Particularly because you have four adults in the house with additional family staying regularly, you’ll want to prioritize wide aisles. I caution against the permanent second island. An extending table is far more flexible and table height is more comfortable for long meals. Don’t you want everyone at the same table for holiday meals etc?

My in laws live with us and prefer bar height seating due to difficulty getting up from sitting/arthritis.

We haven’t actually lived in this new house yet but my husband who does the cooking wants to get rid of the peninsula because it blocks his walk way into the living room. The current layout is essentially two islands, except one of them is a peninsula. So we are planning to chop off the Part of the peninsula that connects to the wall.

Could you use the “ Flex room “ adjacent to the Master Suite as a playroom? So much easier than all of the construction you are considering, and young children’s play needs change quickly.

@Kitchen Curious that information is helpful. If your husband doesn't want the peninsula to block his way to the great room, would you shorten the peninsula to keep a small landing pad for items to the right of the sink? Or do you want to eliminate it entirely and concentrate kitchen items to a working triangle? Where would you put the sink? Where the window is? Would you eliminate the window or just make it smaller? How does that look from the exterior of the house?
​For bar-height seating, you could extend the existing island like a T, but you don't have to make it so wide. Also, you can buy a bar-height or counter-height tables for the dining room and breakfast nook.

"prefer bar height seating due to difficulty getting up from sitting/arthritis". This is very helpful informaiton and at the same time rather surprising. Most older people I know really dislike 'bar seating'... One island and a bar height table in the 'banquette' corner would get you what you want. An island that seats 10 seems like over kill x2 for your need. These bar height tables were all the rage a few years ago, they come in all sizes. The banquette would be space they would never use. You are probably beyond the high chair stage and likely using a high chair seat secured to a chair. The higher chairs could work for the children too.

Your home is beautiful. But the architect made it difficult functionally due to all the angled walls.

I can understand having a temporary playroom in the pentagon-shaped dining room and adding doors to close it off from the foyer to hide any mess or to corral younger kids.

So perhaps you should view your kitchen reno similarly. You may not always need meal seating for 6 daily or to have seating for 12-16 in the immediate kitchen. You may want to convert the dining room back to a dining room for meals in the future. So installing now 2 permanent islands or 1 jumbo island that encroach on the great room may be a permanent solution when all you really need is a more flexible solution that can work now and can work later. That solution could be a more reasonably-sized single island coupled with a larger table in that space.

Did you develop all the remodeling renderings yourself or were they done by a professional? Given the challenges of the architecture of the kitchen and dining areas and your temporary needs, consider having a pro designer take a shot at designing your space in a way that it meets your needs now and in the future.

Of course once you get a design that works better, consider posting the floor plans here to see if to can be improved!

Bar height seating? I guess your family members are tall. Bar height seating is the worst for me. I struggle to get on the seat and struggle to get off. I'm 58. I can't even imagine what it would be like if I were much older or had mobility issues.

Concur with arcy_gw and Clyde Kalvin about the bar seating. I was a wellness nurse in an independent living community and saw falls from bar height seating often enough that I'd never opt for that seating style for young kids or older adults. The safest chair height is one with your feet flat on the floor so 16-21 inches for the seat height typically and arm rests if needed. Ideally one shouldn't have to push up to standing using the arm rests though.

I don't like the look of double islands-seems like you'd be having to move around one or the other. Two dishwashers could be helpful-have you thought about having one regular dishwasher and the second be a double drawer dishwasher?

DIY kitchen design can be fun, but I'd strongly suggest you run your final design past a reputable CKD for a fee. You want to be checked for everything from nobody's-ever-gonna-buy-your-home-if-you do-this to catastrophic design defects. Imagine not being able to open your dishwasher door after the drawer pulls are installed. I'm sure this design looked terrific on paper:

I'll chime in about "bar-height" seating. First, I suspect the OP means "counter-height" seating, not "bar-height". (Counter-height is a standard counter 36" off the floor; bar-height is 6" taller at 42" off the floor.)

My parents and in-laws hated/hate counter-height seating. They were/are unable to put their feet on the floor and the only way to put their legs in a position that didn't aggravate their arthritic knees was to use a box in front of the stool to place their feet on. Once they realized how uncomfortable it was to sit at the counter, they never sat there again - they always sat/sit at the table - a much more stable height for both eating and activities such as crossword puzzles, etc. (My mom, at 91 is still with us and has not sat at the counter in many, many years.)

If your in-laws have very, very long legs and their feet sit flat on the floor when seated at the counter, then that seating may very well work better for them. Only your family knows for certain.

As to your children, once they reach school age, counter-height is probably fine for them.

Banquette seating is also not easy as we age - it becomes more difficult to slide onto a bench, especially if you have arthritic knees. Additionally, the inside person is "trapped". In general, I would only use banquette seating if the benches each only seat one person and the table can be moved away from the benches for easy seating.

What I would recommend is to have a variety of seating - counter- and table-height (that's not a banquette), not just counter-height. Your in-laws may change their minds about seating if they develop balance or other stability issues as they age, so have both options.

You can easily put in a table instead of a second island. Depending on the available space, you might be able to have seating at the first island as well.

However, if you have seating on both sides of an aisle, you really need an aisle that's at least 60" wide (some say 72", but from my experience, 60" seems to work). This applies to both table and island seating. (If there's only seating on one side of the aisle and the aisle is not a frequently used path, then 48" is probably OK. If it is a frequently used path (e.g., leads to the Garage or the backyard), add another 6" for 54".)

====

Back to the design in general. We really need a fully-measured layout of the space. Several of us have asked for one, but I haven't seen it yet.

FYI...when our children were small, we also converted the Dining Room to a Playroom and had an eat-in Kitchen, albeit smaller than yours. However, they eventually outgrew our kitchen table and we returned the Dining Room to its intended use. When we remodeled, we took down the wall b/w the two rooms and created what I like to call "less formal Dining Room"/"more formal Kitchen" seating.

So now you tellus you have not even moved in to the house . You will be advised here to live with it as is for at least 3-6 months to see how anything functions . I am 79 yrs old and hate bar height stools always . I am tall and still my feet really do not sit flat on the floor . I think you mean counter height which makes the stool 24 " high which I think is an easier height to get up from if you have bad knees. As for all the rest none of those ideas work really . You will need a good independant KD after you love there long enough to understand how much needs to change and how the house lives for you and your family.

This floor plan stands out in my memory, I remember a couple of your posts on reddit, like the Master Bath redo and this Kitchen. It's harder to weed through legitimate comments there, and the format doesn't allow a continuing conversation and discovery of more information. Keep in mind a lot of people cannot read drawings (even "pros" on this website), and do not understand dashed lines or can't visualize in 3D from a floor plan, which can lead to poor advice. That doesn't mean you can't get good ideas from crowdsourcing, but you have to know at what point a local architect will be more appropriate.

These proposed Kitchen layouts don't work well in the house. They do not consider the ceilings (like the 2-story vertically-proportioned Living Room and balcony/bridge/wall interplay) and angled walls whatsoever. No design lines or views, it seems almost like another kitchen design has been "shoehorned" in there, for lack of better word.

The concept of your 1990s-era "luxury" design is doing you no favors. It will be difficult to do anything substantial that doesn't make it a "muddled" house. Because of that, it seems actually living there might bring up more items that do not work for you that might be part of a Kitchen remodel or a Master Bath remodel. You don't know until you live there, and it could lead to regret if you remodeled and once you moved in realized you should've done more or something else.

There is not enough information from just a floor plan, but with removing the peninsula and more direct physical connection to Living as a must have, a simple change to the concept of orientation might offer more opportunity to do some schemes:

"We haven’t actually lived in this new house yet ..." What?? So how do you even know that you don't like the peninsula? I think you need to slow down for a second. First, give us dimensions and photos of the existing spaces. Next lets sort the seating in the kitchen and living room. I do not like the couches being on angles to the walls of that space. I would definitely suggest something different for it there ( and yes - your kitchen designer should be considering that furniture placement as well . Not sure how tall your parents are but I am 5'5" and have arthritis in my knees. Sitting on a bar stool is not comfortable and cuts in the back of my legs and makes my feet numb. Not a fan of a bench sat either, but kids do love them so if you are not doing built in benches, I say go for that.

