Raj - What you say is true that a lot of interior design's margin is in furniture. I will not sugar coat it. And many designers may seem to be more interested in that when you bring them in. But I have had several clients call me over the years saying they are building a new home and would like to consult primarily on layout. When you speak to someone is tell them you are not ready to order furnishings or window treatments, but that you would like a contract that focuses on layout, planning, and interior detailing (i.e. doors, trims, floors) - i.e. the bones of the house. What I would suggest is when you call for a designer, you be prepared to pay a good consultation fee. A good rule of thumb is that you can expect to pay between $3-$10 per square foot of your home depending on the area of your country and the expertise/experience of the designer. If you are not averse to paying this type of fee, and communicate to the designer that your interest is in getting the best solutions, not in purchasing furniture at this time, I'm sure you will be able to get the level of service you desire. If someone you talk to doesn't seem thrilled to provide this kind of service, move on to the next person. Don't rely on "fame" or how well known someone is. They may be well known for doing show houses or just because they've been in the field the longest in your area. Not because they're the right fit for you. You could also check the Houzz directory for good designers in your area. The difficulty is that there are often decorators whose expertise and focus is really just on furnishings not so much on construction - and they serve a purpose for their clients. But there are other designers who provide more of a wholistic approach and have more familiarity with building a new home. These are the people you should seek out. Houzz is a fantastic community - and as I said you may get good advice here but there's really no replacement for someone to work with you in person. Sorry for the super long post but I feel passionately about this and I think this advice will best suit your needs.

This is a dilemma indeed! Posts in the middle of rooms are always a little difficult. It would be helpful to have pictures of all four walls to suggest the best layout. From what I can understand of your dilemma, I've attached a layout that may work based on your description. It features a defined entry. So when you walk through the front door, you will see a console table with a couple of ottomans stashed beneath. They can come in handy for extra seating. In front of the console are two arm chairs, followed by a modular sectional - they make up your main seating area. To the right of the kitchen door is a TV console. Behind the sofa is a bookcase and to the right is a round table with a couple of chairs for games, paper work or what have you. You don't mention any windows. Is this the case? If so, we'll want to make sure you've got adequate lighting and colors that will work with the limited light. Hope this helps!

Hi Cynthia, thanks for your comment. I still haven't decided about lighting. First, I'm trying to get as much natural light as possible. If there are still some dark corners left, then I'm planing to use light on those areas.

hi , i have designed more than 60 kitchens and with my experience it's extremely difficult to cook with stove in the corner of moved a bit to the right it would end up too close to the sink if the space is less and whatever you wash there are chances that it may fall into the cooking bowl .it would really help if you let me know the measurements of that wall . If you want to try something new you can check out cooking corner solution famous in European countries