Hi Houzz! I am about to close on a house with a very small kitchen (84"x180" - with some lost space). Among my first tasks on moving later this month, I intend to renovate it.

The crux of my renovation will be the removal of a load-bearing wall that divides the kitchen and the dining room. (Yes, I'll be bringing in a structural engineer.)

I cook a lot and would like to make this kitchen as useful as possible, while also including a peninsula so that friends can hang out while I'm cooking. Critically, I want to install a dishwasher. I've been working on my own design ideas, but having no experience with interior design at all, I'd love to hear your perspective.

My drawing is not the best, but hopefully helpful. The pictures of the existing space might be more useful. I've also included an IKEA rendering of an idea I had for the space, but am open to anything.

Drawing of space with measurements:

Photo looking towards rear of kitchen (load-bearing wall and dining room on the right):

Left side of kitchen (door to basement stairs)

Photo looking towards front of kitchen and house (load-bearing wall and dining room on left):

Photo of other side of load-bearing wall from the dining room:

IKEA idea: