Hello Heidi, Firstly it's a great room and lots of potential here. You could paint the feature wall with the fireplace a slightly darker shade of something that compliments the sofas.. In this way you instantly create a focus for the room and the fireplace does just that. I'd like to suggest that you place the sofa in line with the fireplace. Then 1 armchair I would angle to the left of the fireplace if you're looking at it. The book case is a reach away when wanting to read but I'd turn it round to frame the doors.. It might be a nice idea to actually move the other bookcase over to place on the other side... ie where the chest of drawers is.. So they both frame the doors... Paint the mirror frame and hang this... Keep some space free on the mantle as this gives the fire room to become a bit more expansive... Why not place the chest of drawers to the left of the fireplace behind the armchair... You can house toys and things here. It's both elegant and a good way to frame the fireplace as you don't have a chimney breast.. On the other find a low side table or a low cabinet.. You could house the television on this pretty much as it is currently.. Keep drinks in the cabinet or something, so they have functions and multiple uses.. Differing heights adds to interest here and it could be good to hang that 1 picture on the rear of the sofa wall with the others... Then there is a bit of room for the little one's to play as you can place the little white table and chairs near the window where it's warm with the rad. Find a nice lampshade for the central light and then place the table lamp close to the sofa.. possibly one with the armchair.. So you have pools of light in different areas and the room is ambient. You may find you do without the central light all together.. So really the key here is that I don't think you need to buy anything else and indeed I feel it would spoil the flow to add more seating.... Scatter the cushions so they are fewer, one or two at 1 end and 1 or two on the armchair.... maybe make a seating pile for the little ones with any left over.. : ))

Structural engineer calculations may be needed if you remove substantial walls but I suspect you are not going to do that. Should you decide to later your builder can probably arrange this. Concept designers likely have different ways of working so take your lead from them. I would look at the professionals part of this site and contact a couple for more details about how they work. Both OnePlan and CreatePerfect are big contributors to this app. Once you have a plan for what you want to do you should get the builder back to quote for works- if you need to make purchases the designer will be able to help. Should you feel that the likely cost is acceptable you should check with your local planning office. If you are extending you will need permission which will require formal plans likely prepared by an architect or an architectural technician. If you are changing the outward appearance of the house you may need permission. If you are putting the kitchen in another room or creating a bathroom you will need building regulations. Any planning or regulation questions are easily sourced on the planning part of your borough council website. Should you decide to go ahead you can get your designer or another professional to manage the project or you can do it yourself. If you do it yourself you should research contracts for your builder, keep on the right side of your neighbours, make sure your house insurance is beefed up for tradespeople, and expect it to take a lot longer than the builder says.

Congrats! the room is pretty long... is it long enough to make the entrance area a little more 'entrance-y' with a little bench seat in the corner for getting shoes on, a table for keys etc and then some plants. then you could put a two seater with it's back to the door to seperate the zone and another couch as the tenants have done under the stairs? TV area then goes in the corner, away from the kitchen door. hard to work out if the room size would sustain that set up...

Me personally I would try to “zone” the areas as two separate areas. Firstly some nice custom built shelving either side of the fireplace for books/ornaments/ picture frames etc. Then like suggested above, I would make a study by the window with a desk; where the sofa is and shelving under the pitched ceiling opposite. A tall house plant would look good there to the left of the window to balance out the window being off centre and an area rug to tie it altogether :)