The huge single island is out - 7 ft across!! No thanks. I would put the sink under the window and keep the islands clear. I don't mind 2 islands but I fear they won't look good here because of the architecture of these 2 rooms. Also , your math is slightly flawed - yes 2 full depth cabinets back to back is 48" however the countertop would be 51" and that needs to be calculated in the math.

I think I would look into an L shaped or T shaped island possibly. The proposed plans seem like a maze.

Just first thoughts! I'll wait for measurements...

Is the kitchen floor accessible from underneath? It may need added support to structurally support the island(s) you are proposing.

Referring to option B, why not scrap the black island, move the table away from the walls, and surround the table with chairs? According to my design book, a 4' diameter table* can accommodate 5-6 people and a 5' diameter table** can accommodate 7-8 people. Use the 4' table and add leaves to expand it (example) for parties.

-----

Recommended minimum room sizes:

4' table: 11-1/2' x 11-1/2'

5' table: 13' x 13'

Jumping in on the talk of converting the Dining to a Playroom, the Breakfast Area seems too small to function as a main Dining Room. It doesn't seem like it can expand without compromising a Kitchen layout, your seating needs seem to have a lot of butts, the Butler's becomes an afterthought, and making the Dining a permanent closed room without a window is against code.

When you posted your Master Bath remodel on reddit, I had tossed around a few ideas (kept to myself) about reworking a bit of the Flex Room hallway to make the room more prominent and work with a better Master Ensuite. Regardless of any Master work, the Flex Room should be considered for a Playroom rather than the Dining.

Hope this helps. Sorry it’s not the best quality. One box equals 1 foot. SpaceX, Thursday the first starship I can also try to scan it in if that helps.

Sorry about the text. Ignore the text after 1 box equals one foot. Was using speech to text and it picked up what the radio said.

Appreciate all the comments. Flex room is really tiny for a playroom and I’ve already claimed that for my office. The main office will be my husbands office.

Also, was just planning to close one wall between the foyer and the dining. There is still going to be two openings. One toward the butlers pantry and another large opening toward the half bathroom. We can also leave it open, but my husband doesn’t want folks looking at toys from the front door.

Regarding the measured layout: What we need is the wall/window/door/doorway measurements, not the cabinet/aisle measurements.

Asking us to count boxes and guess at partial boxes is not the way to get accurate measurements. We need more precise measurements than counting boxes can give us.

This sample shows what we need. Note that each measurement is clearly labeled and that each window/wall/door/doorway is individually measured.

The chances of getting anything that tidy ? Near Zero.

Take this, print and ADD legible dimensions to every solid wall, window, opening passage. We'll just warn you....100 lbs of poo never fits in a 50 lb bag.

No to below

@Kitchen Curious I am concerned that you are creating problems for yourself by imagining a lifestyle with kids without considering what other ways are possible to live with kids. If you already have a set way of doing things that works in you existing home, that doesn't mean you have to continue the pattern in your new home. Kids will easily adjust to new ways in a new home. Just because you've seen how friends and family live with kids doesn't mean you have to live like they do. And there's nothing wrong with the lifestyle you are describing except that it is forcing you to make major changes in your home. It's forcing you to find seating in your kitchen when you should be able to use your dining room. Please be kind to yourself and consider storing toys in their bedrooms and allowing them to play wherever they want in the house and near where other family members are instead of confined to a designated toy room, and then learn to collect their toys at the end of the day. That alternative lifestyle does not require a major remodel of a new home. Or please feel free to ignore me. I just am uncomfortable with the concern that you feel like you have to live the way others do.

For over thirty years, I watched the evolution from "Oh yes, btw ,we have a couple kids" to..........." I have KIDDO'S"!!! I need a playroom, /dedicated. Their favorite colors are......" and more.

There has been no time in history when it took more plastic, to amuse children. You'd guess my age if I said we had a sandbox, some chalk and a driveway. A bike, a pair of roller skates and the great outdoors. There simply wasn't room in the house for "child centric abundance"

We were highly amused on not much at all, and kids today , though perhaps smarter, are far less amused by the abundance. Just my take and jmo.: )

This thread veered....I MUCH prefer all the plastic to monitors and screens and electronics in a home where kids reside. I do not understand the faux pas it is when adults see TOYS as they come into a home where kids reside! How is that a terrible thing??? When you have kids you have toys, where ever they are that's just the deal. We had a huge basket that sat under the TV in the entertainment center (dating myself here) where all toys went at nap time or bedtime.

We who chose how we lived with our kids do not get to tell other adults how they are allowed to live with their kids! Yes to using anyspace for whatever you want--but I caution bothering with permanently changing said rooms given the short time you will use that room that way. You are moving into a new home with older kids that you started with. in your present home. Chances are fair you will live in this home differently than you did the old one. It will save you time and money if you give yourself time in the new home to discover how life works in these new spaces.

Where does the sink go if the wall and peninsula disappears? Where the window is? In the corner?
​
@Kitche Curious

Would you consider temporary table and chairs options instead of a second island?​
I like the idea of closing the dining room/foyer wall for a bit more privacy even if used as dining.
​Would you consider an induction stove top under a countertop (invisible) so your island stove could also be used as more counter space?

Speaking as a grandparent, can there be some seating in the playroom (dining room) for grandparents to sit with the grandkids and talk with them as they play? Or maybe even play with them?

The sink replaces the cooktop that is currently in the Center Island. We feel like the cooktop in the Center Island is a little unsafe with the kids. Yes they would consider a temporary table and chairs option. We are definitely going to go induction either way. I do not like gas in the house. Yes, we will put some cozy seating in the playroom for the grandparents.

I’ll print off the original design layout and add the dimensions there.

I don't understand the toy thing either. In our first house we had a small living room to the right when walking in the front door. That became the playroom. I really could care less if people saw toys when they walked in the house. We had little kids. There will be toys. I wasn't going to go through the expense of walling it in or adding doors or what have you especially because they do not stay little for long.

I'm surprised about the comments re: how grandparents aren't physically able/comfortable sitting in counter height stools at an island. I have two grandchildren (4 yr old and 16 mos) - and I sit at the island with my four year old grandson playing with play dough/doing art projects/etc. fairly often (I've watched him every Wednesday since he was three months old). He and I also eat lunch at the island most Wednesdays.

I also sit on the floor with my grandkids and play - I'm rarely sitting on a chair/sofa when they are at my house. I guess I'm lucky - I can be sitting on the floor cross legged with my 16 month old granddaughter on my lap - and rise to a standing position while holding her - without needing my hands/arms to help myself from sitting to standing - and she has quite a bit of baby fat 🤣.

My point is that OP knows what the grandparents in her home prefer/need vs. those of us commenting on this thread. If she wants seating at the island for them, she knows if that works for them. If she needs a sofa or whatever in the playroom, she also knows that.

Obviously, those things will change at some point - however, who knows when that will be. My SO's mom is 93 - and she used to sit at the counter height island all the time (until about 6-7 years ago when arthritis in her knees made it uncomfortable). My mom still sat in counter height stools without any problem when she was 74 (unfortunately, she passed away quite unexpectedly before she was 75).

It does make sense to not make any permanent decisions that wouldn't allow for future changes that may be needed at some point while living in this home. For example, I wouldn't add an extra island if that prevents having a table that will seat everyone - including the grandparents, during meals.

@dani_m08 most people were responsding to bar height seating beacuse that is what the OP said they were doing. I have no issues with counter height seating. My counter height stools have a bar where I can rest my feet as my feet do not touch the floor. If they didn't have that bar I probably wouldn't like sitting at my island as my feet would just dangle. At 5 ft tall bar height seating is a stuggle to get on and off for me. Not because of old age but beacuse I am short.

@Kitchen Curious I understand about safety and it would be fine if you moved the stove to the wall and had the sink on the island. I just want to share this, not to change your mind but to make sure you are aware of this option for full flexibility: https://youtu.be/UaLWUQchxe0?si=1h7b1R90U6hidAE8
​There are lots of invisacook videos on YouTube. You and your husband may enjoy watching them. I was amazed when I first learned of it. So cool! I don't have one and even though I am planning my own kitchen renovation, I want a soapstone countertop so this option is out for me. I believe porcelain is required, but technology changes so fast that might not be true anymore.

When you print out your plans can you indicate where you hope to move the stove?

Yes, sorry everyone. I definitely meant to say counter height, not bar height. Sorry for the delay in submitting the layout plans. Life is very full lately. I printed the original layout and will label the wall dimensions soon. For the new plan, we plan to probably put the stove top along the right wall of the kitchen. Will add a range hood. Currently the house does not have a range hood. It has a downdraft in the island cooktop.

"used to sit at the counter height island all the time until ... arthritis in her knees made it uncomfortable"

You just confirmed what I said.

Fixed islands are permanent (unless you remodel again), so saying counter seating is fine for now doesn't help if/when it becomes a problem and you're stuck with the permanent island.

I have had several customers who have used their formal dining rooms as play rooms. I don't see the issue here. It's their house and they will have a place to contain the chaos. It's better than more screen time in a corner!

As far as the kitchen goes - I would design it with one island so you can seat enough people for your lifestyle, then when the time comes for you to take over the dining room again, you could add a second island. Make sure you do an exceptional kitchen design because chances are you will never put the second island in. Life always seems to get in the way!

Do you have pictures of the kitchen/great room? Maybe from the listing? That would help too.

following along

At the house now taking measurements. Here are staged photos of the space so you can see what the layout looks like. We have already changed out the large windows in the living room and replaced with sliding glass doors. Also including photos of the dining room/future playroom on the next photo. I’m at the house now taking measurements of all the windows and doors again and will post layout today, God willing.

Current dining room/Future playroom is to the right. We might just get room divider bookshelves to temporarily “wall” off the space instead of dry walling one of the openings

Did some measurements today. Posting this now, I can print another one and clean it up later today after/if this gets ripped to shreds. Sorry it’s messy and the directions are in all sorts of orientations. I only labeled the kitchen adjacent measurements. I may need to go back and delete some of the extraneous measurements if requested.

plan to include two dishwashers.

Even though you cook often and accumulate many dishes, duplicate dishwashers sounds like an awful choice. You'll never know what's in which one, and it'll allow you to "put off" doing the dishes. When you finally do run both, it'll feel like twice the chore. And it'll push the size of the kitchen up into unweildy proportions. One large sink, one good dishwasher -- even if you run it twice a day.

The current kitchen, the peninsula and island together seat 10 stools.

No to 10 stools. Island seating is for a kid having a snack -- not a meal. Certainly not a 10-person meal. Instead, go with one island for cooking + a dining table nearby. If you go with 10 stools, you'll always be pushing them back in, and they'll be murder to "sweep around".

We would add a banquette

I love banquettes! Don't we all like to be seated at a booth when we eat out? They save space, and they're cute! If you choose the right seat, you might have storage inside.

A banquette would especially work well for you because you don't really have space for the 6-person table you propose in the mock-up. This space will hold a 4-person table comfortably.

This "trapped" banquette issue is vastly over-stated. Most banquettes have an L-shaped seat + chairs on the outside, so the elderly who live with you can take the chairs. Why would people (even children) be coming and going during the meal? Why wouldn't everyone stay together enjoying one another's company and socializing for the whole meal?

Consider, too, that the only door to the backyard is in this small breakfast room area. You don't want a person sitting in a pulled-out chair to block that only backyard access.

I realize two-island kitchens are not for everyone

Duplicate islands aren't for anyone. They create PacMan kitchens, in which people are always zipping back and forth through aisles to get things that are too far away. Solid no. And they look ... bad.

I wouldn’t want the main sink on the island, buts that’s personal preference.

A sink on the island will be placed front-and-center, which is wonderful for the most-used item in any kitchen. A well-placed sink removes "the need" for an expensive, storage-stealing prep sink, as it keeps all the action in the center. A sink on the island allows the cook to look out towards the room (towards those two small children) while cooking.

However, this is a reno? What kind of foundation do you have? If you're on a slab, adding a sink to an island is an expensive proposition, as you must "tear up" a portion of the foundation.

That is our tiny pantry. We have talked expanding it

Pantries are the absolute best storage! Expand that thing! You can almost certainly work with the existing load bearing walls. This shouldn't be expensive at all.

I don't believe that there are "code requirements" re: kitchen aisles widths.

Go to Lowe's and walk through their sample kitchens. Open the oven doors and refrigerators and imagine this is your space. Do you find that space comfortable? Bring your tape measure and check, but the aisles will almost certainly be 3 1/2' .

