Adding one piece of art that it higher would draw the eye down to the focal point, which is the fireplace.

In an ideal situation, I would move the table to the seating area and have nothing in that center area (where the table is now).

Are you able to do that or do you need this seating area for some reason?

Once you get your furniture arranged, you might decide on what style you like. You have modern art over the fireplace, a rather traditional item hanging on the kitchen wall, a dining set that looks sort of country.

This space could be really fantastic!

With more elongated open spaces you have to still have walkways and entry passages so it’s tough. Invest in a round pedestal table maybe w a leaf or drop leaf so you have flexibility . Use runners on the table and vases w flowers or bowls of fruit to demarcate this zone w personal feel . I might actually get a bigger light fixture above the table and lower it a bit. And don’t hesitate to invest in an area rug under the table. I cant see the lounge area very well but I put things on the diagonal in such spaces and pushed

back as it opens up the visuals quite well.

Thank you for the ideas! We've moved things around a bit this morning and are liking the idea of a round table and angling at least one of the couches in the living room so it's less closed off. Appreciate it!

would love to see the changes if you get a chance to share

try putting the existing rectangular table up against the end of the island. This gives more walk space between the doors / areas while still "bridging". If it turns out that you like that, think about a counter height table that would double as more prep space.

HTH

Could you please provide more information on how you live? Do you have another family room? Do you have another dining area? Do you really need the dining table? Seating area? What other options do you have?

No right or wrong answer, just that it looks like there are several adjacent rooms and if you are open, you could be flexible about how these spaces are used.

I think the thing that makes it feel a bit off is the height of the counter very near the lower height of the table. It's hard for the eye to resolve the two competing heights and diminishes the flow of the room. For that reason, you could consider not putting a table of that height near the counter. It could be beautiful to make the fireplace/seating area in to a dining area and leave your dining area as an open walk through. Beautiful house either way!

This is such a grand entrance and feels like a walkthrough area. Then, your eye is hit with this diminutive table that feels farmhouse.

Then, the seating are is modern art and a rug with a global feel.

This house has so much promise.....just needs a little work.

I would put a few bar stools up by the island... I love reading the paper and sipping coffee at mine :)

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no easy or inexpensive solution because 1) your space is long and narrow, 2) you have a door right in the middle of your cabinets (aka your kitchen flow) i guess it is your pantry or the door to garage? never liked door placement like that and i do not do pantry (it is a very americana thing) without taking down your walls, the only way to move your dining table out of front door way and the sight line of your visitors when they walk through the door is redo your entire kitchen layout - get rid off the island. make the kitchen U shape. but this U shape needs to be moved up from the far end of the space to the middle. that way, you maybe able to create enough space on the OTHER side of the kitchen area to be your eating area. in other words, when someone open your front door, they do not have to bump into your dining table or walk around it to go to the back room. that visual line should be unobstructed. if you want more cabinet space without the island, you can put in more cabinets along the wall on the right side of your front door.

Your space doesn't look right because the dining area seems random and unfinished - your dining furniture is out of scale and wrong shape and style.

A larger round table and chairs with some presence should help. An updated chandelier would be good too. Actually, go ahead and lower the one you have. It looks like it's been hung higher on the chain for the move and never taken down like it should be.

Also, I would redo your fireplace area. Grouping photos on the mantel with nothing on the sides makes the room appear even narrower. I would place some furniture on both sides of the fireplace (small credenzas/dressers or bookshelves), with a lamp and pictures over them.

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I think your arrangements work in the space. Replace the group of small photos on the mantel with one larger piece of art over the mantel. Hang the photos as a group elsewhere. Put the dining set on an area rug which measures at least 4’ longer and 4’wider than the table top measurement (a table needs at least two feet of rug on all sides for ease in pulling chairs out and in when sitting on the chairs).

a new round table could be just the pick me up you need. I would also seriously consider a new, updated light fixture sized appropriately for the new table.

New round table and chandelier will make the area more special. You didn’t ask for a full remodeling job, so use the simplest ideas shared. Changing around the art work and furniture is also free. Post photos as you go along so the pros can keep coaching you.

I think it would better if there were a more clear view of the fire place...putting the big furniture pieces on each side ...and a dramatic piece of art over the fireplace using the photos on the side walls...all art would brighten up that end of the space with bigger white borders..a tall interesting lamp in one of the corners would add more layers to the room ...maybe a tall plant in the other..since the room now look long and narrow..Avoid a balanced arrangement ..which will just accentuate that...

Wow! Appreciate the continued ideas. This space has never been finished properly...just used odds/ends of furniture that we had when we moved in. We did move some of the furniture around in the living room and are toying with adding another chair in one of the configurations (see pics - just grabbed another room's chair but maybe it could be a fun accent chair with a pop of color or pattern?)...though these new configurations do make the existing rug look too small.

@CDR Design, LLC - we have another room off the kitchen that's the formal dining room, with a long table, bench, chairs, artwork, etc. So the initial idea was to have a smaller table (again, one we had prior to moving in) nearer the kitchen itself as somewhat of a more informal, 'eat-in kitchen' vibe. There are other areas to sit on the first floor, so we don't technically need to use that space as a living room, but I like to have company while I'm working in the kitchen so my husband often sits in the living room so he's in the same general space as me.

