Did I post this in the correct area to get help? I am new to Houzz.

When you say it's open to the dining room is it a step-down/up or is it even flooring. And is it same flooring or different. Any demarcation at all?

Are you planning on hanging the tv on the wall or putting it onto a console?

How much seating do you need/want for the room. Is the room just for tv viewing/visiting or are there other needs for the room.

Are there any potential traffic paths through the room? Where is the kitchen in relation to the dining room?

Betty, yes, this is the correct spot! Could you label your floor plan with where the other rooms are and what the doors lead to? Where is the entry door? I'm assuming across from the stairs, but can you show us those kinds of things on the floor plan? Do you have children, pets - meaning how durable are you looking for and what kinds of furniture are you attracted to? It might help to find some inspiration pics by searching Houzz's collection and post pics here of some rooms that speak to you. Someone could suggest white slipcovered furniture then learn you want brown overstuffed leather, etc.

Betty, it is..)) Actually I spent quite some time thinking and looking at your plan, I just didn't like anything I came up with by now. It's not an easy plan. Olychik and blfenton are asking the right questions..I'll add one more: how big the TV is? Actually, couple more: how many people will use the room? The ages? Are there any additional storage needs? Books, games, media collection..?

After studying the plan I -for now-can see only two spots it can practically go..in the corner on the left (and it would mean to put it on a diagonal, and I imagine it would eat too much space and light so I'm not a fan..) ..or on the 9.9 long wall-and then it's a matter of what furniture and how to place it so everything will flow..

I might've missed something obvious or less obvious of course.

Everything you can tell about your needs/wants regarding the room-will be very helpful.

Do you want to be able to see the TV from the dining area?

On that 11' opening, is that a sliding shutter? or does it somehow swing? or will it always be open against the wall as in the picture?

Is the room just for TV viewing? Or will it also be used for visiting and conversation? Does it need to accommodate play space for children?

Sorry , on the floorplan the sliding doors are 7'11", I didn't realize the 7 didn't show up. The sliding shutter will usually be in the open position as shown in the pictures, it stacks up on the left side of the sliding doors not on the wall. In the first picture you can actually see part of the dining area, that is where the card table is sitting. The floor is the same throughout both rooms. You can also see the entry door into the house on the left under the mushroom light. The door on the floorplan in the bumpout leads to the master bedroom, and the door on the stairwall leads into a closet under the stairs. We have no children or pets and this living area is the main living area in the house. It will be used for our main TV, relaxing living area and also, for all entertaining. Our tastes are more contemporary and we like lighter colors in the cool tones. The TV needs to sit on a console and it is 65". There is no set traffic pattern in this room, it will be determined by the furniture placement. Thanks for all your help. I am looking forward to seeing your suggestions.

While not ideal-I tend to agree with practigal's suggestion.

The sectional should be on the smaller side..visually light..something like this: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09136240/ (not suggesting it, just as an example of something that can fit size-wise while not being too bulky)..I agree it should face the dining room-will be more open natural feel to the space..the coffee table in the "L" of the sectional..the console with the TV on the longer wall on the right to the entrance..don't like the idea of TV being so close to the entrance but the wall sits a bit deeper, than the entrance line..that's good.

Maybe very slim console or etagere to the back of the longer side of the sectional, providing a bit more storage/pleasing separation to another side of the room..?

I think about that corner, in the far end, next to the door..while having something like a small armchair would be practical, for reading etc, I'd rather/also see something taller there..something that can be seen when you enter, so your eyes travel behind that sectional..a reading light over that armchair? a taller plant? a thin bookcase? a painting?

Will continue to think..

Would be interesting to see other suggestions..

Ah..definitely try to get a rug, in that TV-watching zone...will give this planned, a bit separate, cozy feel..important when you need to pack different activity zones in a small yet open space.

You can get it later when everything is on its place..or you can actually start with it, using a color/pattern/ texture you love as an inspiration for all the other pieces.

Maybe demi-lune console(doesn't have to look traditional, regardless how it sounds), or low bookshelf, next to the door on the stair side?

