I think the yellow and grey might bring out the gold-ish-ness of the couch.. I'd try to go with more blue colors.. Maybe some navy pillows and a rug with the blue in it as well. The curtains, that ying-yang rug, and the lilac rug just gotta go.. They're dwarfing all the sophistication this room will be able to have with that tile floor and those big beautiful windows. I love the dining room chairs!

I think a comfortable distance between the island and the counter is around 42". It seems that you have only 30" between your cook top and the counter. I might be a little too tight. The wall between the entrance and the kitchen could be 4' long instead of 6', you would then be able to move the island a foot which would give you more room between the cook top and the island. Could you switch the location of the toilet and vanity in your dad's bathroom so your enter facing a vanity instead of a toilet which is a lot nicer.

we do in guest bedroom,, but not sure will go with colors I have picked out, and the great room is a vaulted ceiling ....I guess we will just have to see...our house is being built and will be very open..not alot of wall space.

you are thinking about the space right now. it looks odd, no doubt. 1) when you fill in with the furniture, just make sure the three steps are hidden. 2) consider three potted plants of different height, so the rectangle is complete. 3) glass bowl with Siamese fighting fish for each step 4) figurines of different heights 5) 2inch square wooden bar on each step up to the top of the rectangle. and complete the entire rectangle if you want with a smaller rectangle open in the center my suggestion is, there is a reason why this space ended up like this. it will look great once you put something there. things like these are what make your house unique.