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!

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.

First of all, I don't think that furniture is comfortable enough to sit and watch TV, so the TV should be remove from that room, the purple wall paper and the purple furniture is too much, you should consider another color for that wall and the furniture against the wall it doesn't look good. What is that room at the end is kind of dark and I cannot appreciate exactly what is the purpose of that room. I'm a firm believer in skylights, we have skylights in the laundry room, kitchen, living room and office, they make a big difference. (if you cannot have skylights (or tube lights) can lights are a great option. There are a lot of great ideas from everyone. I can't wait to see the after photos.