This is my first post but I've been a lurker for over a year. We are in the design phase now of our kitchen remodel and are having quite a time coming up with a workable layout. I'm presenting a blank slate here so you guys can come up with something maybe we haven't thought of. I've been really impressed with the layout suggestions you guys have given others on this board! I'm hoping you may help us come up with some good ideas that I can present at our next design meeting with our kitchen designer.

Below I will post our first floor layout, a to-scale drawing of our kitchen and adjoining dining room and some photos. Here are some details:

The house is a 1978 two-story colonial. Bedrooms, baths and laundry are on the second floor. Family room, living room, dining room and kitchen are on the first floor. There is also a finished basement.

Our objectives are (1) to create a more open feel between the family room, kitchen and dining room; and (2) improve the kitchen to create more storage, island seating, and better workflow.

To accomplish those goals, our thoughts are to remove the railing between the kitchen and family room, fill in the small step between the two rooms, and extend the kitchen floor a bit to create a longer step that goes all the way across the area where the railing was. We would then continue the wood flooring into the family room. On the opposite end of the kitchen, we are thinking of removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room. The kitchen's eat-in nook would then be moved to the former dining room, in front of the bay windows. That would then allow us to extend the kitchen island into the area where the current nook is located, in front of the sliding glass doors. But I am afraid of creating a giant barrier island. Also, the wall We'd be removing does contain plumbing from an upstairs bath, a cold air return and some electrical. I am not wedded to the idea of removing that wall if you have a better idea!

The footprint of the house must remain the same; we just replaced the exterior siding and the roof, and we don't want to have to do that again. The bay windows in the dining room along with the kitchen window and the kitchen sliding doors (aka doorwall) were also recently replaced and we would like to keep them.

We are a two-adult household. I am the only one who cooks. We entertain a lot and host family gatherings with our seven grandchildren as well as parties for mainly adults. As you know, party guests always gather in the kitchen and our current layout means that our guests are often in my way when I am prepping or cooking. The cooktop currently sits on a small island and is oriented so that when I'm at the cooktop my back is to the sink. If I have to go to the refrigerator, I must walk around the island. This layout means that no matter which side of the island our guests are standing at, they are in the way. I would like to have some island seating so that guests would have a place to be without ending up underfoot.

We would love a coffee/tea beverage center. We don't need a dedicated baking center.

We will likely keep our built-in double wall ovens. All other appliances will be replaced. We'd like an induction cooktop, no preference on the size. I like the look and efficiency of a hood but I am not sure if we have the space without giving up too much storage. We currently have a downdraft fan. We will also be getting a dishwasher (not drawers) and microwave. I would like a trash pull out.

Our ceilings are 9 feet high.

So far we've been challenged in trying to come up with a workable layout that includes island seating, mostly due to the windows and sliding door taking up wall space. My husband won't budge on keeping those windows. I'm also concerned about not having the room width-wise to have good aisle space.

Thank you very much in advance for any suggestions you can provide us! I look forward to seeing your creative ideas.