We're in the final stages of our kitchen design and are discussing which way the kitchen island should face. Attached are two pictures with different orientations, one horizontal and one vertical. Below the kitchen is the dining room.

Horizontal Comments

- Layout probably works better with appliances

- Orientation matches kitchen dimensions

- Ceiling slopes down towards the right wall so pendant lighting would be different lengths

- Larger aisle in front of refrigerator/oven and tighter aisles along the sides

- Island seating has a view of a mountain

Vertical Comments

- Sink to fridge walkway is blocked by island corner

- Only 38'' in front of refrigerator (although island isn't directly in front) but ample (too much?) walkway along sides of the island

- Ceiling slopes down towards the right wall so pendant lighting would be the same lengths

- All backsplash is around the window and right wall so island seating is looking at that versus the refrigerator/oven.

- Island seating has a view of the ocean.

Which orientation do you think would work best?