I read.. I saw the proposed layouts and thought "this kitchen seems like it would work better with a peninsula and all 3 major appliances out of the walkway," and then I saw that your current layout is exactly what I was envisioning. So then I re-read your post.. and I'm still not 100% sure what you don't like about the current layout, functionally speaking.

The existing layout is your best choice.

Thank you @jslazart, the current set up actually functions pretty well except that it doesn't provide enough counterspace for 4 teenagers hanging out, it doesn't feel connected to the "sunroom" and the location of the fridge creates a pinch point upon entering from the garage/laundry room and passing through to the dining room.

I can't read your dimensions, but it seems like you could extend the peninsula out a little further for additional elbow room (and move the sink down a bit, and the range down a bit to get it out of the corner), and either move the fridge up a little or spring for a counterdepth model.

If feeling "connected" to the sunroom means easier walking access (do you grill on the deck?) you might want to post the current layout with clearer dimensions to get more ideas.

None of those is an improvement over what you have. The room isn’t wide enough for any other option that includes an island. Any if the “islands” are in the wrong place, and are more like tall breakfast tables. They are not work surfaces. There is no room to place them where they would become a work surface. The only improvement to the existing peninsula would be the fridge and cooktop move.

Here's what you should do:

Absolutely the only arrangement that works is a peninsula. You don't have room for an island.

Move the entry to the sun room or whatever it is.

Flip the sink and dishwasher so your dishwasher isn't in your prep zone. The prep zone is between sink and stove.

Make the corner a dead corner and make your cabinet bottoms wider. You'll get more use out of wider drawers than you will narrower drawers.

Make all lower cabinets drawers for the most storage!

Trash drawer to the right of the sink.

The cabinet with the arrow is for the drawers or door to open in the direction of the arrow. Use that for storing seldom used things.

I put in a drawer microwave or you van make that a beverage fridge or???

All drawers and pullouts for maximum accessibility to storage.

I like chartist's plan very much, but if you're dead set on an island, buy a small island cart from Ikea. My kitchen is 11 ft wide, wall-to-wall. My cart is 17" wide and 40" long. It works perfectly as a "landing zone" in my kitchen, and the two shelves add welcome storage of things I want easily accessible but not on my countertops. My cart also has two small drawers that open from both side. It's Ikea's https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/foerhoeja-kitchen-cart-birch-80035920/. I painted the bottom black so it would "disappear" and oiled the top. I've had it now for over 3 years and it's a big winner! I can even fit two stools - one at each end. They are also Ikea https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/dalfred-bar-stool-black-60155602/

Price was right for all these and my kitchen works. I do NOT have "open concept" so I have 4 walls. I can easily have 3 people working, each in a different zone, and a 4th "busing" from the kitchen. No stepping over/no "excuse me!".

With cpartists plan if you need more seating you could continue seating rightward along the top of the u. Sort of like your second plan where some stools jutted into the “sunroom” (?). You could get a lot of stools in that way.

I like cpartist's plan, with roccouple's suggestion to wrap the seating around the peninsula.

Your drawings are difficult to read...are those three cabinets to the left of the refrigerator Tall Pantry Cabinets? Or, are they base cabinets? I think they're the 18"W x 80"H cabs, but I'm not certain since the #s are all hard to read in the legend box.

IF they're pantry cabinets, would you consider a reach-in or step-in built-in pantry instead? They're more efficient and flexible storage, they hold a lot more, and a built-in pantry is much less expensive than pantry cabinets, even IKEA.

Something like this:

i like Buehls suggestion but would it make sense to move the fridge left for easier loading and unloading onto the end of the peninsula? Or to have some counter next to it?

I wasn't envisioning ten seats, but I suppose if each the kids has a friend over, it would be convenient. Or, maybe fewer seats and some storage facing the sunroom. If you aren't using corner susans, filler will be necessary to allow the drawers to open past the hardware on the perpendicular side.

I also switched the fridge, as roccouple suggested, and drew the reach-in pantry in buehl's variation. Peninsula is shortened slightly to allow more space in front of the fridge:

Thank you @mama goose_gw zn6OH @roccouple@Buehl @cpartist @Anglophilia I like the looks of the plan you've created. I guess what I was missing was that old "don't fix what's not broken" idea. I like the seating extending around both sides of the peninsula and building out around the fridge and making a reach in pantry.

However, we are trying to keep the opening to the left of the peninsula to at least 5 feet because that's a main thoroughfare through the house into the backyard (and we have a fear of pinch points). We have 106 inches to work with between the two walls opening into the sunroom (194 inches to the corner). Any thoughts on the functionality of Kitchen Plan 3 with the seating just in the sunroom and a smaller island cart?

following

Please label what is 106" and what is 194" long.

The space I opened up to the sun room is MORE than 5' so I'm not understanding what the problem is. In fact it's almost 6' wide. So what's the problem?

@cpartist I'm glad you asked me to label because now I've measured and apparently my math was wrong. This shows the dimensions now, 244 inches from wall to corner, 163 inches from wall to edge of opening, and 160 inches from entry to kitchen to entry to sunroom.

@cpartistOh, I see, you are opening up that wall further on the left. Unfortunately I don't think we can do that because we've already reinforced the beam to remove a center post that would have been in the middle of the peninsula. I will ask though. Thanks

Any thoughts on the functionality of Kitchen Plan 3 with the seating just in the sunroom and a smaller island cart?

Using the 5.5' opening, you're an inch shy of the NKBA recommended minimum of 24" elbow room for each seat. Since those seats will be used by the children, I think that will work. Or, reduce the opening to 5', and give each seat another inch, which also gives you more cabinet space. Minimum recommended knee space is 15".

I would follow cpartist's suggestion to move the DW to the left of the sink, and put a trash pull-out on the right.

With all of these plans, i would move the utility sink and two adjacent cabinets to the other side so that side becomes one long work space. Do you need that sink? Could that relocate into the laundry area?