I've looked at the pics that you have been sent and they are beautiful but it does not look like it will work if one really studies the details of your lobby/loft. I would recommend a few things. First, remove everything, everyone has said that this is a first step. Next, I would move the glass panels on the stairwell. They are unique but could become a hazard when and if children become involved. if they are glass and they break, it looks like the glass would fall down the stairs and this could be dangerous, and the glass looks outdated. The weights by the window do not look safe either, a slip could end up in another event of broken glass. I see room for a small desk, a large area rug and a few individual chairs but I don't, from studying the picture really see room for an elaborate bookcase. You don't want to block the flow from one room to another and I see that there are rooms on both sides of the area not to mention the door. Bookshelves on the right side of the window seems like it would block or protrude the walk way/hallway to the right but there is one on the left side of the window and under the window maybe a window seat. Good luck and I hope this feedback helps. Sorry I don't have a model to show you.

Since the lot you describe is smaller than my open living area, I would suggest looking at some of the "shotgun" house plans around New Orleans,LA. I think you can build up and back and get an interesting home with a loft for space. It can be done, A porch with an entry to a narrow hall at the back might work best for you. Will you plan a courtyard (closed)? or what? What part of the country are you in? What are your local codes?

So you're running two threads on this space? I think you'll be happier with the responses if you stick to one thread for the entire makeover, as it is all inter-dependent - foyer - living - dining. Now that I know that the living dining are together I'd suggest you use measurements from the blocked space above the windows to determine stripe width in the dining space if you go with the wide horizontal stripes I suggested. The pattern is already set for you if you take the measurements. You could also make the stripes the width of your lower window section, or half of it, but use the horizontal lines already in your space to determine the other stripes you may add.

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.