nben1, Hi, I would open a 42" to 45" opening on both ends of the wall between living and study. That would leave room for a TV with components in a unit below. A desk would be nice in the back left corner of the study, with art or photo above, a chair in the back right corner and a chaise or small sofa on the wall behind the tv. That would make everything look roomier and make the study more inviting. In the living an L shaped seating would be nice floating with a small console behind. Good luck!

Hi---I suggest finding a fun, colorful palette-for boys and girls, (I like orange and turquoise together). Select furnishings that have tone on tone color, patterns, and lots of texture. Keep bedding neutral and identical but add something such as a butterfly or doll on the bed for your daughter and an animal or monster on your son's bed. If you can purchase beds with drawers underneath, that would be excellent. Pics for colors and inspiration... Good Luck! [houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=]

I'd go for make it white; then right there, flop one nice little white overstuffed loveseat or something that fit, or one big whopping chair, and fit in a tiny table and light; treat that corner as it's very own micro-retreat, and the seating is to not face out into the room. Like little lounge spots put under stairs, make this one dedicated to the view; and make it minimal. Decorate the rest of the room as if the column and retreat bit isn't there.

Thank you Marie. I'm herewith attaching couple of pics that were taken when the house was newly constructed. I wish I could take latest ones but it is a total mess now. But you'll get a fairly better idea with an empty house. One picture, taken in long-shot, shows the lateral part of the kitchen hidden behind the shelf and Arch (I brought down this Arch now). The second one shows the kitchen door showing only part of the kitchen interior. I've annotated the pictures wherever necessary. Hope they're not distracting. As you can clearly see, this is an old-styled construction even though this house was constructed barely 6 years ago! In an attempt to make the home look contemporary, my current project involves either 1 . Bringing down the concrete shelves completely and replace them with wooden cabinets/wardrobes. I've already brought down few concrete shelves in other rooms. OR 2. Alternatively, overlaying few of existing shelves with wooden doors to cover them up. Either way, the appearance is more or less the same once the furnishing is completed. At this juncture, this decision of 'Open Versus Closed kitchen' is holding me back from proceeding to the next phase of remodeling - Dropped Ceilings.