Are you speaking of the space with the double hung window at the end of the kitchen? Maybe a reading area. Rug, art, comfy chair and table with lamp, curtain panels

Exactly that space, yes. I'm trying to figure out if there's any way to have a multifunctional sitting area/dining area there. (We just moved in, so rugs are needed everywhere, as are window treatments, but we're slowly getting there :) ) My husband isn't sold on the idea of that being just a sitting area, as the living room is so close to it. Can you tell we're not used to open floorplan?

What would you put in the area behind the couch though? (Under where the awful light fixture is currently located?). Please disregard the dog carriers, again, we just got to Florida 🤣

Okay...I deleted my comments and am laughing at myself. Somehow I didn't see that the fixture and space you're asking about is off to the end of your cabinets by the double hung single window! So I was busy telling you how nice your living room sofa would work for a TV sofa (insert head slapping emoji here!) :-)

Lol. I keep telling my husband that too! :) We're waiting on a time to wall mount it.

I'd get a couple swivel chairs for the area at the end of the counter.

raise the light fixture, for now, to clear the head space.

Set up the 'living room' for TV viewing with as many chairs as you need, looks like you even have room for a sectional ... will you view the TV from the Kitchen?

Okay, now that I'm on the same page (and space LOL) I'd do a big comfy chair at an angle in the corner with an ottoman, end table and lamp, a nice piece of art on the wall and enjoy it as a reading nook.

Do you have another eating area in your kitchen? We have a dining area that we never use as well, but I can't bring myself not to have some kind of dining area in the house.

That looks like the perfect place for a puzzle/game table.

Exactly! Get a nice round table with 4 comfortable chairs and use it for puzzles/games/Lego/etc. or dining with new friends once in a while.

What if you want to watch TV and eat something messy? The table would allow you to do that.

We have swivel bar stools at the big island to eat. Is there some sort of cozy dining room setup you can think of?

You plan to never have friends in?? Really? You never want to play cards, learn bridge? Or simply treat the table as a place to dine with wine and charcuterie on your island and another couple? Did you just get out of college? Are you hermits?!!: )

Get a 48 inch round dining table, and four comfy upholstered dining chairs .

BTW...... They call it a dining room on the floor plan - its a darn breakfast area, not grandmas formal dining room with the gee gaws and crystal chandelier!

Put a nice long console or buffet on the back wall. Add a lamp . Put a nice big piece of art on the wall.

Shock yourself senseless, when you find you actually use it.

Ps? Post the floor plan for this new to you place....you'll get more help and post a fee of the home you left behind...?

I treated my dining table as a place to dine only. I used it maybe 10 times in 10 years. This time around its going to be a flex space with a cocktail table that adjusts up to a dining table.

Thanks, Jan. I think I'm still so accustomed to our homes "up North" with formal dining areas. With this being our vacation home, I just didn't visualize having big dinners, but the upholstered dining room chairs make more sense. Breakfast nook!

I wouldn't think big dinners so much, but since you just mentioned it's a vacation home, if you get some visitors from the North, you will need a space for lunch, apps/drinks etc. I do think there will probably be times when it is more than you and OH. Even if you just invite some neighbors over for drinks etc.

I think a round table and four comfy chairs is a good idea.

I would absolutely put a table and chairs there. You will use it more than you expect to.

I don’t see the need for a formal dining room. But this is your only eating are other than the island? Put a table and chairs.

I'm just chiming in to help you by pointing out that it can be called a "keeping room". There are all kinds of inspiration photos for a keeping room. And you can google for some fun articles about how to think about your space. Use the keeping room terminology.

Just because it's a vacation home doesn't mean you don't make it a h.o.m.e : ) away from the other home

Yes, the easy breezy warm climate is different than a colonial or split level in the snowy north. But feet and inches, space and what fits and fits well still matter.

You want a rug generous enough for seating, you seem to need a couple more chairs in the tv area.

Draw and measure that whole space, showing where the island is, the breakfast area : ) too

Where you enter and all.

Take a picture of the nice bold and legible drawing, file it to photos, and upload it as a jepg.

I would put a nice chaise on the diagonal in that space with a floor lamp next to it and a large faux tree to separate the livingroom space from that space. I did this in one of my apartments and it looked really nice. You could put a small table next to the chaise for beverages.

Sitting on raised stools at a bar isn’t always possible for all people. Won’t you have guests occasionally?

My husband will never ever sit on a stool. He’s a big guy but short-legged and he says he just can’t get comfortable on one. And what if one of you gets hurt? Hopefully you won’t, but I’ve hurt my ankles/legs enough times now that I automatically think of these things.

Get a round or oval table and casual upholstered chairs.

What about a banquette bench niche and table?

What is a banquette bench?

Would something like this, with a table work in this room?

Absolutely.

Also, this could just be angle, but it seems your sofa is too close to the island chairs

You are spot on. The sofa was way too close to the chairs, as the movers just dropped it there 😕

Banquette bench.

Here are a couple of banquette bench ideas in an L shape for your space.

Would these chairs be too "gray", and would they work with this table in the room? The table is only 48", so I'm not sure if that's a normal size either

I love the look of the table and those chairs! I suspect my mock-up is scaled too small. I’d check the height of the arms to the tabletop too ensure they fit under the table.

What program can I use to do this? And do you think I could put 4 chairs on that table? I feel the chairs kinda soften it, and give that banquette feel. (Gosh, I hate that builder light!)

There’s most likely an app better suited than the one I use (Adobe Fresco) that I’m unaware of. I can remove the background on some photos -not all-by pressing and holding on a photo in my iPad, then “sharing” the new image as a new photo. The app allows you to layer images over each other.

Please forget the tech for a moment?

You want to know the first thing a designer does?

One: Measure the space, plan.

Two: How does that client want the space to look , to function. How many family and friends need to sit, to dine.

What is the FEEL he or she favors? What colors please........OTHER than gray?

Knowing what you hate ( the light for instance)

It is just as important to inform what you like.

Do some homework for us?

Post some images of spaces you adore. There' s no need to fill this place, next week

Flat black metal paint for the chandelier would look great...kinda rustic iron look.

Replace the frosted shades with clear bubble shades and use Edison bulbs.

It's what we have and love it.

UGH..... I beg no Edison bulbs. No light from them to speak of, not suited to that fixture at all and she hates the light. Clearly we have a from the north more traditional here....or I could be dead wrong?? : )

Hah ha Jan : ) but the chandelier was proposed to be painted black with clear glass lamp shades. Frosted light bulbs don't look good with clear glass shades...I suppose any clear light bulb would work.