Brings back memories! Here is my suggestion: go ahead and open it up and yes, do the island for casual eating. This eliminates the need for the table and chairs (so nobody scoots back their chair and falls into the family room). This provides a very up to date floor plan that would have great resale value. As far as cabinets, I'm with you. Keep it light.

would not open it up,but would do the eat at island and think you could change the color of the cabinets,just not too dark,but a sagegreen and repeat the cabintry in the island...

I like sage green but for resale purposes, wouldn't use it on cabinetry. Too taste specific.

The white is quite pleasing. I think some low profile/flat panel cabinet doors would do well as an "update". I would love to see a new island that is large enough to allow several people to eat at it at once. This is a strong design trend that has been going for the last few years and does not look to be loosing any steam!

The table and chairs are what are crowding the space. By removing these elements, by changing out the peninsula to a full island and adding in the seating to the island, you will go from a "smallish" 70's kitchen to a massive, modern, high-end (looking) kitchen with huge potential and wonderful resale value for the next 7-10 years.

Removing the half-wall would need to be done in such a way that the "step up" into the kitchen be "triggered" by some sort of visual "something". This is where designers/builders would come in. I would love to see some sort of "french doors" introduced in this area. I would love to see "corrugated" french doors that could be moved or that open in multiple places to allow for a "great room" effect at one any moment, or could be closed off if, at a gathering, one side of the house gets too loud for the other. I'm just throwing out some ideas. I'm not even sure if this is possible. Someone should know.

Another update, to "lighten" the space, would be to have your wood floors "redone". The ambering on the floor is quite beautiful. It is also limiting your palette. By stripping and recoating the floor with a "non-yellowing" polyurethane it would offer you an updated floor that is still beautiful, but lighter in appearance.

Many high-end European homes have oak floors installed that naturally lighten over time. After 4-5 years, the floors are so light, you would assume there is a "pickling stain" on the floor. I'm wondering if this is an option for your home. It would give you the "lighter" space, an updated look to go with the "updated" kitchen...all with a technique that has to be done eventually (strip and recoat the floors).

Lots to consider, folks. As far as the flooring goes ( it is currently wood-plank vinyl - which has held up pretty well for 19 years) since the entire kitchen will be a gut, we will go with hardwood and likely continue that into the family room. I do like the idea of a lighter oak floor. But that could foul up the visual "something," thereby perhaps eliminating the idea of removing the half wall. We met with a custom cabinetry guy yesterday and he supports the idea of replacing the half wall with cabinets along the kitchen side and and using the back of the cabinet space in the family room for a counter with stools. I'll definitely not do a color on the cabinetry since, as new empty-nesters, we could be looking at resale in 5-7 years anyway. It's that table & chairs vs. island thing that is keeping me up nights. I get differing opinions regarding resale from the few realtors I've quizzed about the issue.

Would love to see what you decided to do! I have the same kitchen & am remodeling soon. Plan is to remove the table & chairs & put in an island.

It looks so great! I especially love the window seat/banquette. Thanks for the update!

My pleasure - I'll be happy to answer any of your questions.

Thanks so much for posting. Your kitchen looks wonderful! The counter & stools is a great idea!

Hi, your kitchen looks wonderful! Would you be able to share a picture looking into the kitchen from your family room (maybe from a little farther back). Trying to get an idea of what it looks like from the FR. Thank you!

Thank you. If you go on facebook and look up T K Custom Cabinetmaking, you can find a bunch of photos of our remodel, including a view into the family room with the counter and two stools. Our remodel pix start in row four.

I checked out the Facebook page, it looks great, total transformation!

Thanks - and that kitchen is 6 or 7 years old now. Still very happy with it. Good luck with your project!