What if you swap the refrigerator with the coffee counter and open a window in the wall where the refrigerator is now. it Allows a dining room pass through and some social contact but doesn’t rework the whole house.

I thought of this too but the pass through window would only be about 40-42in wide. Not sure that would be substantial enough?

18in

Are you going for all new cabinetry? If you raise the ceiling and keep those, you'll be wondering what to do about the gap between the ceiling and cabs. I think the idea of pass through openings in walls is silly. It eliminates useful space from two rooms, allows people to view your kitchen mess, and probably doesn't get used as much as people think. If you can't replace the cabinets, I'd consider a refinish or paint job and a new backsplash without that patterned strip all around. It might be a little more useful if the coffee bar area were converted into a pullout pantry. Can't tell how close the blue toy is to the window/door, but that might be a good spot for your coffee bar that would keep the coffee hounds out of the kitchen and still happy. Can you stand in front of the range and show us the other end of this open space, plus a picture of the wall that is opposite the breakfast table. We might surprise you with an idea you haven't thought of!

Could you put the fridge in the other room, where the baby toy is now? That would allow you to use a full depth fridge, for more storage, and you could put some kind of pull-out cabinet behind it. But then the fridge would be on display to the room on the right.

I’m definitely open to new cabinets, especially if we raise the ceiling. The ceiling is the biggest issue in my opinion. 7ft makes it feel like a basement. The rest of the house is so open (vaulted ceilings, big windows, etc), which makes this kitchen stick out like a sore thumb. Will post a few more pics. Thanks!

You need a contractor and it's always 20% more then what they say because they run into problems are you add something it always ends up more in the cost And the wall where the coffee pot is the refrigerator could go there and move the coffee pod over to where the refrigerator is and you can close up that wall to the dining Room a move the door way down may be the other way to go into that Room And there's wiring that would have to be moved in the ceiling I don't know how much space you got there what's up the RE But I hate the ceiling

Additional photos

Here is a house in the same neighborhood with the same exact layout and the wall knocked out. I don’t love the attached island concept but you get the idea.

And how are they venting their range? What will you do with your buffet and big piece of art?

Not exactly sure. I would get rid of the painting and buffet. They were hand me downs.

I like the idea of moving the fridge to the area where the baby walker is. Is that possible - it would be to the left of the sink. That would give you more countertop where the fridge was. I don't know if I'd knock the wall down, but I would like to see the opening widened. If the fridge is relocated, then you could perhaps widen the doorway taking a foot or so from the left and another foot or so on the right, making the kitchen more open.

Thanks! I will measure and see if that’s a possibility

Do u need that kitchen table? Coffee/bev area. U have 2 opens to the same room; close one.

Fragmented mirrors are not the best, from an Eastern Feng Shui perspective. I think some art could be very nice in that space next to table, or a mirror that is not fragmented.

I would leave the structures alone, including the ceiling. Maybe in place of some of canned lights in kitchen, some sort of interesting lighting element, on a dimmer.

https://www.target.com/p/possini-euro-design-modern-ceiling-light-flush-mount-fixture-led-chrome-40-wide-5-light-acrylic-diffuser-rings-bedroom-kitchen/-/A-80003540?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df_free_online&CPNG=Lighting&adgroup=74-6

Also, under cabinet lighting, if you don’t have any.

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There area where the small dining table is is a weird back entry way from the patio. It works ok to give us a place to eat that’s in direct site from the kitchen, which is important with a baby and a toddler. If the dining room was open to the kitchen, we could get rid of that table all together and open that space up for the kids to use as a play area.

Raising the ceiling is a must for me. I’m 5’ 2” and I can touch it without standing on my tiptoes. Our contractor said he thinks it’s a soffit up there and it would be easy to take out.