I will start by telling you that a to scale floor plan is where you start here. Use graph paper to make it easire you then draw the room empty to scale show every window, doorway where those lead and every measurement clerly marked Post that here in jpeg format in a comment . I do not know what you mean by range over the oven. Do you have any idea what is in those soffitts all around the space ? You will get lots of free help here please do not start another post . All things to do with this space are now dealt with in comments here both our questions and your questions all here in comments .

What are your goals for the remodel? What does "meaningful space" mean to you? What works for you in this layout, and what drives you nuts?

For example, in our first kitchen remodel, the goals were:

- increase storage space

- eliminate clutter from counters

- change base cabinets to all drawers

- improve function

To realize these goals, we shifted appliances a little, used a smaller sink to gain counter space, and we ran the upper cabinets to the ceiling. I developed a detailed storage plan, so I knew where everything was going to go in the new kitchen. Figuring this out in advance was very helpful in configuring the two corners in our U-shaped kitchen.

@stomcz: Please see the Featured Answer in the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First!" thread. It describes what we need from you to be able to give you meaningful help. In particular:

• Fully measured layout of the spaces included or potentially included (includes how to do a fully-measured layout)
• Sketch of the entire floor the Kitchen is on
• Answer to the questions in the Read Me thread
• Also, answer to AnnKH's questions

"...we would love to add a range over our oven..."

Do you mean add a hood over your range? (I know some people use "oven" to mean range or stove, so I assume that's what you meant by "oven".)

When you post a drawing of your space with measurements, include what is on the other side of the peninsula, in other words, the area where you were standing when you took this picture.

When you say redo cabinets, do you mean get all new cabinets or do you mean refinish your current cabinets.

And yes, investigate inside the soffits. My number one priority would be removing the soffits and getting uppers that go all the way to the ceiling.

Floor plan to scale, as already requested above. Plus…what’s your budget?

Would look for kitchen designers in your area.

Maybe she means a cooktop over an oven? AnnKH has great suggestions to take to a kitchen designer.

Do you have a budget range in mind already?

We need dimensions and pictures of the entire room. What is past the peninsula? Is that area usable for kitchen? The first thing I would figure out is if the soffits can go. This will allow for taller cabinets.

Looks like a good space.

^^^^Debbi is correct - the first thing I would do is determine if you can remove the soffits. Removing the soffits + adding taller cabinets would be a huge improvement for your space.

Also, knowing if the kitchen can be extended past the peninsula woudl be helpful. I assume it's an area for a dine-in kitchen table - however, if you have a formal dining room, you could expand the kitchen into the area next to the peninsula + use the dining room for your every day eating (many people are eliminating formal dining rooms - either they are turned into the primary dining area OR the use of the room is changed from a dining to room to something else - example, a home office).

Looks like you have a nice space for your new kitchen.

@Valinta

"Maybe she means a cooktop over an oven?"

I don't think so. Given the fact that the OP says, in the same sentence, the MW will need to be moved, it seems logical to assume the OP is discussing replacing the OTR MW with a hood.

We have not heard from the OP since the first post, so this may be another "drive by" post. Although, with the holidays responses from people may be delayed. I suggest giving the OP another couple of days and if no response, letting this thread sink quietly off the first page. 😊

@stomcz??

The most noticeable thing about that kitchen is that the cabinets don't go with anything else in the kitchen. They are a cool, pale blue, where everything else is warm browns and tans.

What's the current functionality? Do you have plenty of storage, you just want a new look? Or are there awkward aspects to your kitchen? What do you mean by "meaningful space?" More room for people to gather? Or is it just HGTV blither?

can you stand in the doorway by stove and take a pic in that direction?

I would remove all of the soffits (hopefully no electrical, hvac or plumbing in them) and take cabs all the way up to ceiling. 36" or 42"

what's your budget?

100%, I would lose the OTR micro and get a built in model.

Do a diff range w/custom vent hood.

Look at your stove and long sink side here,

and imagine something like this (but on a smaller scale). ignore the island. you don't have to do the open shelves. smaller cabs would work fine.

more of a farmhouse look. this is your size stove and vent hood. the long sink on the right side

Don't know if you can close off that door, but if you can, you could do something like this, minus the island

you have a lot of space to the right of the window. you could choose to do cabs or some wood shelves.

I would put the micro on the lower half here or in the peninsula

micro in peninsula

another long sink area.

Move the fridge down (do a counter depth if possible) and do a larger built in pantry.

You see how the fridge is surrounded? something like that

Here's another example of the fridge built into cabinetry. notice the micro.

Bar overhang on the peninsula so you can have counter seating. pendants.

peninsula w/pendants. this countertop is Calacatta Laza quartz. they used it for the backsplash too

slightly diff layout w/the peninsula on the other side.

IMO if the OP cannot take the time to answer and give us a to scale plan all we do is what Beth does show a myriad of ideas with no context . I know its Christmas and many of us are busy so I will wait until Jan. to see if we finally get a planand answers to questions.

w/o measurements a couple quick thoughts: 1. as others have said, soffits out, ceiling hit cabinets. 2. did a same layout(prob diff dimension) demo peninsula, move frig(counter depth) to right end of sink counter, island in center and old frig area has 18” depth lower cabinets, for a "buffet" countertop.

Here is an ispro of modern farmhouse kitchen with natural tones

Replace the microwave-over-range with a real range hood

Relocate the microwave

Reduce or rethink some upper cabinets

Make the peninsula do more

Or modern farmhouse kitchen in harmony (slightly moodier)

If you’re thinking about changing the cabinets, you might consider removing the upper ones and installing a wall-mounted range hood—it can really open up the kitchen.

Stainless steel or copper are both safe, versatile choices and work well with white or black cabinetry. Switching to a white marble countertop could also help the space feel more cohesive and balanced overall.

You could move the microwave to the area left of the fridge. There are different ways of building it in, or installing a shelf. Then you could add a pretty hood above your range. Good luck!