I found this kitchen that is the same layout as ours. This is what I'm thinking in regard to an island. Except we would not install an oven where this one is located.

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You might consider pale blue for your cabinets. If you decide on an island, you could use a much darker blue for that.

If there are issues with regard to space, you could use 18" base cabinets for your island bar rather than the standard 2' deep base cabinets so you'd have sufficient overhang on a smaller countertop.

It's most helpful if you post a sketch of the space including wall dimensions and window/door locations (not cabinet to cabinet or counter to counter, but wall to wall.)

I wish we could have a phone conversation instead of typing. During the last 30 years I have gutted-to-the-studs 6 kitchens...and learned so many things during the process. A Certified Kitchen Designer who is working on your behalf (one who does not sell cabinets) will be of immeasurable value. Ask for references from cabinet maker shops to a CKD who will come and take measurements and at least come up with a simple layout which can be tweaked. Looking at your existing layout I can see several "errors" which would not have happened using a CKD. Ask Hubby to give you the present of a consultation instead of a birthday / anniversary gift. A new kitchen is costly, it's even more expensive if mistakes are made which could have been avoided. Good luck.

Agree 100% with loobab and chiflipper.

A CKD doesn't cost you money. S/he saves you money on that steep learning curve of designing a kitchen. Why wouldn't you take advantage of all the experience a CKD provides? Remember that old saying: 'You don't know what you don't know." Use a CKD to avoid mistakes and have the best kitchen you can get for your budget.

As chiflipper wrote. Make sure s/he is an actual independent designer and not a cabinet salesperson. Many many people have posted bad "designer" plans here thinking they they were working with one, but they were not.

You don't have room for an island. Get the FRIDGE AND PANTRY to the ugly pantry space. Or push the pantry wall back into whatever room is behind , or bump/cantilever out the sink wall of the house. Those are your only tickets to any island

Point is, get the fridge off your cook wall. ..microwave too : )

A standard island with recommended 15" seating overhang and minimum 42" aisles all around requires 12'7". My estimate looking at your pictures is that you have that or a bit more between your sink window wall and the back of your former pantry.

Can you check that dimension mrbddb?

I am in the same situation as you - I am remodeling my kitchen and having no luck, but I have not gone to a CKD. I was going to kitchen showroom who sells cabinets. Where can I go to find an independent designer?

mrbddb - another thought about your space...

When we reno'd our last kitchen we moved our patio door, but had to alter the panels so it opened from the let instead of the right. This might be something to explore with your patio door. Your door swing might not compete with your seating as much if the opening section was on the right with the knob on the right and hinge in the center. And if you get an island with seating maybe you won't need a table there at all.