I'm guessing the column is a structural need?

If you want to delineate space, you could turn the column into a small L shape - just afew feet - which would help define the corner of the room. Or by a change in flooring you could define the dining room to living room transition.

Not seeing the rest of your plan, but is your dining room shared with your foyer? So guests enter the house thru the dining room?

There are alternatives in between like a tray ceiling and a barrel vault. Soffits can help define a space, as can walls with arch ways and columns. I find cathedrals difficult to live with from an energy point of view as well as a comfort point of view...often the spaces feel too large and uninviting. We prefer cozy.

What you don't want to do...I was in one house like this...that had a huge vaulted cathedral ceiling for the family room area, and the kitchen was off to one side with a 9' ceiling....the kitchen felt like an armpit on the rest of the space. Not good.

Yes the foyer is just to the right of the dining area so this is where guests would enter. I'm just afraid that this is going to look like one giant room. I wanted an open floor plan but this is more than what I had in mind. I think noise will be a factor since it will all be hardwood floors. Meeting with the truss guys at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Does anyone else second guess every decision they make or is it just me?