The first question is should this be the living/dining room or an exercise room. What other space can you use for those, if not here? It is more convenient if the dining area is near the kitchen, so I'd start with that.

Your floor tiles are neutral and look to be in good shape. The current wall colors are not bad, but could be better with the tile. Is this a lower level? How much natural light does the room get? I'd paint all the walls a warm white that works with the tile. Do not use grey.

Hi Latifolia,

Yes, this is downstairs and the amount of light in the photos is the tail-end of the afternoon sun we get through the entry door panel (south facing), the front window (SW) and the 3 windows along the long 23 foot wall. The paint colors were a color match that didn't turn out right and came out much more gray vs taupes. Will be nice to change it up. The tiles are in good shape but are something of a chameleon as they can read orange, pink, or gold throughout the day (see photos).

After you pass through the archway, there's a kitchen with an eat-in nook and slider going out to the back. A 36-in round or 40-in square with 4 chairs is really the max that would work; it would get the job done but be a bit tight. Off the kitchen and nook is a family room where we have the home gym now. It is weird to have exercise equipment near your kitchen and eating area, but also weird to open the front door and see a rowing machine.

Thanks for the mock-up Beverly, that is just what we need to help visualize our options. I see some space from the walls for the area rug. Do you recommend a certain amount of space?

I feel the chair rail painted white is accentuating the length of the room.

Thanks for the photos and inspiration. I agree a sectional is unlikely to happen because of the shorter wall. I thought either two chairs that swivel on that wall or a love seat maybe. I was taking down measurements then wondering, "well does the rug go 2 ft from the wall, 3 ft, flush?" I cannot do spatial processing.

Like so many odd things in our new normal, thank covid! Our 4th bedroom had to become a full time work from home office space with privacy and a door. The exercise equipment had to go somewhere else.

We are the 5th owners of this house and did not put in the chair rail. It appears every occupant put their own regrettable addition :) Us included! Our painter was the one who floated the idea of a new squared off chair rail since he'll have to do a lot of texture work to fix underneath it. I think it marries you to having some things at a certain height you may not otherwise select, so your insights are very helpful.

I am no help with actual design but I would leave the workout equipment where it is and make this room into a living/ dining space.

It looks like Beverly's layout has the TV area near the kitchen. I'm wondering if the dining area could go there.

I wondered about dining area there too. Makes the dining table closer to the powder room and the sofa area much further from the tv though.

There are sectionals that are less than 104”. Here’s one example from Room & Board-

OC-27 Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore

Can't you move the TV?

I expect a certain amount of snark on Houzz when requesting free design advice, so no offense taken, I guess.

Hi there, thank you for the paint and fabric ideas, elcieg. I have Balboa Mist in my bedroom, actually. Totally different lighting and flooring but I love it. I am looking at Cedar Key for a possibility too.