What's a keeping room? People talk about it, but I realized I have no idea what that means.

I understand your agonizing ... and I am just starting my process to redo our kitchen. But as a fellow owner of two golden retrievers I just wanted to say you have two beautiful goldens!!

Wish I had more advice, but I am sure it is going to be beautiful!

CEFreeman- well, my DH jokes that it's "that holding room thing," and I guess I'm revealing the English teacher in me...it's kind of an antiquated term, but I think it's enjoying a resurgence. In my mind, it's a room attached to or part of a kitchen that has a fireplace and comfortable seating area. And for us, because we've never used the family room like we wanted because it's so awkward and long, we're going to take it over as part of the kitchen.

Fellow Golden mom :) thank you! They are so good. If they'd only stop shedding, they'd be perfect creatures.

No help with the layout stuff... just another comment about your gorgeous Goldens! Although they aren't looking too happy about the rain, or being kept inside out of it - one or the other! =)

OK... with re. to the layout - honestly, yes, I'd open it up and get rid of the bannister on one side and the 1/2 wall on the other. I like how the proposed layout shows the wall only going as far as the beverage center. But I know zero about layout so take that for what it's worth! I do, however, know about dogs. Did I mention how beautiful your Goldens are? :)

OT warning (dogs)-
Beeps- thank you for the compliment on the dogs. I can't take credit, but I do co-own them with the breeder. The one in the back is Haly- she's mom to Romeo, the one in the front, whose dad won best of breed at Westminster seven or so years ago. They're not at all high strung show dogs though- they both just love their people (even when we don't deserve such adoration :) They also are now he only ones in the family whose eyes don't glaze over when I start talking about the kitchen!!.

We need to see the layout in top view (looking down on the whole room) and with measurements to have much to say. So these comments are just blue skying.

I would think about where I wanted the step to the family room to be - is there a place where it makes better sense? On paper, I'd try up against the dining room wall and drawing the cabinets as an outer U plus island. Couple of reasons why I'd be thinking about it - nice unobstructed path to the family room, nice workspace without being broken up by a hallway, I could back the cabinets on the family room side with either stools at a counter overhang or with a built-in containing that thar beverage center that faced into the family room/breakfast space. Plus, its a great space for a toaster, coffee maker, etc. Plus if that side is chosen for prep, you get to participate in whatever is taking place in the family room, Because you're moving the dining room door way, you'll have the potential for an even wider opening to the dining room than you've drawn. Double coupons on increased social benefits as the peninsula and island would let you interact with the diners.

I'm hoping opening to the dining room is mostly about the view or for social reasons. In our house, the kitchen is nice and bright all day (too bright in these 100 degree days) but the dining room is not. It's only 9 feet away but almost no light penetrates.

Every bit of the poor english both intentional and enjoyed :)