If you make this change, I'd have a small concern about the placement of the trash. An easy-peazy example is warming up some soup from a can. Can from pantry, bowl from area beside cooktop?, silverware, papertowel from? - into micro and can goes to trash on other end of island.

If you have a prep sink on the ref wall, it'd likely work better pushed out to the living room side. Instead of having 2 tiny areas (like 12-18" of counter), you'd have one 36" - much more useful for micro prep, coffee pot and for entertaining.

If you hadn't guessed, I'm not clear on where dish storage would or should be. I wouldn't have thought about questioning it until I looked at the relationship between the dishwashers and the likely candidates. Both sides seem to potentially require you to move to the other side of the dishwasher for some put-aways - might be annoying.

Possibly a little dangerous AND really annoying if a second person is doing dishes while another is cooking. This could be a scenario that never happens in your home.

Imagine someone behind your butt working at the sink, how does that work out with drawers/cabinet doors open between you and the pantry, you and the ref, you and the oven. How could you get a pan out of the pot drawers below the cooktop when you can't move to the side and can't move backwards? Imagine doing cleanup and answering phone.

Some people are fine with waiting on each other or learning to do the compensation cha-cha. It will work if y'all do that well. If your FIRST reaction is closer to fighting the bull in Paso Doble, then you might think more about all that.

bmorepanic - Thanks for pointing out some possible issues - that is really what I need as I can't seem to see it anymore.
Moving the bar sink to the end of the run makes sense - I just wasn't sure if it would work being right next to a wall, but maybe that isn't an issue with a secondary sink.

I am planning to store dishes in the drawers and uppers closest to the pantry - with silverware in the top drawer - (there are two drawers in the top level). I also plan to keep kid cups and snack bowls in the drawers below the microwave. I imagine I will keep glasses in an upper next to the fridge.
I am really the only cook in our kitchen as the kids only use the microwave at this point, but I see your point. That seems like less of an issue with only one DW, but I really think two would make my life easier. I would love to put more of my prep stuff in the DW instead of having to handwash it all because I know I need the DW space for dinner dishes. I currently run the DW every day and handwash prep bowls etc.
Do you thnnk it would work well if I moved the trash pullout to the end of the island next to the fridge? I think I may have to for support reasons anyway.
Thanks for taking the time to help.

Sure, it'll work. The sink - dunno. I am right handed. I have a cooking sink right up against a wall on the left side. Do I wish it was somewhere else - sure, but wishing wouldn't make the room longer and it functions ok for washing hands, occasional pot, filling and dumping pots or for washing the odd potato. Dh is left handed and it doesn't work for him quite as well. Even with just 6" more on the left-hand side it would work fine for him - but then I couldn't have a pantry.

Do the best job you can on prioritizing needs, wants and advice. Try to pick the stuff that works out well everyday. Sometimes, a given decision comes down to pick-your-poison or don't let quest for perfection be the enemy of good or some other saying.

Don't forget to buy the alcohol of your choice. :)

We put a prep sink in our island and on the advice of friends we moved the sink in 18" from the edge and I was glad we did...it makes the sink so much more useful. I don't think I'd like it up against a wall at all.

Thanks bmorepanic & Annie - I appreciate the advice. I guess it will come down to a pick-your-poison type thing.

I am leaning toward putting the fridge and microwave on the pantry side. Any other opinions on that issue? Advice?