so we can enjoy the park view? (grass is green 8 months of the year). Then repurpose kitchen nook into kiddie sitting area (I like that you can't see the TV from there) and repurpose dining room into comfie adult sitting room? I prefer casual dining and often entertain 2-3 other families with little kids. The deck outside will be replaced so another idea is full sliders along that wall for outdoor living.

Nook: Create booth/banquette dining in existing breakfast nook since we'll be closing up the door? Would need to move ceiling fixture but that's no biggie. Larger issue is that we only have one wall and need space to open pantry doors on far side. Hence, casual sitting area idea.

Dining: Remove the entire cutout wall, or just the center beam to create a single large cutout with some modern molding or stone accent? Or put in a two sided fireplace with room to walk around it to the living/piano room? Ideas on replacement light fixtures? Or install fireplace or wet bar in place of the wall window - view out is neighbor's vinyl siding so we never open it up. Yes, the elk head is here to stay - hubby hunted for it and is very proud. Can't bear to make him take it down. :)

Kitchen: Ideas for backsplash and some interest for the island?

Please, pick away. We have decided to make this our house for the next 15 years or so and want to make is kid friendly, mountain contemporary and great for entertaining. I veer towards neutrals with hints of color. Thanks in advance!