You can create division between two areas with your furniture arrangement. For example, your sofa could float in the room, facing the rest of your seating pieces. You can put a console table behind it which faces into the dining area. Without seeing pictures and knowing details like the traffic pathways through this space it's not very easy to help you further. What styles do you like? What colours? The possibilities are infinite :)

You could build a cabinet around the pillar that can house both TV's ... Here's a link for some free software to help you design it yourself - or if you are looking to hire someone - drop me an email with some room sizes etc and I will give you a quote to draw it all up. http://thebrick.icovia.com Free paint your photo software https://www.sherwin-williams.com/visualizer/ Hope these help ! Karen from OnePlan OnePlan http://www.houzz.com/pro/oneplan/oneplan

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.

this is a never ending battle between functionality and aesthetics! :D Well , IMO the drawing seems pretty functional and you can get good use out of it. however, if you think it looks too boxy then a good option would be to play around with different materials and textures to give it some character. For example, you can use tinted mirror shutters, or a tinted glass back panel to break the monotony. 3D charcoal sheets are good option for the shutters and drawers fascias. you can even have it painted in a variety of colours (a glossy or matte PU finish in a bright colour or texture such as blue or mustard). You can even use a wine rack fitted on top and the top open shelves can be modified a bit in a criss cross way to store bottles. add some live plants or creepers too. Hope this helps...cheers! :)