Exactly what Sophie Wheeler suggested. It would make a wonderful home "Library"

Where do you live climate wise, how will most people enter the house and what hobbies do you have?

I might extend the kitchen counter across the opening a few feet and make it a bar. The dining room would become "my space" with books and objets on built-in shelves, and a table with two chairs where I can sketch out my gardens, and enjoy the front yard (I like to see who's going by, who's coming up the drive, etc.)

I would partition it off from the living room, and make access via an opening from the foyer. I would consider making it match the study, opposite. It would make a wonderful "away" space.

I like Sophie's idea with beautiful circular seating in the middle to accommodate cozy chats. In our house we would have a puzzle going or left over monopoly game from family night.

I would either make it a sitting/reading room, or a TV room (I can't tell if there's room for a big TV beside the fireplace).

Great suggestions! I was definitely thinking sitting area/library/game-puzzle area but didn’t know if it would be overkill since we will have the other area as an office. Thanks so much!

Leave the space as is, and put a pool table in there.

In our previous house we had a pool table in the living room because we had a large family room and a large playroom.

My friend has a pool table in her dining room.

It will get used more on the main floor than if it was in the basement and you don't split up a party into separate groups.

There are some nice looking pool tables available now that are more streamlined and you can choose custom colors for the felt so that it complements the rest of the decor.

Rope it off with velvet ropes and make it a shrine to those that spend countless hours searching the internet for someone else's home design that the side elevation only has a window at the master bathtub, plop it on any site, and try to make it theirs.

Actually theres no great place to put a TV in the great room to view from a seated position so maybe, you can make it into a TV room for watching TV sitting down and not from the kitchen.

I'm a musician, so my first thought was a grand piano in a music room. :)

17 years ago, we'd have put the natural wood train table in there with a bin of tracks, some nice framed posters, and a rocking chair and called it done. At one point it'd have had a piano or keyboard (not the drum kit, thank you very much).

Bookcases, a comfy chair and ottoman, table for comestibles. my spinning wheel, and a basket of wool.

Thanks Mark, super helpful as always. :) You earned a like from me for sure.

I'd want to steal some of the space for a front hall closet. Even in a warm climate, guests sometimes have rain jackets, umbrellas, etc.

turn it into a sun room with a comfortable chair for reading lots of plants

Mark's is a strong contender and has an early lead in the "Best Sayings of 2018"...competition is heating up! :-)

April H, I'm in suspense. What HAVE you decided to do with the space?

Virgil,

No wait, I am sure Mark will easily best that remark.