Could you add some cabs or maybe a pantry on the wall across the doorway from the chimney... the upper left on this drawing? What you've drawn certainly looks better at a glance than what was there. That sink looks positively squooshed into the corner.

could the entry to the master bedroom shift to the bit of wall actually in the hallway across from bath..then remove that right or upper wall segment between kitchen/living room-the whole living space would feel bigger and more enjoyable. Instead of entering the home's kitchen,one would be entering the "great room".

Herbflavor, that was my immediate thought. Plus, who really wants their MBR entry in the kitchen!

This kitchen really is the heart of the house.
If you're up for changing this window, which I think is a great idea, moving a door should be a no-brainer.

There's a lot of redesigning I'd do on this, simply because of that utility room entrance to the porch. But you said, "minimal disruption".

It'll be a huge change, whatever you end up doing!

Thanks - keep the ideas coming!

The house was built sometime before 1900 as a two-room hired-man's house. What is now the kitchen/utility room was the original two rooms. Everything else has been added on (at least 3 different add-ons). There is a partial basement under the GBR/Bath area with outside access where the mechanical things like the well pump and the water softener live.

I agree that moving the MBR door to the hallway would be a nice improvement. However, there is a large reach-in closet in the MBR on the brick chimney wall that would have to move too. Will have to discuss with relative.

I am not sure that all of the wall openings are accurately depicted - will check and update if needed.

You want to add a dishwasher and storage with minimal disruption and minimal cost. Unless shortening the window damages a particular charm, I think what you've come up with is quite good. I could enjoy cooking there, and I really don't think I'd mind at all strolling out of my bedroom into the kitchen as I'd been doing. Very comfy.

Since the whole house offers tremendous opportunity for improvement for relatively little, or at least bringing it more into line with what we expect of a house these days (may or may not be as much functional improvement as we assume) it's of course hard to look at it without imagining moving doorways, functions, etc.--but. For that reason also, I like your fix, keeping this project low-impact on your relative and budget until and if she or he is in the mood to make big changes.

I think what you have is good also. It'll give them more counter space, unsquish the sink area and give a space for the dw - w/o doing a lot of reconstruction of walls and doors.

If they need more storage maybe a shallow cabinet in front of the brick wall? and / or on the kitchen side of the LR/kit shared upper wall (closest to mstrbdrm). If there's extra dishes for when company comes it could be stored there (either place) along with canned and bottled goods, box food, extra bowls/serving pieces. If your relative wants or needs room for open storage/decorative items either of those places could have a shelf or 2 w/o doors (or glass doors).