Compman, your pantry and mudroom look really nice. Being accessed from right by the cook's area makes the pantry seem especially appealing for some reason, beyond the obvious utility. Probably a territorial thing. :) Where do you think you'd do most of your prep? It seems as if the island will be mostly devoted to cleanup, plus veggie washing. 9' for the stove counter leaves, what, anywhere from 2.5 to 3' on each side for working? That's not bad, but it's not luxurious. I don't know how you cook, but I am wondering if you can afford to donate the counter space to those decorative cabinet extensions. I do know from experience that if that were my kitchen I'd never put that counter next to the fridge to good use, leaving me free to do something similar, or a nice hutch look there. Or something. Regarding the proposed bar area, in your place I'd have a what-to-do-with-the-bay-window problem, but I don't think I'd fix it that way. If you want a bar there, I don't see why not. It works. For me, though, it feels slightly cramped, and the all-important dining and walk-through functions would make me not want a counter eating up valuable floor space. Old homes do have higher window bays, like yours, and they can be very charming and fun to decorate. Finishing it as a feature in itself would be an option. The height would allow it to double as a serving counter too, although without the counter the room would hold a dining table wide enough to hold serving dishes in the middle.

Hopefully whom ever put in the your hall light left extra wire in the electric box in the ceiling and you will not have to rewire. Look around your Lowes or Home depot they might have some gold chain. Even though gold is coming back in style, sometimes it is still hard to find and so many different colors of gold. Or if your husband installed it maybe he saved the remaining chain. You picked a nice fixture. Look for something that complements it. From your pictures the foyer looks open to the living area. I would just go smaller. The shadows Sam is talking about, is the shadow the light casts on the ceiling and walls when it is on. Yours is fine. I seen one light shadow that looked like a boob on the ceiling. lol Oh yes I am for easy maintenance and comfort.

hmmm, I dont want to sound rude, but, as a lighting person, it seems nutzo that you didnt change the lighting plan. I see you do use the fan which I understand. But that blaring can shining at the person siting at the head of the table........not good. and the one that is blaring down on the person that sits on the end of the sofa also not good. On top of that, who needs two can lights shining into the tv over the fire place?? Man who ever installed this should have brought these things to light (no pun intended.) I would add two more can lights and one light for over the dining table. Then I would replace the fan with one that has no lights and is all white or cream to blend away and be a touch on the modern side. The table, (yes to a rug) will fit just fine in line with the sliding doors.

Here is an idea for you. Minimal framing and it would open up the kitchen space: 1. tear out the pantry and the internal walls of the powder room and the powder room sink. 2. Frame in a pocket door and solid wall for the powder room, reorienting the door. 3. change up the sink in the powder room for a very minimal thin sink hung on the wall across from the toilet and change the toilet to a round bowl that takes up less space. 4. Frame in a new wide archway to the dining room that is next to the stairwell 5. eliminate the existing door to the dining room 6. counters along the exterior wall with sink under window and cooktop on exterior wall for venting 7. countertop along dining room wall anchored by a double oven 8. refrigerator and pantry along opposite wall from sink - can make pantry depth of standard depth fridge to save on appliance cost - pantry can be doors with shelves all around or cupboards with pull outs. 9. island with 42" space to sink area and aligned with dining room opening 10. not to worry about work triangle with fridge because island becomes prep space see sketch: