another thought is to extend the kitchen into the dining room and use more of the back wall for cabinetry and counterspace. it looks like there may not be enough room for an island in your first solution. I might still consider removing the wall between the kitchen and living room to open it up more but instead of the kitchen going into the living area, it will go into the dining area. would need to do plans to see how it would work and the current windows in the bay window may need to be reconfigured to be shorter for countertop space. idea would be something like this... island would extend to include the table....

You need to include measurements of all walls, doors, and windows on your drawing.

Your plan is much less functional than what you have. Take down the wall - but post measurements so we can help.

The living space is about 12 ft from far left wall to left side of center wall.

Kitchen space is 12.5 ft from far left side of center well to far right wall.

Both rooms are 10 feet wide.

I'm not looking for specifics. I'll need to figure that out with a cabinet/kitchen designer. I guess I'm just looking at general ideas.

I have to say, I'm with you with not wanting to walk into kitchen on entering home so agree with hesitating to remove wall.

Can see though, that the U shape of the kitchen does restrict the flow. If the intruding bench went, a butchers block would provide bench space but may not add to your storage ...

If you can’t take the time to draw a to scale floor plan IMO we don’t have time to help. A kitchen design needs measurements of bot the kitchen and the space you think you want to open into You need to know if that wall is loadbearing removing that wall will not help with the storage issue BTW You need to share your budget too.Do you have any idea what is in that wall .

12.5' is not enough space for an island with seating, even if you have cabinets on only one parallel wall. If your heart is set on an island the dividing wall would need to come down, but as you do, I'd have reservations about seeing the kitchen on full display from the entry.

For aisle width planning info: NKBA guidelines, illustrated

Rather than removing the wall, would you consider extending all the way to the ceiling (or replacing it with a wall that reaches the ceiling -- it looks like current wall is a closet and you are thinking about cabinetry for pantry).

It looks so odd to me the way it is, and I think that losing any more of that small sitting room will make it useless. But maybe you have another area that is your true family room and so you'd be willing to sacrifice.

The reason people are asking for measurements is that no one can say if you even have room for an island.