Beautiful light-filled cabin. Did your contractor provide renderings/drawings? Please post a scale drawing of the current kitchen and dining space with major appliances, windows, sliders, hidden plumbing stacks and HVAC runs, and indicate what is inside that post. And please post pictures of the kitchen from all sides if you have access to get inside the cabin.

I do not think both patio doors are necessary so one set could be sacrificed for a better kitchen. Realtors pics are never good to get a feel for space so please post a to scale floor plan of the whole space including LR DR and kitchen Make sure all measurements are clearly marked all windows, doors and door ways . then we can work on what to do to improve the space . Also a good to give us an idea of budget. BTW that post is not going to move it is holding up the space above.IMO a structural engineer should be hired now to tell you what can and cannot be done as to removing 1/2 walls and posts. IMO you will need to address all the flooring , right now the stools are not part of the kitchen at all. I am seeing different flooring what is that in the first pic? You will need at least an interior designer your contractor is not a designer. I see that the flooring in the first pic is what you are wanting. I do need a floor plan please.

I agree. I don't think that post will be able to be removed. It also looks like there may be some HVAC ducting in that area above the kitchen being that there looks to be a vent up there.

there is an air vent up there but seems pretty easy to move. above that kitchen is just a small crawl space storage area where you can see the roof rafter thing through. if you remove that entire kitchen low ceiling theres no need for the beam. the 4x4 ceiling posts you see on the outside are just for looks not structural

If you can have cooktop located on outside wall, then it can vent to outside. That is preferable to cooktop in the kitchen island where it vents back into the kitchen. I personally would not like a cooktop in the island because it gets hot sitting near hot burners, and it gets noisy from vent fan motor.

I agree with others that you don’t need sliding doors in kitchen. You could replace the kitchen sliders with upper and lower cabs if you need a lot of storage, or windows and lower cabs if you need a lot of counter space.

I think it will be an awesome space if the false ceiling and post are removed.

Please post a To Scale drawing of the proposed layout.

thanks @marylut I thought the stove in the island idea might be a little strange to since it would put off heat, he did say put a cool industrial vent that drops down to it for the stove fumes but yeah. I think his suggestions as because right now the fridge is touching the stove so it makes it a little cramped over there. I'm guessing its best to leave the sink where its at due to plumbing. I guess it would go right of sink?

following

If the entry into the cabin is through the LR sliders, consider adding a coat closet between slider and window. The wood on that section of wall is slanted the wrong way, so cover it with drywall. In the corner under the 2 windows, add a banquet for your eating area.

You want a work triangle that doesn’t jut into the traffic path from LR sliders to the stairway and back hall. So, cooktop, sink, and fridge on 3 separate walls. Replace the fridge with upper and lower cabinets so you have a countertop on both sides of cooktop to put down hot skillet and pots. Keep sink and DW where they are to save on plumbing cost. Close off the kitchen sliders and add corner upper and lower cabinet, and perpendicular to that add a tall food pantry and fridge to face the cooktop. The Kitchen will get natural light from the sink window and the LR sliders.

To counteract all the wood, use padded fabric on banquet seat and back, 2 fabric dining chairs, DR and LR area rugs and a runner to the back hall. Replace all the flooring with slate-like smooth tile (single flooring will make the space feel larger, be easier to clean than carpet, not add any more wood, and complement the cabin vibe). Or concrete floor for modern cabin.

You can offset the wood tones with a granite countertop, tile backsplash, apron apron or modern graphite undermount sink, and painted cabinets. I would think a pale sage green or matte blue would be a good cabinet color.

Not sure about dimensions, but I think putting everything on window wall rather than L shape and having a bigger island since you have to work with the post.

Corner padded banquet like this, with coat closet on other side of wall with antler sconce and window on wall with picture.