We want to renovate a (mid 70's?) kitchen in our 1890's old red brick house. The kitchen is approximately 12.5' x 13'.

I want to add a kitchen window. I feel claustrophobic with no window in my kitchen. So this will involve making big a new opening through the beautiful old red brick exterior wall. It appears there was once a window (see photos) where there is now small built in shelving. On the other side of the shelving is now a mud room where we want to put in a powder room. I will want to put a french glass door to replace the old exterior door (which now leads to the mushroom) so th s will allow light in, but I would still like a proper window.

There is a reasonable chance of exposing the old red brick wall behind where the sink is currently. (See photo of red brick... this is the wall on the other side, where a renovation was added years ago).

There is also a chance we could open the wall between the kitchen and dining room (there's a small shuttered pass-through there right now).

The only kitchen renovation we have done was 12 years ago and it was okay... we went to a kitchen design place, gave our budget and they designed something.

I'm at a loss where to start. Are there any good posts or websites that are good for people just at the "considering a renovation" stage like me?