I just saw your post about the front of your house and I have to say, I love your house. You are brave to take on a kitchen remodel!

You want to think function first. In the 1990s, it was all about the pickled cabinetry, and having a lazy Susan in the corner cabinet was p'shaw, the best! Good kitchen design is beyond having the sink-refrigerator-stove trinity, from when there was just one person cooking at a time. Again, you may be at your house, but for resale, keep in mind that there may be more than one cook, whether spouse or children.

Now, think through, like you have about moving the fridge, how you maneuver when cooking.

I like your idea for an island. It works better than a peninsula. A well-designed island can provide an extra workstation for additional cooks, and can also encourage kids and guests to congregate on one side, and insulate the cook, and cooking activities, on the other side. However, you didn't post the dimensions for your kitchen, and a good standard minimum size for a kitchen island is four feet long and two feet deep.

Now you're ready to design. On the interior of the island will be where the action is: that kitchen trinity. (It may be outmoded, but its still the most functional. At the least, have the fridge and sink in close proximity, which it sounds that's your plan). On the outside of the island, have storage. This (if not for yourself, for resale) will make it a great "kid-zone" where kids can help themselves and not get under foot. You could add refrigerator drawers, that although expensive, can just be a 24-inch under-counter mini fridge that holds drinks, yogurts, even popsicles if there’s a freezer compartment. Have a cabinet door to shelves or a drawer for snacks, kids cooking utensils so they can help "cook" when they're too small to do more than simply make a mess (can you tell I have little ones?)

IF you have room, and your island will have to be more than the minimum of a 4'x2' for this idea, add a prep sink.

Do you have a food pantry? I can't tell. If not, consider a wall-mount for cans, and other features stock-cabinets now offer.

Now, still not talking color for cabinets, but since you are in an open room, proper ventilation and lighting is essential. Lighting should be task-oriented. Also, you don't want anything hanging and making the space claustrophobic. Although there are many ventilation options now, like the ceiling fan, in my humble opinion, cooking vents are not an architectural feature and should blend in. Stainless steel and glass are popular (perhaps like those pickled cabinets in the '90s?), but to keep the glass grease and dust free can be a hassle. There are some that come up out of the counter or hang discreetly from the ceiling.

Now, color. What are the main colors in your home. Do you know what the color of stain is on your hardwood floors? Espresso cabinets are seen all over. However, I think that they will date a house in ten years. Again, I have no way of knowing. I happen to love them. But I also loved pickled cabinets (and now I don't).

Are you traditional or modern, or eclectic? The cabinetry is a big commitment to what direction you want to take. They are the backdrop to what you want to emphasize. For example, you could go dark, and have chairs that punch with red cushions. You could go light, and have the sour lemon paint you choose (or not) for the wall to make a bolder statement. Instead of traditional oak, walnut or cherry, you could invest in ebony veneer cabinetry and glazed pumpkin walls to contrast stainless steel appliances.

Keep in mind that no matter what you do, kitchen remodels rarely make a homeowner dollar for dollar in their investment when it comes time to sell the house. Typically, it can be as low as 60 cents on the dollar.

Give me some more direction on your tastes, and I'll try to come up with two or three suggestions for you.

Thanks so much for your input! Hopefully we don't regret this kitchen remodel once it gets started. Our main goals are to upgrade from the builder grade cabinets, increase counter space, add seating and create more storage (we currently have only 2 drawers) and from the picture you can tell we have SO much unused kitchen space.

My husband and I bought this home (our first house) about a year ago and plan on staying her about 10 years or so. Not only do we want to make it nice for us, we also want to help with resale in the future (I think I watch too much hgtv).

We did meet with a designer from our local Lowes and she came up with a great layout for us that included additional storage with the island and adding corner cabinetry to the right of the fridge. We do have a great pantry to the far right of the fridge as well.

As for the colors in our house it is entirely oak trim and doors-I'm not very good with wood colors but I'd call it a golden oak stain. My husband believes the floor is a pergo product (golden oak-ish also). We currently have Valspar's Wicker on 3 walls in the kitchen/dining area and down the hallway toward the bedrooms. We just painted this winter and that color is staying and also staying is the Valspar storm purple accent wall.

I guess I would call my style traditional while still trying to figure out my own style being a new homeowner. Most of our furniture (dining and living) are from Value City Furniture's Arts and Crafts line (we have chocolate).

Our current chocolate furniture is what led me to initially steering toward that line of cabinet shades. I just worry it may be too many dark things/ I'll regret their ability to show dust and they will outdate themselves by the time we go to resell.