Ever considered a heavy reclaimed table or work bench of some sort. Make the top food safe or replace it with quartz/marble and then you can move the whole thing if needed. Extend an edge for seating etc. This might be a much needed contrast to yet more cupboards all in the same look/build as the main part of the kitchen. Just a thought.

Surface and volume thought

Square feet , surface area, can be any shape.

A square at 4 x4 is 16 sq feet.

A rectangle via a turn of direction ? Meaning 3' x 5.5 feet? equals 16. 5 sq feet.

A 5'w x 2'd x 8'h reach in pantry is 80 cubic feet of storage......and a walk in as the op has on plan? Assuming 13" shelving depth at same height? That is 65 cubic feet, 15' less, unless you fill up the floor and are unable to walk in at all, and you can only count the corner turn on 51" x 51" once - so it is 39" x 51" ish depending what's on the shelves.

Is the OP's question about the way the island looks , or is it about how it functions? Either will function.

Is the question about how the KITCHEN on a whole looks? If it is that, the "elephant" in the room is not the island, nor the shape of the island - it's the broken and disrupted look of a door on a walk in pantry, that affords less storage than a nice reach in .

The question as posed, below

Clearances - much ado on clearances. Ideal is full 48" and yet, many manage just fine on a couple inches less. Does everyone obsess on the overhang or even take that 1.5 inches into account? Is 42 inches a total kitchen fail? I'd hope not........all over this country clearances (more or less) certainly exist and the comfort or lack thereof is personal, and dependent on need and what need is MOST important to the user.

This is never going to be a kitchen with an island seating five kids : ) Do the kitchen for the long haul. If it means you'll "die" without a walk in pantry? You know the answer. None of us are going to be using the island, the counter tops, the kitchen, the pantry, and in no case, will you have a four or more seat island in that kitchen footprint : )

(just for the record, the reason you don't see square islands in *large* kitchens is that it can become hard to use or clean the center space if it is, e.g., 4 feet from every edge. there can also be issues with countertop slabs. otherwise, not inherently weird or off-putting.)

I like your sofa and yes, it maybe a small space but you are making it work and I don't think it looks cramped. I like my sofa with that long cushion area - esp for kids etc. One quick thought on looking at your pic is to use stools at your counter (if they are safe for your kids). It would cut out that wicker chair back and just not be such a visual stop. Lots of light! Nice!

And those cushions can reside elsewhere when not needed

I took note of Boxerpal’s suggestion to keep the room serene. I found these pillows from JC Penny that bring in some color from the view but are still quiet.

Neutral. Let the fireplace and rug grab attention

No pattern please........Put the pattern on pillows for couch/chair and buy longevity at the same time.

Personally? I'd have NO panels, as it crowds the fire and spend to upgrade the blinds to a nice natural woven wood shade with privacy liner if you need it.