Thanks for the input. Yes the room will come in at circa 210sq feet - is that space just too small? Would I be better off with a couch and love seat set up?

The entire house is being demolished and rebuilt so fireplace height is not set yet although i was thinking of just going with whatever the normal would be. Also the fireplace would not be an open fire but a stove within a chimney breast.

IMO a sofa and 2 chairs is what you need and please if at all possible do not hang the TV above the fireplace. What is the space to the left that is also maked living ? I would like to know a bit about your family but very often I like to have a family room where the TV is the focal point and a Living room with the fireplace and more for conversation.

Please do not hang a tv over stove.

A small sofa and 2 chairs would be the appropriate furniture for this space.

I would rethink the entire house, though. You have a small footprint and a lot of chopped up space. What are the 2 kitchen/living room areas?

Thanks Patricia - the space to the left is a granny flat - my parents are getting older so i decided to design to be able to accommodate them in their own space in the future if they downsize - i have excluded that space from my personal living space design plans.

As for family make up by myself at the moment and don't expect kids anytime in the next 5 years. so happy enough with just the one living room although want to avoid it feeling cramped. any thoughts on maybe removing the door from living room through to kitchen? Would that improve sense of space?

Also there is an additional 50sq m on the first floor at the rear of the house for office/bedrooms/bathrooms.

Yes, I would eliminate the wall between the kitchen and living room. I would also eliminate that front hall. Instead of one window in the front of the house, I'd put 2 windows on each end of the living room and place the tv in the center of the windows.

Interesting idea about eliminating the corridor, i will definitely look at that one further.

Right. You could leave a small vestibule in the front area, but no need for that long hall.

You should have mentioned the in-law suite at the top. It makes a big difference in our thoughts.
A 14’x15’ room is not large enough for a sectional. You may be better off with a sofa and loveseat and a chair (maybe two). If you will have only one gathering space, you will need to include the TV in that space, but it will look better and be more comfortable to watch if it is on top of,or hung just above, a console cabinet, not above the fireplace. Your front door should open into the living room or an entry hall, definitely not into the kitchen. Your kitchen may have a side entry door from the driveway or garage for convenience, but the front door should open into the living room or an entry hall.