The kitchen island was intended to have chairs or stools pulled up to it. Looks like there is room for at least 4 places. I also would move the table from in front of the sliding glass doors to in front of window next to it. This would keep the traffic areas open while filling the "weird" space.

Your dining room is huge; it looks like a table for 10 could easily fit. In fact, this house is probably much bigger than your previous one. Consider moving your informal table to the kitchen area and getting a larger, more formal table for the dining area. Match it with a sideboard, aka buffet cabinet, over which you hang a mirror or art.

Traditional Dining Room · More Info

Most of your home just needs color, IMO. The walls and blinds are just white on white. Rugs and furniture seem to be shades of gray. How about some swag window treatments to give windows definition.

Living Room by Laura O'Meara at Sheffield Furniture & Interiors · More Info

Swags and Cascades Window Treatments · More Info

Add a couple of chairs to the living space, if possible, in a color or print that enlivens that area.

Bali Hai Blue and Red Living Room · More Info

While the arrangement above offers complementary colors of blue and orange, notice that the color of the curtains is brought down into the chairs which could have been set opposite the windows, spreading the color farther into the room. What is your favorite color? Look for draperies, chairs and art with that color and repeat the color across these connected rooms. Your neutral walls, flooring and furniture will be easy to work with.

Oh my goodness - thank you SO much for the detailed advice! It definitely helps me see things in a different perspective - you are appreciated to both of you!

Jeen Yim, that space is commonly referred to as the "breakfast nook", which is an informal area for quick or casual meals. You also have a dining room in your home, which is meant to be for more formal meals.

Today many families decide they don't need two spaces for eating and designate the leftover space for a different use, like a playroom or office.

Personally, I love the more formal dining room and have eliminated the breakfast nook in my kitchens when renovating by incorporating more cabinetry and counters in that space. I seem to be in the minority, however. Many people, especially under 40, prefer a breakfast nook and like to use the formal dining room for other activities.

Nicole

Perhaps it could be a good reading area or a place for some game tables. Here are some ideas from various designs of ours below:

Lakefront Landing · More Info

Lakefront Landing · More Info

It's meant to be an informal dining space / breakfast room. But if you don't plan to use it as that then set up something that would be more practical for you. Yoga mat? Craft space? Make it your own. :-)

Do you entertain? How about a cocktail lounge? Do you have young children in your life? If so it could be a play area with storage and a table for crafts. Are you a gardener? House plants would love those big windows. Music lover? A piano or other instruments, or maybe a dance floor. It could be an altar, a place to display your Star Wars memorabilia, or a spot for Wednesday night poker games. You get the idea, have some fun with it. Enjoy your lovely new home.

Well, I'd definitely move the table and chairs out of the way of the door. I'd probably have bar stools at the bar and feed the dogs in that space by the window.

I’d put 4 bar stools and a small (4-seater) round dining set away from the door. It can be used as informal dining table or a place for kids to do homework or work space (when you are multitasking - cooking and working😂) or game table. The other options are - making a reading nook, play area, or bar area.

With the overhead fixture by the sliding door, where the white table and chairs are, it would seem to already be an intentional/designated 2nd dining area/breakfast nook arrangement. It looks like there are probably nice outside views from the table there, and I like the indoor/outdoor living feel of the dining setup there. So I don’t see any problem with the table and chairs being in front of the slider, if it works for you.

I think a window seat could be nice in the other area.

And if you use some swivel barstools at your counter, it would make it convenient to swing around to talk to people who are sitting on window seat and/or people sitting at white dining table, etc.