How much counter is actually between the range and the sink? You mentioned wanting lots of counter space. Most of your prep work will be between the range and sink and that's where your smallest run of counter is.
I do prefer layout #1. the second layout is a little odd looking and you do lose counter space.

In the second layout, you don't have enough room for the seat b/w the "island" and the wall...you need 32" to 36" to have room to pull out the stool and move your body b/w the stool and counter as you sit (despite the "swivel"). Seating will also be a little tight with the two corner stools, there's room, but it will be tight, especially with the narrow aisle (30") and the counter on two sides for the "inside" stool.

In both layouts, if that's just a window on the "top" wall and there are no doors, cabinets, etc., you can get away with a few inches less behind the stools...assuming your seating overhang is at least 16" (15" clear overhang + 1" for the decorative door or panel on the back of the peninsula/island cabinets. Which, now that I look at it, it's not...

Your peninsula is 38" deep, but 25.5" will be taken up by cabinets (assuming standard-depth, 24" deep cabs and 1.5" standard counter overhang on the front) PLUS another 1" by the decorative panel/door...that leaves you with only a 11.5" overhang. That will not be comfortable sitting for very long...if this is just for a few minutes of "perching" it might be OK, but not for more than a few minutes at a time. I suggest you increase the depth of your peninsula/island to 41.5". That will be 3.5" off the aisle, reducing it to 43.5"...still plenty of room if it's a "dead-end" and there is only a wall behind the seats.

You said the windows will be changing but they're staying in the same location on the wall...correct? Do they have to?

I'm asking b/c right now the only useful counterspace you have for prepping is b/w the sink and range. That's where you will end up prepping...b/c it's next to a water source and next to the range. You might use the peninsula if no cooking/roasting/baking is involved and no one is using the sink or DW for cleanup or other tasks, but not otherwise.

Another issue I see is that you have the range (and oven) close to the door where your pet(s) will be coming in & out as well as "people" traffic...that means the potential of tripping over a pet while cooking or prepping when going to/from the refrigerator. (Or running into someone coming in/going out the slider.)

Personally, I'd like to see the range more protected, like next to the peninsula, but that would mean moving the window (or switching the peninsula to the other side of the room...but that presents seating & TV location issues.

What do you plan do do with the almost 6' of counterspace on the other side of the room?

Does the cleanup sink have to be in front of the window? Would you consider: Moving the Cleanup Zone to other side (the "bottom" wall)
Moving the pantry to the "top" wall
Moving the range down closer to the window and farther from the slider (every inch helps!)
Adding a prep sink on the "top" wall under the window (either in the corner or just before the corner)

It would give you a lot of counter space for prepping & cooking as well as plenty in the Cleanup Zone, perhaps even enough for a Snack Center...

It would also make it easy to watch TV while cleaning up! You still have the window for prep work (70% of the work/time spent in the kitchen).

The DW could be switched to the other side of the sink in the above layout to get it out of the general entrance to the kitchen (b/w the peninsula and "bottom" wall of cabinets), but I was trying to keep it out of the Snack Center.

The downside I see here is that the not only is the DW in the way of the Snack Center, but the trash pullout is on the other side of the sink now. Of course, it does make the trash pullout in the Cleanup Zone more accessible for others inside the house...

blfenton-thanks for the response! The counter space between the range and the sink is about 40". Since it is also 31" deep, to me this amount of space seems luxurious! I currently gather all my items and do prep on a small table, the table we eat at after I cook in fact. I also thought, if I needed to spread out more, the peninsula is there for more room, plus can watch TV while I do it, if that's what I'm in the mood for that day.

Buehl-that's some layout you created there. Thank you for taking so much time to respond to me. I appreciate it. To answer some of your questions...

We will not be moving the windows. We are only raising them to a height such that a counter can fit under them.

The peninsula- I guess I didn't get detailed enough in my post and layout...and I thought it was too long! Well, the plan is for a 15" overhang. The cabinets here in the peninsula are the only exception where we will be making shallower cabinets. The chairs are to exact scale and in the fully pulled out position. I don't know that I've ever sat at a table or counter with my chair not at least tucked in a little so I could reach. Maybe I have short arms! Anyway, with the chairs fully pulled out, there is still 28" to get by. I think that's way more than we have in our dining room!

The slider door- leads to the backyard. Actually, it leads to a tiny landing and steps to the sloped backyard and then woods. There's no deck or anything out there. The slider would be there more to give us light than anything else. I don't want to completely take away the exit as someday, who knows, we might want to build a deck out behind the kitchen. It's seldom used now, except by my cat, who by the way, would be the one using the pet door (he has one now that the house came with, and we feel bad to take it away). I really don't see the traffic flow on that end or lack thereof as an issue. The traffic in my kitchen is all on the other end where the doors lead to the rest of the house.

The sink-yes I really want that sink there in front of that window, centered. It is very much how I envision my kitchen (sweby) and very much part of my routine to look out the window while doing dishes or washing produce. I've seen a lot of cool stuff out the window over the years while doing dishes, etc. So I'm willing to "only" have 40" of counter between sink and range.

Six Feet of counter on other side of room- here we will have toaster, coffee machine, and crock pot (I make our oat meal in it every other day). Also considering a small sink over there. That is why I have 6 feet of counter. It will be a good landing spot for grocery bags when I unload into the pantry and refrigerator as well. A good spot for hubby or kid to get drinks for guests, snack for themselves, pour a bowl of cereal, etc. OR I could use it as a place to set out food as it gets cooked and before it gets to the table during the holidays. Well, I could go on and on. But I see it getting much use.

Thanks again for taking the time. I appreciate it.

It sounds like you have it all planned out...that's great! Good luck with your kitchen & keep us posted on your progress!