Outstanding feedback and suggestions! Love the idea of permanently removing the cabinets on the left side/brick wall of current kitchen and instead using the length of the "long" wall to the wall of windows to place the kitchen fixtures and cabinets. And adding a window on that wall too. Another question that comes to mind is what becomes of that left/brick wall? Removing the current lower cabinets is a gain of approx. 21" to the 50" width currently there (since leaving the right side cabinets in place). Could be just an opportunity for a piece of large artwork since Usonia homes are also famous for lack of blank wall space to hang art :) MANY thanks for the awesome reply!

Excellent idea - that wall could be an open-shelf pantry - wide plank shelves that I would promise "klfische" to keep clean and styled 110% of the time :)

How are you going to vent your stove?

In looking at the 2nd picture I posted, how would one configure an island--especially an island that would constitute the primary sit-down eating location? Make it parallel to window wall? Or parallel to blank drywall (with a future window added to it!)? Or not do an island at all?

Apple Pie Order: I am open to all venting suggestions. Currently, there is no vent to the stove.

What is your budget range and what does the rest of the living area look like?
My first thought is to move the kitchen to the blank back wall with a large island parallel to the kitchen, possibly including the kitchen sink. The area where the kitchen is now could become home to a long narrow farmhouse style table. I understand that the width is not ideal but it might work if you are wanting the kitchen to have more priority in the space.

a switch to a taller, narrower counterdepth fridge would provide some space. LG makes one that is 24 wide and 72 tall.

How many people live in the house? Do you have formal meals or is your style more casual?

You could build a wall at the fireplace seat edge, as wide as a fridge. Move the fridge there. Move the stove to where the old fridge was. Extend countertop and cabinets where the stove was, up to where the fridge will be. Add exhaust fan and ductwork.

The Ikea kitchen planner is quick and easy for floor plans.

I'm back Houzzers--and thanks for more comments/suggestions. In no particular order, here are answers to questions: (1) 4 people live in this house, (2) we eat together every night possible and also host--at least twice a month--groups of 10-15 other folks (utilizing outdoors as much as possible--I've been known to reschedule an event if rain was probable), (3) budget is solid--willing to go "high end" on elements that are worth the expenditure, and (4) here is what the rest of the living area looks like: (see below) Please note: at some point in the history of ownership of this bungalow, it was decided to put the hot water heater and HVAC system behind those bi-fold doors in the first picture below and wall off the kitchen. This is a typical Usonia-style house with a low pitch roof and thus zero attic space to move either one of these items up there. We're looking into tankless water, etc. The next view is to the right of the wall of windows where sliding doors were added at some point. The last view is the view from the kitchen of the rest of the living area - the full length from the wall where the refrigerator is to the opposite blank wall in 3rd picture is 26ft. The distance from the sliding glass doors in the 2nd picture to the windows in first picture below is 19ft. That constitutes the living area. (All bedrooms are in separate pods off this main space.)