I’ll let pros handle this, but please post more pix from every angle. They will ask. I have a question - are you sure you want to open this up? It seems like it would place attention to the kitchen and island. I am biased against open floor plans, so take that into consideration. Maybe more pix will help explain it better.

Added a couple more photos, hopefully that helps. Thank you for your comment!

First, get someone in to make sure the wall isn't load bearing before you go to far in the planning process. It might be more work than a "handyman" can handle.

About the floor transition - if you are replacing the carpet anyway, match the hardwood in the adjacent rooms. No "window" please.

“We are planning to hire a handyman to cut out about a 70-75” walkway between our kitchen and front room.”

I wish it were that simple. That is not a great plan for a number of reasons. First of all, your design leaves a lonely pillar of wall (in red below) that only remains because you don’t want to deal with the electrical and hvac in that wall. Secondly, handymen are not structural engineers.

A better plan would be to hire a reputable builder who works with structural engineers to give you an estimate for A. completely removing the wall, OR B. removing as much wall as you can afford to from the current opening toward the fireplace (in blue below). If it is more affordable to leave some wall behind, at least it will make sense “defining” the front room.

Concur with eam44. How high are your ceilings? Even if this is not load bearing, a 75" doorway span has to support the high amount of wall above it up to the ceiling. This is not a handyman cut out job. You need to do a lot more research. Also, do you want your fridge door to open smack into the center of the door way and do you want to step right into the counter when you enter the room? Where will you move your trash to? What is the view now from the former dining room into your kitchen? What is at the other end of your kitchen? Lots of things to think about before cutting a doorway in the wall.

I don't think a window in the wall is going to give you enough view of the kids and looks kind of weird.

You wait to do this until you can afford a lot better than a handyman.

You don't LET a handy man do this, you get a contractor who has an electrician, who knows for fact if that is , or isn't a load bearing wall. Ideally, you do not want header, but if a load and you need it and a support? so be it.

You wait to do it, until you can unify all the flooring, meaning extend into the living room and add a nice big area rug.

" Replacing all the carpet" ..............not the best idea either. Even a good nylon is expensive and not the best long term value or investment . Better a rug on a unified , and much more permanent flooring, meaning the same hardwood as the kitchen.

Failing that? A well thought out, low pony wall and two supporting ends. You still need a contractor, and that is a look from the nineties.

You might call it the transitional, "please make up your mind between open or closed" decade, or just one of needing support. No matter what, a unified floor is much better - and sometimes I actually miss the look of the first two: ) and the charm of separation versus I live in a cow barn.

The point here is, do it well or do not do it, style regardless.

I would go with just a look/pass through, not a full walk. You will lose too much needed wall space. But to your dilemma I would want the threshold to be in the middle of the opening and it will look larger if flooring in both rooms is the same.

leaves you with a split opening...two openings in other words... it would be better temporarily to put the kid play area at the non shown end of kitchen.....presume there is a table there.....move the table onto an area rug on the piano wall area of your main room and move the piano toward the fireplace. or elsewhere....... Your whole situation will change as kids get bigger.....adapting spaces for a while is very common. I wouldnt cut the wall.

What are you going to do about the current opening? . IMO it will look ridiculous to have a 75" cutout, a piece of wall and then your current opening.

Yes seeing your children in the family room while working in the kitchen is always a plus.

I hope you are hiring a structural engineer to really address the space. You don't want to cut the wrong beam in the wall and destroy the support for your roof. Maybe your handyman is experience and is insured for his work.

Are you keeping the wood cabinet on that wall? Are you keeping your soffit?

Can you put wood in the new space that would match our current floors? I wonder if the entire wall could be removed.

Following to see the final results.