Are you sure none of those walls are load bearing?

Second question- Have you considered a kitchen designer?

(Not that there aren't brilliant minds and ideas here!)

Yes, - they are not load bearing. Just had it confirmed yesterday. I know I should consider a designer but wanted to start here first. Thanks! :)

you can probably take the project a couple different ways...important to know would be your budget and if you'd like to add a half bath on this level of the home...I would assume the laundry is down the flight of stairs but a half bath would be nice on this level, if I were doing this.

I'll offer a general suggestion since you're at the widest part of the decision funnel right now, and that's to consider getting rid of the soffits and extending the cabinets to the ceiling.

If you want to use the space on the wall with the front window, you might think about using a tiered planting box, possibly of brick to match the existing planter, to take up space below the window.

Definitely will get rid of soffits and have cabs to the ceiling. Ceiling is only 8 feet high. That is a really interesting idea mama-goose. Will definitely keep that in mind. If I take out the range wall completely is there enough space to an island? Is it important to define the kitchen space at least somewhat?

Adding a half bath is not in the budget and not super important to me. Its a small flight of stairs to either of 3 bathrooms.

How about a kitchen garden/goldfish pond for the kids? ;)

If you take out the wall, and give up the smaller closet and desk, you would have enough room for an island--but that's assuming the walls aren't weight bearing, or that you can incorporate support posts and beams into the plan.

In this rough plan, you wouldn't have to change the large front window, saving that money for other structural work.

Alternate pantry/closet configuration:

Thank you mama-goose! This is exactly what I am looking for. Is it okay not to have landing space beside the fridge? We could easily work a fridge into the space with a little deconstruction of the closet/pantry. I've been fretting about where to put the fridge. Also, will my living room furniture be too cramped with this layout? I do like this a lot! I don't even need quite this size island - but the extra work space would be fabulous.

The front door seems so out of place. I would consider painting it a different color.

The first thing I thought of when you said there are no load bearing walls and it feels small to you, is vaulting the ceiling. Here's an example.

With a family of seven (congratulations!) I'd make room for a ten foot dining table with comfortable walk around space.

To keep the space open, I skipped any interior walls and removed the walk in pantry. For storage, I added a closet to the right of the stairs, put base cabinets all along the back of the (15') island and put a high cabinet pantry to the left of the range to balance the fridge. Your family may be different than mine, but we opted for a larger dining area and no counter seating and we don't wish for counter seating. Our kids are 3 and 6 and they're so wiggly that we're all better off if they stand when they're at the counter anyway.

I am so glad you chimed in benjesbride. I am excited to play around with your ideas. I really like the idea of having the dining table on that side. Thank you!

The drawback is that you have less flexibility with your living room furniture with my drawing above than if you do a living/dining along the back and put the kitchen in the front.

I agree that integrating a large family table into the space is important. Island seating is very popular right now but being able to seat 7 or even 5 people at an island works best in a space that is larger than yours. I'm getting the sense you want to keep the formal living area for entertaining adult guests with a sofa and a few chairs and not turn the entire area into kitchen/dining.

I tried another idea. I put the kitchen near the front door. The peninsula is basically the same length as the present width of the breakfast nook. I've never suggested a ceiling mounted exhaust hood before, but I think it could work centered on the front window. I put the sink on a wall with a pass through to the living room. Alternatively, you could put the sink in the peninsula, the range on the wall and have no pass through to the living room. This would add upper cabinets for storage.

Ikea's not cooperating and so this kitchen is without countertops, but it'll give you an idea.

Also, it makes more sense to me in this configuration to put the dining room on the fireplace side; closer to kitchen entry and larger living room. I don't think a room should be bossed around by a fireplace. We removed a large fireplace in our present home and it was one of our best decisions to date.

If you don't mind a closed kitchen, I prefer this layout. The close proximity to the stairs would be nice to keep an eye and ear on the kiddos. Also, when people come in through the front door they see the cooktop and not the dirty dishes at the sink :-) There's also more wall space for the living room which might give you more options for living room furniture.

I tried a round dining table, 8' diameter. The red circle represents the table and the brown one with a diameter of 140" (8'+44") represent the walking clearance around the table.

So you'll have 144" for the LR side and nearly the same area as you currently have for the kitchen.

Thanks you Sena and benjesbride. I came up with this before I saw what you posted so I will look more closely at your details. I really like the idea of the dining area where I have it if I can make it work. It just feels more natural with those windows. Also, in my plan I have cut down the pantry to just the back wall of shelves. Will maybe need to use a sliding door there. Barn door? So trendy! :) I would love a wall there so I can also have coat hooks on the other side and as a bit of a barrier when you enter the house. Also, the weird cabinets behind the arm chairs are there because I couldn't figure out how to put a wall there - which is existing and must stay. There is no overhang on my island drawing but irl there will be - probably 12 inches. I know - less than recommended but it's what we have now and it works.

So - does this layout work? Is it too tight? The furniture is also the dimension of what we currently have. I don't love the layout of the upper cabinets - but not sure how to arrange them. Thanks for looking and reading!

What's your long term plan with this house? Are you here for 5-10 years or is this your forever home?

The living room seems awkward to me. Generally speaking, a comfortable conversation area seats people about 8 feet across from each other. With such a wide seating area facing the fireplace you might try facing the sofa to the fireplace with chairs on opposite ends of it facing each other.

With a family your size, I'd want to be able to seat ten in the dining room and ten in the living room if at all possible. However, if this is a short term house and your kids won't be bringing friends, spouses, children back for holidays, etc. maybe that's less important.