The main thing that strikes me is that it looks like you are skimping on working/passing/moving space for that huge triangular island. Why not make it a rectangle (or I guess really a rhomboid) and leave some more walking space in the kitchen? It looks like it would be hard to serve over such a large space, so I'd just lose the part that points into the kitchen, if it were me, in favor of a flat back, unless there's some structural reason not to.

Very nice looking house, though, in the photos.

Cute house!

In the last drawing, can the shelves on the left be taller so that the cabinets on the fireplace side can be counter height? Maybe the counter could go also across the bookshelves so that from the fireplace side you have a deep counter? Or maybe that would be a hazard for things falling into the living room...

Your plans look good. I think those cabinets by the fireplace will add some necessary kitchen storage and be lifesavers.

For the column detail: Any more columns in your house? I would try to match trim style and if you have no other columns, probably keep that to a nicely and simply trimmed post style, rather than round.

Here's a link to the evolution of the kitchen plan for anyone interested. I think your plans are shaping up nicely. I agree that if there aren't already columns present in your home, you should go with a really plain clean lined squarish type column.

Thanks guys! So you think the column should maybe look like the one I drew on the mudroom elevation? That is a square post (below). There are no existing columns in the house right now. The exterior is currently "brick" (masonry block) and white vinyl siding with colonial-style lighting and shutters. Our plan is to remove the shutters and vinyl, paint the "brick" to match new natural-light-grey-stained cedar shingles, with varnished wood doors... I guess that's Cottage style. The interior of the house seems like it will be happy with that aesthetic (don't want to force it to be something it's not) so the simple square column seems to fit, no? With just plain trim around the top and where it meets the counter or whatever?

By the fireplace, I want all the storage that counter-height and 24" deep cabinets would provide, but I'm worried that it should be more delicate so as not to seem to much a part of the kitchen itself. Unfounded worry??

You might want to go with something a little shallower, like 18", but with the different configuration on the front (all door instead of drawer over door) and in the white instead of the kitchen color, I don't think that extra storage will be too kitcheny. I still think you could span the counter over the wall, and maybe the bookshelves on the other side to get more depth for the counter. I'm not sure you have to go shallower with the cabinet...it's hard to know whether or not it'll look too bulky at 24".

rhome410- do you see it as having a granite countertop (like the rest of the kitchen)?

I was envisioning that the top would simply be painted wood, like the tops of the built-in bookcases elsewhere.

I should try to make some 3D software work so I can see this better. I guess I feel like a 36" wide expanse of counter there will look just massive in the space (and in fact we already have a lot of counter with the island) but, hey, you guys were right about the whole kitchen-in-the-middle-of -the-house thing, so maybe I just need to try harder to envision it!

Thanks again for all your thoughts... I finally feel like this is coming together. It feel "right" for the first time...

The wood top would be better, I think. (still useful but appropriate to the space) I do think a 3 ft counter would be too deep. But I was talking more of if that cabinet was made shallower.

I like that storage by the fireplace with full height doors like Rhome suggested painted to match existing trim w/ a wood top. It'll look like it's always been there, provide useful storage and provide another place to spread out for parties(dessert & coffee station) Added bonus a wood top can be had for less than the granite.