You don't want to move the fridge away to the column from stove. Why can't you put the fridge on same wall as stove with a prep area between.

You could put a bank of glass upper cabinets and solid lower cabinets for a pantry look if you move fridge to stove wall. Plus having fridge near stove with pre area... How nice!

Just a spin on what I was trying to explain with a fridge on one side, counter in between and then stove.

I agree that you will not be happy moving the fridge to the column. However the prep area is too small for a full size fridge. It looks like the current placement is the best without totally changing your concept.

Rotate the island to create a peninsula coming off of the wall between the windows. It's a dysfunctional mess right now, with traffic through your hot zone and inefficient flow. Rotating the island gives you a protected cooking spot, and better aisle space where it's needed.

It looks like that is possible and if so - I agree with Sophie.

Thanks for your comments, the peninsula was actually my first choice but I really like the look of a big island... :s Would you put the refrigerator right on the side of the wall from the hallway or 5 inches off to give more room to enter the kitchen? There would be no upper cabinets beside the stove.

The 35" clearances (for cooktop, island seating, and island to dining area) are really tight. I'd recommend reviewing the guidelines from NKBA; here is the best version I've seen....it includes lots of explanations and reasoning: http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm

I think where the frig current is shown on the plan make the most sense. If moved by the column it seems like it would be too far outside the working areas of the kitchen.

Looks don't cook. Figure the functionality out first. And remember ghat a peninsula is just an island shoved against a wall.

Try a few different layouts. Rotate island 90 degrees either footing or butted to the window wall. Another option is to put the range in the center of the fridge wall and fridge on the range wall. I would rather have a sink behind me when cooking with option 2 the island stays as is.