Nightmare

I don't know about MLs working, but if you put enough clutter on the side walls (bookshelfs, or better yet studio style absorption pads, or heavy drapes) and if you get monitors and setup for nearfield type listening then I think 8 feet could work. Monitors 5 feet apart, 18 inches from each side wall, toed in, with absorption on the walls at the primary reflection points, and a listening position 5-6 feet from the plane of the speakers. Add a subwoofer if you like deep bass. A narrow floorstander like the AP virgo might also work.

You'll have to tame side-wall reflections to maintain the imaging, but IMHO it can be done, maybe not with the MLs.

Although we've never met I think I know your twin brother, Juan and you know what they say: "If you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal. Sorry. Bad pun. But seriously, I wouldn't worry about this set up until you try it. I agree with Newbee about panel speakers. My Acoustats are very close to the side walls with no problems at all. No sense losing sleep over a move that's a year away.

I think there's an excellent chance your Martin Logans will work at least as well as anything else; I'd say give 'em a fair chance before succumbing to "new speaker fever". Put 'em right up against the side walls, treat the area along the sidewall just in front of the panels (which is where your first reflections will happen), and treat the back wall where the backwave bounces off of it. I use diffusion instead of absorption, but that choice depends on your room's acoustic signature. Don't overdo absorption or you'll suck the life out of the sound.

Note that horn/dynamic hybrids usually don't integrate well at close range; some distance between you and the speakers is required. Now a single-driver speaker (like Cain & Cain Abbeys or something from the Omega line) doesn't have this problem, and will work well with SET's, but won't give you much in the bottom octave and a half or so. I'd say give the Martins a chance first.

Elgordo - Very witty! LMAO!

Just set up the stereo in the living room and tell whoever is not 'allowing' you in there that they are no longer allowed in the living room. Issue settled. Soul saved.