You of course can take down the wall if you want, but you don't need to spend $$$ to keep an eye on the kids. They will be past watching every minute in no time, and generations have survived "lack of sight lines". You may wish to do so for the type of home / kitchen you want. Many don't like how hard it is to keep the house looking "picked up" when it is all one space and the kitchen is so on view - especially with kids.

If you are gutting the kitchen, a kitchen designer can help with ideas of where to move the cooktop - it looks like the ovens will need to be moved too. You could also consider a pass through rather than removing the whole wall.

Listen to Flo..... Before any sort of major restructure, it's probably worth it to hire a kitchen designer.

Hiyo! Big thanks for all of your comments and advice! We have been working with an interior designer... she's not specifically a kitchen designer though--they have specific kitchen designers?! (hah--clearly we are new to this) We've also had a couple contractors give us estimates but I'm feeling like I need some validation for the plans we've made before I pull the trigger. I should have also said that we do want the open concept too, not just for the kids. This is our house for the next 15-20 years at least so we want to love where we are and are willing to pay for it. We were actually able to get the price low enough to support the kitchen remodel when were ready. :) We'll be staying with family while the work it being done so, fingers crossed, it won't be too stressful. Hope that answers most of your questions. Would love some more input though!

And we're planning on putting in the wall ovens next to the fridge opposite the windows! :)

Yes, there are specifically trained designers who specialize in just kitchens. It is a complex business. I have done many "kitchen designs", but I always get a first rate kitchen designer to review and make sure my layouts, specifications, etc. work. You are probably putting together a good plan but without the very specific details, it can get away from you. Also, be care of "low prices". Low doesn't necessarily always mean best and most reasonable. So, buyer beware. You can't go cheap in a kitchen. You can be wise and cost conscious, but cheap or very low cost will drag you into kitchen nightmareville! Just be careful. Check references and check references of references. You can't be too careful. I am not trying to be a buzz kill, I just don't want to see you back here in 6 months saying "HELP! We have made a dreadful mistake? How can we recover!" Believe me, we see it all the time. That is agony and I don't want to see you go there. Best of luck and if you post your rough layouts, we can help you save some time by giving you feedback on your specific design before you go to a contractor or kitchen designer.

Remember, you need "set down" space near the refrigerator and ovens, so leave room between them to accommodate this type space.

Thank you for all your advice! We will definitely be taking this slower than I planned. We certainly do not want regret after shelling out lots of dollars :)

Good plan! Yes, it is a lot of money and sure want a great outcome at the end. But, you already are on the right path by asking and receiving input early in the process. Most wait til they are in trouble. So kudos to you for that! Good luck!

The only two rooms in a house that aren't just "empty space" are the kitchen and the bath. A Certified Kitchen Designer and a C Bathroom D are a must! Find one, have a nice sit down chat, you need someone who "speaks your language". Establish a firm budget...then reduce by 20%. The reduced amount is your budget...because something always comes up.