Forgot to add that my main concern now with the 4" low-voltage (or any non-LED or CFL solution) is heat. However, when I was over at a friend's house checking out their low-voltage MR16 based setup they said (and demonstrated) how they only have to run their lights at about 60 to 65% under everyday circumstances. When they need more light at the primary task area (a large island) they just crank up the 4 cans covering it. Thus, I am assuming I will be able to do the same. I am also going to install the same Lutron Maestro dimmer solution they are using which "remembers" your last dim setting so just tapping it on will set it to 65% (or whatever I end up running for normal day-to-day lighting).

Thanks for the advice, Kristine! I moved some things around in the Ikea planner like you suggested. Your suggestion for the fridge location is where my fridge is currently located. I moved it in my original plan because I dislike how much it sticks out into the middle of the room. I could probably solve that issue by getting a counter-depth fridge. I need to do more research on that because I am concerned that we won't have enough fridge space with a counter depth model. I frequently put cookie sheets in the fridge and they take up the entire depth of my current fridge (a side-by-side model). I think I could fit them in a counter depth fridge if I got the kind with 2 french doors on the top and the freezer on the bottom. I moved the wall oven/micro over to the far left wall because I didn't want to make the peninsula any shorter than it already is. It is only 6 feet and any smaller seems like it won't be long enough. I would like to be able to have enough space for 6 girls to be working around it at one time and 6 feet will already be tight (3 girls on each side). I do really like moving the cooktop to the far left wall as well. It seems to give me a lot more bottom drawers for storage along the top wall which would be great. I was only able to fit an 18" cabinet between the cooktop and the wall oven. I'm not sure that is enough space on that side. I think I remember seeing that 24" of working space should be the minimum. I could get more space by using a range instead, but I don't really like that setup. I frequently use both the oven and the stovetop at the same time with 2 people cooking. So the person using the stovetop is always in the way of the person trying to open the oven. I would really like to have the 2 separated.

Here is the information y'all requested. I appreciate all feedback. Clearly, I need the help!! Our home is a ranch in an established subdivision outside of New Orleans. We have 3 teenagers / college kids and dogs. We cook and eat at home often. We entertain and host all holiday meals at our home too. Kids usually eat at the island. We eat family dinners together in the kitchen at our table most nights. As my teens / young adults grow, I envision our home and kitchen being the gathering spot for holidays and get-togethers, and the kids usually have a friend or two over visiting also. We tend to use our island as our “drop zone” during the week as we are coming and going. DETAILS: 1. Getting new appliances. A big, french door fridge (35.5 inches wide, SS) Keeping current dishwasher (standard 24", SS) Adding a drawer microwave (27" Sharp SS) Still trying to decide about range or cooktop / oven. If I get a range, it will be 30" with a double oven configuration. If I select a professional range, it will be 36". If I do a cooktop / oven, the cooktop will be 36" and double ovens. All SS. Big, deep single bowl SS sink 33" (requires a 36" cabinet) 2. Yes, I definitely want an island that we can have at least 3 stools at it for teens to eat, etc. 3. In the lower left corner, we already have a table and eating area. 4. Things I would like: * A pullout base cabinet that will hold 3 trash cans (21" cabinet) * I would prefer that most or all of my base cabinets be drawers. Otherwise, If I have lower cabinets, then I want pull out shelves. * I'd like a big island, and I think I could accommodate that. * I want some floor to ceiling cabinetry that I can store all of my kitchen appliances in (i.e. - blender, rice cooker, instant pot, crockpots, roasting pan, air fryer, etc.) * I would like to have a hood in my kitchen to help get rid of cooking smells * Off-white traditional style cabinet doors, full overlay, raised panel PICTURES: A. Our CURRENT home layout. The kitchen area is circled in red. The wall that we want to remove has “XXXX” on it. We don’t really use the butler’s pantry for much other than storage, so we were thinking of getting rid of our current pantry, and making the butler’s pantry into our food pantry. (and closing off the opening into the office area.) The reason we want to remove the wall between the kitchen and living room is because we want a more open concept layout to allow us to see out into the backyard more. But, of course, this is the wall the currently had all my cabinets on it. B. The dimensions of our kitchen area. NOTE: We are on a slab and we can move plumbing, electrical and gas anywhere currently. Again, thank you for taking the time to read all of this and thanks for offering opinions and advice. I really appreciate it!

I think you need a kitchen designer. It is really hard to tell what is going on without a plan drawn to scale. Option one has no counter space on either side of the refridgerator. I think you would be better off with a range rather than cooktop and wall oven spacewise and counterwise.