Furniture should be modular, small-scaled (but comfy). If you have a flat-screen hang it on the wall, and it should be on the wall where your sofa is now. Hang it past the door so there is no danger of it being hit if the door is banged open accidentally. We use the Sanus (available at BBuy or Amazon); heavy-duty and completely adjustable for maximum viewing angle.

In your former TV corner you now have a good-sized "L" for a modular sectional that should seat 4 comfortably.

You have tons of options for the closet/kitchen half. Need more counter space during a party? Find a cabinet or cart with a fold-down extension wing, set it next to the DW. Makes a great bar or buffet. For 1 or 2 people it can serve as your DR table. Tip: look for "craft tables".

Find a few comfortable, stackable chairs (they do exist, check outdoor wicker-style with metal frames - I have some with arms and we like them better than the usual folding chairs) that are sleek rather than a traditional upholstered or regular DR chair which takes up too much room. Or if you prefer traditional, on-line vendors like Whatever Works has traditional-looking DR chairs that fold up, in several styles.

Make sure that sliding door closet is well organized for maximum storage. Need more? Find a 10" deep, 48" high, 24-36" long bookcase with a finished back (or just cover or paint the back). Set the bookcase at right angles to the closet, with the front facing your back wall. Use it as a pantry or for dvds/books; whatever you need.

IMPORTANT: use a couple of L-brackets to screw that bookcase to the wall. You do not want to risk someone stumbling into it and knocking it over!

You now have created two rooms. For maximum sociability, set a couple of chairs at right angles to the wall on the LR side, in front of the back of the new kitchen/DR storage unit. Or for a more "open" look, use some good-looking bar stools - make sure the tops are cushioned so that spending a couple of hours sitting on one doesn't wreck somebody's back.

In front of the chairs/stools or below the TV, line up some multi-purpose units. Invest in stackable, lightwt footstools that can do double duty as both footstools and TV tray/drink tables. We have a microsuede drum-shaped foam footstool, but I've always liked these sturdier ones from Grandinroad. Colorful and would fit a variety of decors:

http://www.grandinroad.com/stacking-ottoman/408550?SourceCode=ZZ51121&cm_mmc=Comparison+Shopping--Google+Product+Listings--NA-_-NA&intlShippingCtx=US%7CUSD&CAWELAID=120245400000121956&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=10623551861&CATCI=pla-265982827395&catargetid=120245400000164759&cadevice=c&gclid=CLi1r5rT-c8CFYZcfgodk40DhA

How's that for a start? HTH!

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