I wouldn't do too many furniture pieces in the room..together with that, you do need a spot where you can drop mail or keep change in a tray, maybe put a small lamp and add something you love like a house plant or whatever makes you happy. You can add a mirror there. An interesting hook maybe. Especially that door being the door to the closet-makes sense to create a little pretty area in there that will correlate to that closet function..

another idea of a small, visually light sectional: http://www.cb2.com/lotus-3-piece-natural-sectional-sofa/s509023

(again not promoting it..haven't purchased anything from CB2 before, and it's pretty expensive I must say ..just an idea of something contemporary, light-looking, relatively small foot print)

Like the idea of an acrylic console btw..some people hate acrylic(like my husband)) but it definitely provides a surface/storage while preserving the airy feel.

The illustrating pics are good there..they show how they float this piece without it feeling awkward in a space..

I don't see how putting a sofa facing the DR and the TV on the wall segment between them allows for decent viewing. I see your two options as (1) putting the TV in the corner (not necessarily on the diagonal -- a 65" TV is generally a little less than 60" wide -- doesn't leave a lot of space, but it can be placed flat) or (2) putting the TV on the wall between the window and the DR and floating a sofa opposite the TV and in front of the stairwell wall with a walkway behind it.

I would probably use a sofa or sectional facing the sliders with the TV in the corner and a console or sofa table along the back of the sofa to give a landing spot for the DR and a transition between the rooms (most sofa backs just aren't that special base for a reading lamp too). You say you lean contemporary and the space in that corner is limited, so I would consider a non-traditional option for the TV console. This one is a lot less bulky than a traditional cabinet. It could place the TV flat or angled a bit without being obtrusive.

We have a FR with an open end and lots of doors and windows like yours and the only real solution for us was to put the TV in the corner. We had a cabinet for a long time and more recently got the easel (ours is the black, which is a stain so you see grain and it comes off more charcoal than heavy black like a painted finish would be). I am so much happier with it. The components all sit on the bottom, we got charcoal grey flannel baskets for the rest of the shelf space and a cord storage box to contain the power strip, plugs and help control the cords.

Once you get decide on the TV and sofa placement, the rest will fall into place.

I love that easel I must say but isn't a TV of this size still huge for it?

I never had a big TV yet..I really don't know.

It will be wide AND it will sit pretty high..

How the light will fall there? It will sit between two windows. Something to be considered too.

Otherwise, of course it's more cozy to have a sitting/watching TV corner further from the entrance door..I am all for that if possible.

The back of the sofa would have to be "anchored" for sure.

You can float a sofa parallel to the stairwell..less sitting space though, something will have to be added. If guests come-they're not necessarily crazily happy to sit right next to you both on that sofa..Depending on their age of course. But generally speaking.

Or are you talking about sectional, just turned different direction, shorter side across the dining?

But yes, I agree it's the most important decision about that room-TV and seating. That's why it's a challenging one..:)

The problem with putting the tv in the corner is that then all your seating will be to the left in the room and rather squished up and I think you want to leave some room around the sliding doors.

Your 65" tv is 57" wide and the console can, of course, be either shorter or longer. I would put it on the 9' wall section and center it to the left (or right if you are looking at it) and balance it with perhaps a floor lamp or something between the living room and dining room.

Technically your 65" tv is viewed best at about a distance of 9' so there is room for a couch in front with a walking space between the back and the staircase.

An area rug is a really good idea.

Aprilvneverends the ikea sofa was exactly what I was thinking of! You know, they say "great minds think alike"… They also say "fools seldom differ." I wonder which we are? ;)

There is a real distance issue here-you really need a space between sofa and TV (the 9 feet mentioned above is a really good idea) but a lot of the new TVs must be viewed close to straight on- they do not have a wide viewing angle.

I agree that my plan is not the best plan but a better TV viewing distance would be to put the sofa right up against the staircase and have people walk through the space between the sofa and the TV. As to putting the TV in the corner, I would not plan on putting the TV in the corner unless I had already tried to view it on an angle and had concluded that I would be able to.

If the TV has not yet been purchased I would consider going to Best Buy or some other location where they have TVs and sofas for you to check out the distance and the angles.

I never heard "fools seldom differ" ))) It's hilarious.

I agree with all of your points.

We'll have to go for a bigger TV in the next space-the viewing distance will be different...and the family room will be in the front of the house instead of the back..and I dislike it all already.

But I prefer to keep TV where library goes..and it's the right size room for the book shelves etc, and a bit separate from the rest of the house, so people can be engaged in different activities without being in each other's hair..so that's the compromise.