After creating my dream kitchen, we've decided to move. A compromise has landed us with a home that we will once again remodel (though far less extensively!) The new house has a separate dining room and a bay window breakfast nook in kitchen. So we'll get a small round table (thinking 48") which we'll use for quick meals. Then I thought we might build a custom bench to wrap around the sides of the nook. We're a family of 5, so I think 3 can fit on bench, and add two chairs.

For the kitchen itself, I would like to replace the range with a cooktop. I'd get rid of the angled counter/cabinet because as much as I hate corner cabinets, I'm not a fan of the angled cabinet/counter either. Where the microwave over counter is I'd replace that with a full size cabinet with wall oven/microwave combo. (I love my double oven, but don't use it enough to justify the expense this time around.) Then the short desk counter area, I'm thinking I'd either put a full size cabinet with no counter OR another counter with base/wall cabinets. I don't need/want a desk there. (Feel free to convince me otherwise, but I can't see it being a useful space for us.)

And adding a base/wall with counter would be more counterspace than I have now, and frankly I don't think I need it. It also adds the expense of additional granite or whatever top we use. But a wall of cabinets seems a bit imposing and maybe it would be nice to have the extra counterspace and I just don't know it because I don't currently have it. I was contemplating extending the island as well, because it seems like a counter where the desk is would be odd and not feel part of the kitchen if the island isn't longer. But that would potentially get in the way of the nook seating area. Would love ideas!!

This is the current layout of the kitchen:

New layout idea:

(Sidenote: As a point of reference, since I LOVE my current kitchen, I have basically an L shape with an island. Along the long part I have pantry, fridge, pantry, double wall oven, counter, sink, counter, corner. Then the short side is counter, cooktop, counter. The actual counterspace (minus sink and cooktop) is 135" on one side, 104" on the other side. And my island is 91x31 (basically 7.5 feet by 2.5 feet.) And that is plenty of counterspace and it is awesome. The new kitchen has very similar counterspace currently, except that there is also counterspace on the opposite side of the island. We can't recreate this layout because we can't put the oven, fridge on the same side as the sink because the nook is in the place where it would go.)