Consider that wider is not always better. My galley kitchen is 6' wide, and I wish it were more narrow -- the two aisles do not "play nicely together". They're about 1-2 steps too far apart, so the reality is that one side is never used. I'll say it again: Bigger is not better.

I would want more than a 12 inch overhang for seating. We have 15 inches and I would not want less than that.

Agree. I have 12", and just a bit more would be nice. But don't make the mistake of going too deep.

Also, while we're talking seating logistics, do not squish your chairs in too close together -- the people in the middle will not be able to get in and out. Again, don't plan for meals at the island -- go down to Waffle House, sit at the counter and see if it's a meal you'd like to share every day. See if you enjoy not being able to speak to the person on the far end.

The plan with the ginormous island is just bad. How in the world will you clean the center of it?

Agree.

We plan to Wall* off the dining.

No, don't do that. This is a sad, windowless room, and it NEEDS the openness to the foyer. Since it's the first thing guests see, you really don't want it to be filled with Fisher Price stuff, and -- even if none of that were true -- it isn't particularly well suited to a playroom: The kids won't like being away from you, and you won't like not having a sight line to them.

Don't your kids have bedrooms for toy storage? Why can't they bring the toys out they are playing with and then take them back to their rooms at the end of the day?

Practical.

I also agree with the poster who says kids don't need excessive toys. When kids have too much, they just throw it around /don't play with it. I read once that kids should have (at any given point) 10 toys maximum. With a smaller number, kids appreciate things more /maintain and care for what they have.

My in laws live with us and prefer bar height seating due to difficulty getting up from sitting/artritis.

Choose swivel chairs. After my mom had hip surgery, she found it so much easier -- she wouldn't sit anywhere else at my house. I figure such seating would be useful for a number of aging-issues.

We haven’t actually lived in this new house yet but my husband who does the cooking wants to get rid of the peninsula because it blocks his walk way into the living room. The current layout is essentially two islands, except one of them is a peninsula. So we are planning to chop off the Part of the peninsula that connects to the wall.

Okay, this changes things: I'd live in the house a while before doing anything. I don't feel like you have a good handle on things, and actual experience in the house will almost certainly change your thoughts.

they always sat/sit at the table

Tables are the standard for good reason.

What would I do if this were my space?

- I'd enlarge the pantry towards the back of the house. This might close off a little of the space between the kitchen and the great room, but that's okay -- you'll still have a good connection.

- I'd take out the island and peninsula -- neither was ever well designed -- and replace them with ONE large, well-thought out island seated in the existing "L". This will be so much more simple than the existing floor plan. Overly complicated /impractical is a bit of a theme in this house -- look at the long pathway between the laundry and the master closet.

- I'd place 2 bar stools on "the back side" of the island, which would allow the two kids a place to sit while you cook -- or a spot for you to sit while peeling potatoes -- use the rest of the "back side" for extra storage. You'll have ample space for real meals /real family time in the dining room. Again, you don't want to re-create the Waffle House dining experience.

- I'd use the dining room as ... a dining room. This room has the space for a table to seat the 10-12 you say you need. The breakfast room doesn't really have the space you need, especially because the only backyard access is through this spot.

- I'd create a kids' area in the existing breakfast room. Bring in Ikea cabinets in a small "L" shape and add a thick rug for them to sit upon. This would cost little, give them "a spot", and would keep them in your sight. With the nice windows, it's a better spot for the kids than the windowless dining room.

"Pac Man kitchen" ahahahahahah

We added a huge 120 inch sliding door to enter the backyard. So the door by the banquette area is not the only way to get to the backyard.

Mrs. Pete: Nice idea to make the banquette a play area instead! That’s really clever! I don’t think I understand what you mean by large island in the existing L. It’s hard for me to visualize what you described.

In my experience, young kids want to play closer to where the action is and near parents. I think near the kitchen would be much more useful as a play zone. And, agreed, the less toys the better for everyone! Kids stay engaged for longer in more imaginative play and parents don’t need to deal with managing a ton of toys. Win win

FYI, my kids played all over the house, wherever they wanted, whenever they wanted, usually wherever I was. End of the day, they picked up all their toys and put them away. Any left out were picked up by the "kitchen fairy" and put in the attic for cleaning and repair. When too many toys were missing, they were magically re-introduced into the toy chest, clean and fixed. My grandgirls still have a playroom at 12 and 10 and love it. No toys anywhere else in the house. I live to chill there with them. There are so many ways to live life, I hope we can all allow everyone to live their own way as much as possible.

