Is this a deco-modern(e house?

If you are reworking this entire level I would consider putting the formal dining room in the radiused front corner of the house and making the former dining room and the upper part of the old living room into the new open kitchen.

It may not work because the new formal dining and entry may end up still being larger than you want. But it's worth a shot.

No dishwasher?

Some food for thought. TC = tall cabinet.

Ineffablespace -- Not modern from the outside. Maybe a little cottage-ish. Many split-level owners do open up the walls and stairwells to take advantage of the split floor plan. It's sometimes called a tri-level, but mine has 4 floors.

Gaucho -- Dishwasher is between the sink and fridge. I forgot to include it in the drawing.

I was thinking along the same lines as Gordo - opening up the kitchen to dining might make a huge difference.

I think what Gordo did is a good layout. Having it on the (present) DR side, would give you more cabs b/w the sink and the range.

Hadn't considered tall cabinets .. interesting idea, Gordo ... but I lose a casual space to eat.

I would like to keep a formal dining room, so I would need to have an island, peninsula or table in the kitchen. That's why I'm considering moving the rooms around.

What would happen if I moved the Kitchen to the DR, the DR to the LR and the LR to the current K?

Are you willing/able to go all-in on open concept and remove all the interior walls? I think that's the only way to have multiple dining areas and a non-claustrophobic kitchen in your footprint.

FWIW, I'm a kinda-open-concept guy. I like spaces that feel open with large aisles and whatnot, but removing all the walls in that place would be too open for me.

Here are a couple of possibilities for putting the kitchen in your current dining room. These are quick sketches and aren't totally to scale. If you did 3' aisles, you'd have room for about a 2' island in the middle. You could possibly do a shallow pantry between the studs. It's amazing how many items can fit in a stud cavity.

Corner sinks can be controversial here, but with your window configuration the way it is, and since you usually don't have to share the sink with anyone, it might work really well for you. : )

Oops, just realized I forgot to put the opening in the middle wall for the doorway.

This post was edited by laughable on Tue, Jan 14, 14 at 20:47

If you'd prefer a tighter work triangle, this plan might be better. I would consider removing the corner windows, or putting shelves in front of them, to gain some more upper storage in this plan if necessary.

One more idea...I think you have a little more room than depicted here, for some reason I had a really hard time staying true to scale, probably because I was drawing in a blank room (and fingers are only so accurate anyway).

I like williamsem's plan--it is what the OP is asking for.
As a variation, I would put the fridge backed up to the china cabinet in the DR, then the stove along the wall by the back door--better for the venting, and you get to prep in front of the corner windows.
Then you could recreate your banquette and round table in the corner of the original kitchen, but with more room to spare and maybe more chairs.

Wow, that is a wonderful window. What a nice spot to enjoy a meal, spread out work or projects, and be bathed in light.

Can you remove the center wall, or would you have to put in a support beam?

Is OP willing to forego a living room?

From the original post:

I don't want a huge LR anymore, just a small place to sit with a couple of friends and chat before dinner. Also, I have a very large family room about 6 steps down, so there's plenty of extra room to move into,

Something like this?

You guys have been busy, overnight! Thank you for continuing to help me think this through.

GauchoGordo - I am not into a full open concept for this house. At night, when you look in from the outside, passersby can see straight into the LR/DR (one reason I would rather move the LR space to the back -- I can move around in my PJ's) To answer your question about keeping a LR, I would like room for a few comfy chairs/love seat + chair and a coffee table -- sort of a "landing" area for when guests first arrive.

Laughable -- I like your 2nd plan. And removing or adding windows is acceptable to me. Something I feel I will have to do, anyway.

Williamsem and Junco -- this reminds me of Breezy's plan (which I love). No room for an island in the K, right?

Bpathome -- Those windows are pretty awesome -- because they are in the LR, and I don't spend much time there, I don't get to enjoy them or the wonderful light that comes from them. The front left corner of the center wall is supporting the roof on that side of the house, but I wouldn't mind burying it in the ceiling....

Sena01 -- I've never thought of adding a wall there! Interesting idea that I need to spend some time digesting.

You all are goooood! I'm loving your creativity. Thanks (and I'd love to see more!)

So, I've been really considering Williamsem's plan with Junco's additons and I have a couple of questions.

1. Is there space for a narrow island?
2. Junco, the banquette and chairs in the corner of the original kitchen -- do you have any thoughts on how to make that area be dual function for both everyday eating and casual seating? I can't visualize how I could have both.
Thanks, again y'all!

Maybe a multi-use and/or expandable table? Drop leaf, gate-leg, they even make tables with adjustable height that could go from coffee to dining use.

I think you need a detailed measured floorplan and a layout expert to help with the island question.

Well, I'm assuming you have 11ft2in top to bottom, minus 2x25 inches for each side leaves 7 feet to divide between two aisles and the island. With 36 in aisles that leave a 12 inch island. Even cheating to 33 in, which may not meet code (I can't recall if it's 30 or 36 in, I'm thinking probably 36?) that leaves 18 inches for the island edge to edge, so you would have to use 12 to 15 inch deep cabinets.

Now there might be something different that would allow for an island, you never know what kind of creative ideas might pop up!

I just wanted to add some of my reasoning about the fridge and range placement I suggested, so you can decide for yourself what you want. My first thought was range by the door for venting also, but with the corner cabinets that made for a bunch of little cabinets. Your needs may be different, but I like my larger drawers, which are 27-30 inches.

The red shows the difference for you to see.

Then this occurred to me, a little less conventional, but the fridge is centrally located, you get a utility closet, and tons of open counter.

So, I asked a contractor to give his architect an early look-see at my floorplan and throw some of your ideas into it. This is what he came up with. Thoughts?

I don't care for it. The island looks awkward and not very useful. I think island work best parallel to the range/stove . If the idea is to have an open space why would you put a tall appliance on a peninsula breaking up the open sight lines?