@izeve - great ideas regarding the mantel/fireplace area. We'll definitely be incorporating those ideas!

Now to find a nice round table and chairs with more 'presence', as @izeve put it. :)

Hi K. Thanks for that information. The first step in design is asking questions and getting a good floor plan that functions for you. Adding decor is the last step. So, I appreciate you providing that information. So far, I understand that

-you want a small living area here, because your husband likes to be there while you cook.

-you have another formal dining room

-you placed a small table there as an informal eat-in dining area.

It is still my opinion that, where the table is, in an ideal situation, there would be nothing.

So, current questions are:

1) How often do you use the formal dining room?

2) Do you use the small eat-in dining area? How often?

3) Where do you most often eat meals?

One solution would be to eliminate the small dining set and buy an adjustable height coffee table that serves as both a living room and dining room table.

Here is just one adjustable height table.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/connubia-magic-j-extendable-cross-legs-coffee-table-gn2081.html?&experiencetype=2&selectedvertical=2&piid=10395867

I think this looks the best arrangement. The other feels awkward. Yes, you would need larger rug. The coffee table feels too dainty against the sofas. (Minor, but those things matter). If you want a neutral pallette, add texture and greenery.

Here are some beginning thoughts on how fantastic your space could be.

Thanks @CDR Design, LLC. We often gather in the living room with guests, as well as just hanging out there just the two of us, so we do want to preserve enough space for gathering and when friends come over.

We eat 99% of the time at the small table in between the kitchen and living room, because the formal dining room - while modern in style - seems a bit stuffy and closed-off for just my husband and me to eat there by ourselves. We use the formal dining area more for when we have friends and family over to eat. It's now converted into an office for my husband, due to COVID and us both working from home. See pic below...not ideal with the office set-up but you can get a sense of the formal nature of the room....wainscoting, crown moulding, etc.

Nice dining room! Your home is not very open-concept and that is how people like to live today. You might consider, in the future taking down some walls.

What is this room? Could you move the table into here?

@CDR Design, LLC - It's a sunroom and has a sectional and coffee table. Probably won't move the table in there. Yes - definitely a challenge with all the partitioned rooms.

Have you tried to put the table as suggested by mtnfever. It may look intentional and not random and it is easy to try.

Something like that, but with the table instead of an island.

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I agree with Ig222 say

Moving the furniture completely changed your sitting area. A new rug does not need to be expensive, but it will pull this layout together for you. What colors do you like? Using one rug and a couple of pillows will make the space even more inviting. Is there room to add the table to the center island as LG suggested?

One more thought.....if it is just you and your spouse, you could try moving this table or another one, up to the back of the sofa (moving sofa to original position).

This would get the table out of the walkway.

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@lg22 and @mtnfever (9b AZ/HZ 11) - yes, we tried that idea and while we liked it in concept (and in the pictures that @lg22 sent!), scooting the dining table closer to the island made things feel a bit cramped and dark...just one small window in the kitchen and it's all very brown. Not our ideal kitchen color scheme but we don't have the budget for new cabinets or countertops.

Thanks again @CDR Design, LLC for all the ideas and options. It's nice to know we have options, even if we can't decide on one right away. :)

@RedRyder - I need to find a fun fabric to cover the pillows with and possibly coordinate with a larger rug...something with navy blue, white, charcoal, and/or an earthy tone. Do you have a recommended place for rugs that don't break the bank?

As already mentioned, a round table might flow better.

I also think putting a rug under the dining table would help define that space. Right now visually the floor and table are so similar in tone that your eye kind of passes over them. A rug will help define this as a distinct space.

You might also want to lower the chandelier a bit. I might be wrong, but it looks a little high. Optimally a chandelier should be 30-34" above the table. That will also help define that as a specific space within the room.

Thanks @pricklypearcactus - I think the things you mentioned are a must...we have lowered the chandelier (which we don't like but it's what we have for now) a bit and it does help. Rug + new table + new light fixture would only improve things. Thanks for your ideas!

OK, I'm late to the party with this illustration.

Yes this may work like suggested above

Here is a living room I just finished in the Chicago area. They wanted blues, charcoals and whites. https://www.houzz.com/photos/chicago-hinsdale-century-home-contemporary-family-room-chicago-phvw-vp~161878169

Here is the rug. Comes in multiple sizes.

https://www.wayfair.com/rugs/pdp/mistana-lucienne-geometric-gray-rug-w003245296.html?&experiencetype=2&selectedvertical=2

For pillows, I would look at Home Goods. They have quality pillows at lower prices. Less expensive than getting your gray ones covered.

Here are some you might consider

The issue I see with your home is that you have many rooms to use, but you are using mainly just one space.

I don't know how often you use the sun room. You might want to consider, moving your dining table in there for one week and see how you like it. Maybe you'll get used to it.

Down the line, I would recommend considering taking down some walls.

Thanks for the inspiration @CDR Design, LLC , @Irene Morresey, and @BeverlyFLADeziner! Appreciate it.