Casual Chic Living & Dining Room Design

My Combined Living/Dining

Neutral

Other

Everything! We just don't have the right furniture for the space at all. It doesn't feel functional and the odd layout with the fireplace is not helpful. I feel like we are going to get a bowling alley effect in from of the fireplace into the kitchen due to the garage entrace. We also hate the built in dining bench and are removing it once we know what we are doing in that space.

Nothing that we currently have needs to stay. We are ordering two pieces that we do not yet have. I have included the links below:

Our media credenza is coming in October. The credenza will go on the same wall that the current credenza is on and the TV will be mounted on the wall and will be decreased to a 75" (Samsung Frame).
Overall: 100"W x 16"D x 24"H
Color: Black Oak/Bronze

The rugs and blankets we have down are all temporary. Our dog is very old and slides around so we just got a low cost rug (which I dislike very much) until ours is ready. The details are below for the one we have on order and will be placing in the room:
Size: is 9'6" x 13'6"
Color: Ivory/Taupe

Yes

Open to both

No

The glass windows that lead out into the backyard is actually a Nana Wall, so it folds up like an accordion to blend with the backyard. Just a fun note. I have also included a photo.

We have a formal dining room but for this project, I need some help with the small dining area that is in the kitchen/family room. The white round table we have there now is a table that just came with us when we moved. It is way too big (we think) for the space. If you'll notice, there is a built in bench there as well. My husband hates it, so it will need to go. We aren't opposed to replacing it with another bench of some sort (we even kind of like the idea), but would also be open to chairs. I don't think we would need to ever put more than 2-4 people there.

We aren't married to the specific couch that you see in the photo (it is 10 feet). We have been looking at sectionals also but I think that it might be too big for the space. It is a very weird room (to me) because the fireplace is on the other side of the walkway in from the garage. Long story short, I don't care whether we do a couch and chairs or sectionals and chairs, or something else. I just want it to look good. We do spend a fair amount of time in this room watching tv so it is important that the couch is comfortable, but I also don't want it to look sloppy (drooping cushions etc) or too large.

The "art" you see on the mantle is going away.


Style:
I tried to find photos on pintrest that I liked (and have attached them). There are things I like and dislike about all of them. I get a lot of my inspiration from McGee and Co. I really love how effortlessly chic they are. I want our house to look the same way! I want it to look effortlessly chic (even though it isn't). I gravitate to mixing textures and the California cool vibe (just not too far, have to strike a balance). The wood beams that you see on the ceiling are carried through the formal living space. The wood is repeated over and over in our house from the open shelving in the kitchen to the mantle on the other fireplace in the formal living room (it all matches).