If you install temporary bookshelf dividers to close off the dining room for a playroom, be sure to secure them to avoid tipping.

"Pac Man kitchen" ahahahahahah

You know what I mean: A kitchen with too many cabinets /too many aisles /not enough empty space for circulation. Duplicate islands promotes PacMan movement.

Mrs. Pete: Nice idea to make the banquette a play area instead! That’s really clever! I don’t think I understand what you mean by large island in the existing L. It’s hard for me to visualize what you described.

- Keep the existing cabinets from the Duplicate Ovens to the Refrigerator. They form an "L", which is a very common kitchen shape.

- Get rid of the peninsula, which isn't doing you any good /is just stretching your kitchen out /making parts inconvenient.

- Re-do the island in the same spot as the current island /make it perfect. Bring the sink into this area.

- Expand the pantry so you have a longer reach-in pantry to the left of the ktichen.

In my experience, young kids want to play closer to where the action is and near parents. I think near the kitchen would be much more useful as a play zone.

Exactly my point!

You have a few different options not sure of where headed, so I'll note ideas on "if . . . then:"

• If you make the Breakfast Area a Play Area, consider it an official "Hearth Room." Which means then design it for seating and the Kitchen accounts for that purpose next to it. Play Area furnishings would only last while kids are young, so the function would grow with you. The exterior door probably does not have to be there in any case since you now have Living Room access (but, without a furniture layout the success of that slider is unknown).
• If the Dining does become the only official eating space not named "island," then it might be good to open it up a bit more to the Kitchen and/or Living Room, with a bit more closed off at the Foyer. Moving the Pantry as I suggested in another post may have merit with this, or in any case.
• You are clawing for space in the Kitchen/Breakfast to provide more opportunity the original design did not. With that in mind, the Laundry appears a bit inefficient in layout that could give a little, at least on paper.

Sometimes you buy a house, that simply isn't capable of doing what you want it to do.

The staged listing photos look very nice, certainly don't prevent making meals for a year or two.

Personally? Before I ripped out windows to make ten feet of slider from a great room, I'd have taken the door and window in the breakfast area, converted to a slider. and left the great room windows alone.

I'd live in this as is for at least a year. I might consider moving the laundry to upstairs. The one car garage, the deep and narrow footprint of the house, the lack of natural light front to back, the tomb created in the dining room with the placement of the main garage........windowless but for a dim view through a so called butler pantry, rendered the dining space "afterthought".( also, plans say 12 x 16' and you show a dining wall shared with garage of 108" ? )

All of it is a bit problematic as is the attempt to create "the easy peasy /less labor" kitchen of double dishwashers, island seating for a crowd, near play space, et al.

Some kitchen situations are very successfully crowd sourced, redesigned on Houzz. Happy camper posters as a result, with thank you "we love it" images a year later ! I don't think this is one of those situations.

I'd live in it, get a local independent Pro KD to the house, be prepared to scale my wish list to what really works within the exterior footprint.. That means what works for the long term ; for adequate clearances, for storage, for children that will grow, and for in laws whose arthritis and mobility issues will probably not improve, but may worsen..

You haven't lived a single day in the house........ and that is always a wise thing to do, You CAN live in this a bit before a massive overhaul. Jmo, of course. : ) as rushing can lead to some serious regrets,

Curious as to climate/ locale here as well, given tile everywhere......

In some consolation? Homes can turn out to be much MORE than you really need. They can have that time and date stamp all over them and you want that out. Maybe you want less overwrought....you have a vision.... and it will require tweak after tweak after tweak....and we are still TWEAKING. Remodel isn't new build, nor does it always afford all the freedoms you want. Often, the original prints aren't even accurate as nobody bothered to note changes during a build, like a CORNER fireplace, that now results in one massive struggle to rel locate to what should have remained iin the original, and the bane and pain of my day, just yesterday. .....and will continue, today. Vents, plumbing, load bearing walls,,,,,a wall that someone may want open, but another wants closed! Every home and its owners are different. It's a process and to rush is to regret. I spared you a dozen iterations : ) with just two screen shots...