Distance to the chimney looks like it is only 2 feet right now, so the chimney along with the corner cabinet would be a hip and elbow banger.

Since the chimney is already tall why don't you put the fridge right by it, you'd still have a nice peninsula to crowd around. That would leave the opposite wall for sink and cooktop. Prep takes most of the cooking time so having the prep space in front of the window is great. Deepen your counters since you have lots of aisle space between the wall cabinets and the peninsula.

Thank you for the suggestion. The fridge in that location is not one we had not considered yet. Lukewarm (at best) response to the idea from my wife, who likes the large peninsula.

I like the stud bay storage idea if we are forced into this configuration due to the pinch point on the left. On this note - our fridge is currently there now and we have 24 inches of clearance between the edge of the fridge and edge of the chimney enclosure wall. The design will actually give more clearance than we currently have.

Likewise - thank you for the suggestion to consider offsetting the sink with the existing window configuration. Yes, we could change the windows but we're trying to stay to a budget.

You need a minimum of 3' of clearance. If you will have 3' of clearance, I prefer your layout. However if you don't, then I like what mama came up with.

The island looks far from the rest of the kitchen, and without an appliance on it, I worry that it would go unused. Also worried about the view from the living room - unbalanced and a cased opening left over from original floor plan might look awkward. Have you considered adding a matching cased opening on the other side?

I assume you've dealt with the idea that the wall you are removing may be a supporting wall and will need a beam to support the load.

That fridge won't work behind a door. It will get beaten every time you open the door. And if the fridge opens to the right you may not be able to open the drawers. Many fridges require a swing of more than 90* to open the internal drawers fully.

You could change the cabinet to the left of the cooktop to be 12" and still leave 9" to the door frame. I have something like that now. Not the best, but not bad either. You could also go to 15", but don't do a large overhang for your counter top at that end.

Yes, we are adding a beam to support the load from the removed wall. We hadn't discussed adding a matching cased opening yet. Thank you for the suggestion.

Weedmeister - do you mean to change the upper cabinet to the left of the cooktop to be 12" but leave the counter and lower at 9"? The reason we left that at 9" is for the space between the counter/lower and the chimney. If we increase the counter/lower to 12" or 15", I don't think we'll have the clearance to the chimney.

We already have a limiter on the side/back door due to the kitchen counter, so we're confident we won't be hitting the fridge with the door with the new layout. However, we are concerned about the fridge door opening and if that will work. Our fridge has french doors and we aren't sure if the right door will be able to open up internally. This is something we plan to try in the space once we demo. The idea to move the fridge next to chimney is a good suggestion.

Thanks all for the comments on spacing the peninsula from the rest of the kitchen.

Could you shift the fridge to the left (away from the door) and add a broom closet or pull out pantry? Would eat up counter space, but would give your fridge doors more opening clearance.

Here are a couple of other options. I'm not a fan of a range on an island or peninsula, but this preserves the seating and the open feel. Is there a possibility that the venting could be incorporated into the new beam location? ETA, this plan uses ascorsonelli's suggestion, but on the other side of the kitchen. :)

Thinking out of the box here.

What about sticking with the L + island layout but...... your fridge is on the short leg, the sink and dw are in the island, and the range and hood are centered on the window.

Apparently it can be done!?

ETA you'll likely still have the tight spot by the chimney. Hmm.....