New Home Theater Set up and Recommendations


First off let me thank everyone on this forum for the great information posted on a daily basis.  I'm learning a ton reading these threads.

 

I'm looking for recommendations in setting up a home theater for my family room.  The set up looks to be unique and could pose a challenge due to how open the area is.  I'm not sure how much info is needed for advice, let me apologize if I give to much information. 

 

- Goal

 

Set up a home theatre for music listening in addition to movie watching.  I'm not an audiofile but I'm looking to learn and develop a better ear.  I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music.  My hope is to get a decent set up that can be expanded on in the future.  My plan is to invest in a quality 3.1 or 3.2 set up and expand as funds allow.  I'd also like to set up speakers in the kitchen to listen to music while I cook.   

 

- First Challenge

 

Large Space

 

The family room is two stories with an opening to a walk way on the second floor. The dinette and kitchen have normal ceiling heights. The dotted lines in the diagram represent open area in the room with the black cubes being support beams.  The television will be on the top wall of the diagram mounted on a chimney.  The chimney is flanked on either side by windows up to the ceiling.  The family room is about 272sqft but if you include the space it opens up to it gets much bigger.  The dinette is about 100sqft and the kitchen is about 168sqft. This means there is potentially 540sqft of space well as the open area above the family room to work with.

 

 

- Second Challenge

 

Aesthetics

 

I'd love to do whatever is necessary to get the best home theatre set up but looks are important and my better half will have the final say.  A minimal foot print is important.  I like bookshelf speakers for this reason.  Wireless speakers seem great but I'm not sure what kind of impact wireless has on sound quality.  

 

- Third Challenge 

 

Budget will limit this set up.  I'd like to spend less than 1500.  I'm not sure if this is feasible.  I'm up for used components.

 

- My current plan

 

3.1 / 3.2 set up with a few additional speakers in the kitchen / dinnette for music when cooking. 

 

Will I need two subs for this space?

 

Bookshelf speakers or floor speakers?

 

I'm looking for the most cost effective solutions and I'm open to alternatives to the ideas I mentioned above. 

 

Thanks in advance for your help.