Hi Whitney, I think a minimum of 48 inches behind the chairs is enough. From the edge of the countertop to the back of the chair or should I say where it slides back :-) D

You have pinch point it seems at the (too small) dining space corner of the island especially , nor can we really read your plan as posted - its dimensions. Five feet between stool backs and a console backed up to a sofa.

Post a better picture that can be fully enlarged and that dining space appears VERY tight at a nine foot depth.....?

Use industry standards then adjust to your situation.

I need to be able to read the meausrements and IMO 5' is the space you need for what you are asking but without the measurements we can only guess

Note: A pathway in an open area defined by a furniture layout should not be contradicted by floor finish or ceiling differentiation. In this case, do not locate a circulation path parallel and under the "Upper Floor Line".

With room for a console table behind the couch,  we went for 7' of space in order to leave some room for walking behind people seated at the island.

I’m also a little concerned about the walkway from garage entrance to the stairs, and front door to great room and kitchen. When you put furniture in, oriented to the fireplace etc, it becomes a little tight with turns. I almost feel like I’d want to move the fireplace more to the back of the house, or swap the foyer and flex room, but that would have all kinds of repercussions with stairs, upstairs, basement, elevation, etc.

Now that I look closer (and wake up) the vaulted ceiling should define and cover an entire space and not have parts bleed out from under it.

Rethink the pantry in the corner of the kitchen interrupting counter space.

Do you need a guest closet in the foyer?

I think there is a coat closet off the alcove to the right about 16 feet into the house.

Or there is a dedicated flex in the flex room that coats are thrown on.

In another time, for a large party, coats went on the bed in the master bedroom. Now it sounds creepy.

I’m really thinking about swapping the foyer and flex. It allows visitors to enter, freshen up in the oowder room, and head to the back yard garden party, or the living room, or the spread on the kitchen island, easily, and keeps them away from the bedrooms to the right of the great room. and a nicer entry view than the stairs and side of the fireplace.

That kitchen is poorly designed.

What would you do different?

Agree W /Cpartist and nobody can help you until you post the house plan and the kitchen plan alone.....in formats that can blown up to see legible dimensions for everything. As asked yesterday.....: )

A corner pantry in a kitchen normally cuts a kitchen in two.

Counter pace should be provided to to at least one side of a refrigerator.

Counter pace should be provided to to at least one side of an oven.

The red defines the (not so) great room by the ceiling. The green defines the (not so) great room by the floor space. The orange question mark denotes space of unclear definition.

Brick on only the front of the house looks odd if the other sides of the house are visible (they are).

Is starting over with a different local designer an option?

Things to seem to be misaligned. When you come from the bedroom hall, you half in front of the stairs and half the great room. At the front door, which one is the more-operating door? Either way, coming into the house involves an odd turn. The ”open to above” half covers the little hall to the basement stairs. (btw, I would add a second door there for the flex room. What is the plan for that room?) And the pinch point to the dining room, as though the dining room were an addition.

That has a lot of similarities to an Escher drawing. Find a better architect.

I agree with the comment about the vaulted ceiling covering the entire space. If you want an open concept, make it open. Just my experience building kitchens and a family that likes to cook. And a little bit of learning about air handling.

An open concept is easier to manage air flow. There are mechanical advantages. Comfort. Working space near. Kinda hurt my feelings at first as a cabinet builder to buy a new working counter with roll out drawers under the top. Wood top 2 x 5 foot. On wheels. Practically won out. Having a mobile working space in an open concept kitchen, pantry, living room. Just may need a wheel chair some day. Windows are placed where there are nice views.