We are so excited to get started with our kitchen renovation!! This is a small 1950s ranch house, with closed concept dining/living/kitchen area. Photo1 shows our current layout.

The changes-

- Remove the wall separating the kitchen from the living/dining, and the front door closet. Not to worry, there are 2 large closets 7 ft away, in the hallway, 1 of which we will use for shoes and coats. This is a load bearing wall, and structural engineers are already involved.

- Remove window over the sink because there is a large slider near the dining area, and we have 2 additional windows, each 6' wide, on either side of the couch.

We have 2 layouts we like, both with an island of 8'x2', with no appliances, and this will be exclusively prep/eating/hang out space. We will most likely do open shelving on the sink wall, with either layout.

(1) With the range and refrigerator on the same wall, but this gives only 9" countertop on either side of the range. This allows us to only change the gas line and leave the plumbing alone. This also allows to retain our existing 2-bowl 36" sink.

(2) Refrigerator on the sink wall. I dont like the idea of putting the refrigerator near the patio door, because it may block light. But if we put the refrigerator where the dishwasher is currently, we need to move the sink by 1' and put the dishwasher on opposite side. This layout will only allow for 24" sink 1-bowl sink, but gives us 24" countertop on either side of the range.

I'm ok with either design, but simply can not make up my mind!! I'm looking for feedback on refrigerator location- next to patio door or not, to simplify plumbing if we go with option2.

Help! We plan to start demo in the next 2 weeks.