Good time to rewire and hide pipes, too. Do you have a question?

Lovely space! I agree with Carol, it's hard to answer your questions without a floor plan especially with regard to opening up the space with the living area.

Floor plans

This is the view of the wall from the living room I would consider taking down to open up kitchen - not the entire wall ... About halfway to painting

One thing that caught my eye is that the windows in the third picture are at two different heights, do you plan to address that in your new space?

No, Jessica, am leaving that window however in the first pic to the left of fridge am planning on changing that window...

The kitchen is nice and bright. I love the big windows. My initial leanings without dimensions: If you could move the sink to the left and center it under the two windows, extend your counter and base cabinets to the left and take down the single upper, that would be a great focal point, especially with subway tile on that wall. it may end up being too close to the doorway, however. Also, you may find yourself too removed from the rest of the kitchen appliances, depending on where they end up. You have two doorways that bring up questions. 1. Can the swinging door by the fridge remain as an open doorway, and is the doorway to the left of the sink and by the stove a main functioning door, or is there another way into the room off the kitchen? Possibilities to open that into an open doorway as well, or wall it off for a larger kitchen. It seems like you have a great opportunity to build a custom built it where your fridge is to operate as a "dresser" or hutch. You mentioned liking French country, New England. I think the kitchen has great bones and great potential. The windows are great and the natural light makes it welcoming. Dimensions would help. Budget is key. It can be surprising how much a job can cost realistically. Especially, if you're planning on moving plumbing, adding electricity, etc.

The door by the fridge (swing door) can remain open, the door by the sink could also remain open but not sealed as there is a staircase leading upstairs just outside of it.

I love a booth or banquette!!!! Under half-wall, under window - different configurations, some attached to an island....houzz has many! I supposed you could even use your wooden glider, is it?





Would 'storybook' fit under your window, to left of door with dog?

Incorporate your ceiling beam if varying your ceiling appeals....

CORner:




IF it would work - which way would you like to see the outdoors? at new half-wall/out through living area? or 'dog window'?? a booth could be placed on either wall I think??

This is to give idea how booth placed at half-wall could look...or at that wall but with a decorative window [which opens or not]:



a see-through fireplace [over the booth]?

or just one big open area

I know this is a lot, but I find your project fascinating....
and how island/peninsula can be combined with seating.

Thanks for your suggestions @everdebz. I don't particularly like booths, also, if we do not take down the wall into the living room there really isn't much space for considering we are definitely putting in an island. Now that I have had more time to think about this I may repost this idea with new pictures pinpointing more specific questions and ideas.

I can delete some then :)
More info is always good....
Where we're living I dream about what I'd do - one is what you're planning: knock out upper wall. So I've wondered what benefit would come / what would be cool.... so I imagined people sitting there and looking out into living area and new views out the window....