room placement question

Yes, you should be concerned. There have been numerous threads by people who have imaging problems caused by asymetric rooms, especially where the side walls are not the same distance, length or material. I would strongly recommend you avoid that situation if possible.

On the plus side, the room ratios and cathedral ceiling are all quite good, especially if you put the the speakers on either side of the "optional fireplace". If you could extend the dinnette wall well past the right speakers reflection point it might work acceptably well.

Thanks a lot Zargon. That's pretty much what I was thinking, I just wasn't sure. Also, I'm guessing the lack of a back wall shouldn't cause any problems (since I'm assuming the reflections off the back wall wouldn't be something desired anyway).

You might want to consider listening more near field if possible in order to avoid undesirable room effects. Small monitors would be a ggod fit for that.

Or the other way to go for a wide variety of potential listening locations would be with omnidirectional speakers that radiate sound in all directions. This will tend to fill the entire room with sound more evenly and lessen the effects of openings to the side and such.

I probably should've included what speakers I'll be using... I currently have Dynaudio C1 monitors, so this would go well with Mapman's suggestion of listening more near field.

I don't think it would be as bad as some speculate. Other than this questionable it seems to be an excellent space.

I'd suggest 3 things. 1) Install solid wood panel sliding double-pocket doors between the great room and kitchen. 2) modify the main entry to the great room so you can install another set of solid wood double-doors (pocket or swing into the room) so you can have privacy without completely annoying others. The solid would double pocket doors should absolutely minimize any concerns.

3) I suggest talking to the building about using the unexcavated space under the garage as a dedicated media room with maybe a 9 or 10ft ceiling. Very isolated, probably concrete walls, floor, and ceiling. It could almost substitute as a bomb shelter. :) That's the space I'd set my sites on. Just make sure they shore up the ceiling really well.

-IMO