I have an l shaped kitchen with large island (8' x 5') and I plan to use soap stone perimeter and carrera marble for the island. I am also going with white cabinets. If you search on houzz or pintrest you will see lots of examples of two counter top materials. I know someone posted that you want the majority of your counter top to be in one color so if your island is really close to your perimeter square footage it might not look right.

Couple of ideas... Try moving the ref to the other end of the run and slide the entire range units up towards the dining room. Since its just paper, I'd also try disposing of the small pantry beside the dining room and increasing the amount of counter around the range. Perhaps add 6 inches or so onto the other tall unit. David's 2 sink idea or doing something like a stages sink with two faucets is about the best two worker idea in the least counter room. Also, there is no compelling reason for keeping the sink centered in the entire run. So if the range moved towards dining and the sink moved towards the eat-in space? Try centering it on the pony wall opening. Opinions.... Since the family room is a little small (no knock intended - our house is too small to even have one), perhaps think about shelves on the back of the sink run facing the family room and keeping the counter all one height. There is always something about the multiple heights and depths that creates visual confusion and makes a room feel smaller. Having a slightly wider aisle in a galley is actually a benefit in a two cook kitchen. Our previous kitchen had a 5 foot aisle and I really liked it. I think a lot of people like whatever they are used to. ANY aisle is too far carrying dripping veg or full pots. So, this drawing incorporates another sink by sacrificing the little pantry. It also shows a different way of treating the counter extension (all of the pony wall is buried) and the counter becomes a big project prep space. By adding a second sink, the two-bowl sink can become a single large bowl instead. If you stay with a single sink placement, I encourage you to place it where it creates the most benefit for you. Centering the sink on the run doesn't seem to be the best place to me. There isn't a "vista" of the centered side for the most part, so it isn't going to matter to visitors.

I am just finishing my very similar kitchen only each side of my galley is only about 9'. I have 4' between the two sides of my galley. My range side is laid out exactly has you have drawn yours. I like it. My sink side does not have a steamer but I have a counter to ceiling cabinet in the location of your steamer. I used a 36" sink base, even in my small space, for a super single Silgranite sink and I am really glad I did. I would think about expanding your sink base. My dishwasher is to the right of the sink. I prefer it that way being right handed. I like to be able to open it with my right hand and load it with my right hand. I am a little confused about what you have drawn to the right of your 18" to the right of your sink base. I would flip my dishwasher over to that side and add the 36" sink base. I am the queen of removing pocket doors. I removed two (one on each side of the kitchen) in the house I sold this fall and one in the current kitchen with a similar layout to yours. I am not sure I would remove one opening to the foyer but I do love the look of the open space. As I type I am looking from the living room into the kitchen through the area which used to have a pocket door closing down the view.

Yes, I have thought about that.. Ikea only has one depth wall cabinets which are the same depth as their shallow base.. (Previously that wall had the same thing (wall same depth as base.. But the previous cabinets were built in place.. 13" depth instead of 14 3/4.. ) That's why I designed it with the top 21" shorter than base so that the counter will be useable.. Also thinking of mounting the cabinets a bit higher than normal (19"-20") above counter so counter is more useable. If you have a suggestion of where I could get 12" wall frameless quickly w/o doors?? and maybe use ikea doors with them?