The thing that jumps out at me is the phrase "Family of 4 with 2 teenagers who won't be here long." With all the boomeranging going on these days, I am not sure I'd count on that long term...
Otherwise, I might move the island 6" further towards the family room, but that is not a necessity.

Hi Katsmeow! I think the kitchen in this plan looks great. I think the chair next to the piano should go near the windows instead, to keep your walkway open, but that has nothing to do with the kitchen...:-)

Connect this thread to previous thread?

I like the kitchen!

This is OT and perhaps you've thought of this already (I didn't see your previous thread) but I was wondering if you couldn't do a bit more with the breakfast nook. Since you've chosen not to have a formal dining room, could you enhance the breakfast nook to do double duty for special occasions/entertaining? This wouldn't necessarily involve adding square footage, but instead use the architectural details and furniture to add a touch of drama/formality to the space. For example -- if the house design allows -- you could:

1) install a bay window in the breakfast area in place of the windows

2) replace the single door from the BA to the covered patio with french doors

3) Add a skylight above the dining table

4) Use an oblong dining table that can expand towards the kitchen for entertaining

5) Add built-ins (open shelves or cabinetry) in the BA wall (opposite the patio) which would provide a place to showcase decorative items and could be used as a server

6) Installing a "transitional" chandelier over the table that will work equally well for breakfast and more formal dining.

7) Installing good insulated doors (or solid doors) between the BA and drop zone and the drop zone and utility room to minimize noise from laundry etc...

We had a very similar layout in a previous home and considered all of the above in order to have more dining versatility. Unfortunately, the home's design didn't allow us to do much.

The only issue I see is that your dishwasher is in your prep zone which makes it tough for one person to prep while another cleans up, empties, or loads the DW. If you move your DW to the other side of the sink then you decrease your prep space and need to be sure the DW and fridge don't open into each other. My parents' last house had the DW opposite the fridge you couldn't have both open at the same time which made dinner clean up a daily challenge. One person would be doing dishes and loading the DW while another would be trying to put condiments and left overs into the fridge and they were always in each other's way. If you put your DW to the left side of the sink and out of the way of the fridge, then not only is your prep space smaller, but you're back to back with the cooktop. This might be a case of choosing the lesser not ideal situation.

McMesprit -- I like some of those ideas, particularly the idea of the wall of built ins.