Our 70s house kitchen was renovated in the 00s and a backdoor was added, leading out to a large deck in our backyard. The cabinets were moved around, but the fridge was left floating in its original spot with a U shaped kitchen that's rather disproportional for the house (total 1200 sqft).

We want to open up the wall between the 10x11 kitchen into the 10x18 dining/living area, add quartz countertops and since we might as well update the cabinets, we are taking the opportunity to rearrange the space to make the flow more efficient.

Issues: Right now the layout is not great for working. The counters are 7 feet apart and there isn't much room for storage. The shelves aren't adjustable, old face frames make cabinet space usage very cumbersome. The corner is dead space, the drawer hardware ... it's time. Because the living/dining is small, I'd also like the kitchen to be tigher and be proportional for the house, giving way to some extra elbow room to the dining area.

Original Kitchen

Pictures 1-2: The original kitchen from the 70s used to have a breakfast nook for reference.

Current kitchen:

Pictures 3-7: The current kitchen, photo from the listing without our clutter (Prev owners rearranged cabinets, added back door, pass-through wall to dining). The counter along the dining wall does not have storage other than a 15" deep upper cabinet that was repurposed as a base cabinet...

We changed the hood to a low profile microwave/fan.

Above: View from the dining area with a 55" pass through... I wanted a new countertop with overhang but it doesn't quite work as it would take up the limited space on this side of the wall)

Above: Current Floor plan

Update Option 1: Keep fridge in its current location, add base cabinets/peninsula with overhang

Wall removal:

• So the pass-through wall between the kitchen and dining will be opened up in a couple of months (it is load bearing).
• We considered removing the wall between the hallway and living room as well but unfortunately there is HVAC and electrical that we don't think is worth the cost and effort.

Kitchen:

• Cabinets: Probably ikea, DIY
• Countertop: quartz with stone effect
• Add overhang to peninsula on diningroom side
• Reduced distance between sink/peninsula. 55" of clearing between (down from 86") No gain in storage space, but add lazy susans in the corners ... hoping they can withstand the weight of small applainces (instapot, vitamix, etc?)
• Not sure what to do between the door/window, maybe add curved/angled shelving

Above: Option 1 floor plan, removal of pass-through wall; base cabinets/counter goes up toward back wall.

Above and below: renders courtesy of ikea

Option 2, 3, 4...: Is it possible to move the fridge somewhere else or rearrange the appliances completely differently? I'm really struggling to find an alternative location for the fridge unless a window is blocked, goes into the living room past the wall otherwise it creates another awkward location, it seems like a window would have to go....?

Option 2: blocks the window looking at the neighbouring house, not a lot of light loss...

Above: fridge blocks the side window...

Two things I do not want are: an island with a sink or range top... and removal of the wall that used to be beside the fridge if the door stays where it is... (bad feng shui to have a clear opening from the front to back door).

Option 3: We haven't priced this out, but the exterior door (36") could potentially be moved and made to sliding patio doors (60") to take over part of where the back window is. Partner is not a fan of this because of the extra work to add back the siding, extra permits, replumbing, reframing, cost etc. But I can see the utility of adding a coffee station/pantry to the left. L-shaped kitchen to the right with an island. Is this plan any better/worthwhile? Because of the clearing needed we would need to maybe knock down the HVAC wall afterall between the hallway/dining...

Option 4: This option would also require removal of walls as well as reframing of the door and window.

Perhaps the house is just too small for an island and a peninsula and Option 1 is the way to go? In which case, is there another place I could put the fridge?

Looking forward to your input! Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: Where should I put the fridge/stove/sink/DW?