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Weird 1st floor layout...
Below is a (very badly) hand drawing of the 1st floor of our new house. I'm having 2 issues....
1) The dining room is so far from the kitchen! We could probably make a door from the kitchen into it, but that's not in the budget for awhile. Should we move rooms and have the dining room be the current family room (this room has a large built in book case and a huge fireplace and looks very much like a family room and not a dining room at all). You can see where the current owners have a small table with chairs to make the kitchen an eat-in, but honestly it doesn't fit well and partially blocks the entry way.
2) The front yard is fenced in for the owners dogs. The driveway goes around to the back of the house and it looks like the current owners use the dining room as their main house entrance. I am NOT a fan of this set up -- I think it's weird to walk straight into the dining room. There is a second rear door, past the brick patio, that leads into the den/mancave, but it's also a little awkward because then you have to walk through the 2nd kitchen and then you are in the main kitchen. I guess I just don't like the idea of walking into the rear of the house, but the front yard is enclosed with an antique wrought iron fence that I'd hate to remove and the parking area is in the rear, not the front. Any suggestions here? Or should I just get used to people entering through the dining room?
Re: Weird 1st floor layout...
Working with what you have...I would totally be fine with making the current family room the dining room. It would become your main eating space, which is essential.
I have seen fireplaces and shelves in dining rooms too...I like it. For decor - pop up a chandelier, fill the shelves and mantle with some food related items or serving ware items.
Then your family room can be larger and extend into the living room. One area of it could be a desk/office corner. And, people would enter the family space, which still isn't ideal, but it's better than the dining room, IMO.
YOu could even make an entry nook with a bench, pillows, hooks, or add in a closet.