It looks like the dining room is very closed off from the kitchen. Making a walkway where you have the double ovens would go a long way and probably wouldn’t be too much trouble.

At any rate, there are lots of problems with the plan. You say you need more counter space, but what for? Most of it is way outside your prep area. Yet you made the corner inaccessible due to being flanked by tall things. Do you have furniture planned for the bay window? If not, can the island be longer? I’d lose the second island and the half wall and half wall cabinets. It seems like whoever gave you this plan is trying to sell you lots of (expensive) cabinets and counters.

You are right about kitchen being closed off. We have a beautiful view out the bay windows on the other side of the kitchen. We atually have a 3' wide open arch walkway where you suggested! The reason I was wanting to close off that opening is due to the traffic coming into the work area in that part of my kitchen and also wanting to have a bigger opening for view without losing base cabinets and counter. We miss seeing the view from the dinning area the way it is, so I'm trying to find a way to open up that wall above the base cabinets somewhere, without it looking dated and still not losing counter or cabinet space. Hope I'm communicating my concern well enough.

What is the current layout? I’m wondering if there’s some way to preserve the 3’ opening but rearrange to keep traffic out of the work area.

Thank you for your suggestion, Ryan. I actually switched to induction cooktop with downdraft. We've always had the downdraft and we haven't had issues. I think all the windows and high vaulted ceilings help. We have a big 5" window with 30" sink across and a little offset from the cooktop. A cooktop could fit at the end of the outside wall to right of sink, but then a pantry, 42" fridg and double ovens would take up the whole wall between dinning room and kitchen, leaving little if any room for an opening to view out bay windows....???

I don't think enough room has been allowed for the table and chairs in the bay window area so I recommend you switch the axis of the kitchen and eliminate one of the islands. I'm sure my plan still needs adjustment, but for a kitchen this large there should be a clean prep sink and a dirty sink for cleaning. I would move the cooktop off the island.

You can also double the depth of your island if you need more counter space but don't use two islands. They just don't work in a residential kitchen.

Beverly, I like it! I've lived with it the way it is for 30 years and it's difficult seeing it differently. I really appreciate your suggestions.

Soooo much better.

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Emilyam819, I posted a new photo above. its pretty close to original design.

Here is a plan closer to what we have now.….???

Ok, in the future, post additional plans/photos in the comments instead of editing the original post. That way everyone can follow the thread.
Please clarify: Are you trying to put a table in the bay window area?

Not necessarily. It is very crowded with our present table in the bay window area. I'm open to suggestions to make the kitchen more functional and spacious.

You don’t want something close to what you have, right? I think you have to make room for a table like in Beverly’s example above, or make it look like the bay was not actually designed for a table, like this:

Thank you, Emily. I like this as well as Beverly's idea and Ryan's first mention of moving the cooktop. They're all very good suggestions. I think my concerns have been addressed with the suggested plans that have been shared. Thank you.

I

How much is your kitchen used for cooking? How important is function? How do you use the Family Room vs Living/Dining? I assume the family room has the same good view as the kitchen? You could consider moving the wall that separates the kitchen and dining room to between the kitchen and family room and all will have views.

"I actually switched to induction cooktop with downdraft. We've always had the downdraft and we haven't had issues."

Ventilation is as important for Induction as gas.

More: https://bamasotan.us/range-exhaust-hood-faq/