So the corners are lazy susans?

Can you vent your range hood through the roof?

I understand your desire for a pantry, but putting one where you've shown would really block in that corner.

How about a galley style instead of a U? Range could go on the outside wall, and you can have a large pantry in the corner, and a 30-deep cabinet between the pantry and fridge, with 15" cabinets above. No corners, so more efficient use of a pretty narrow space.

So the corners are lazy susans? ***No decision yet. I have some large roasters, and at least one easy reach corner unit may be helpful.

Can you vent your range hood through the roof? ***Yes.

I understand your desire for a pantry, but putting one where you've shown would really block in that corner. ***Yes, a bit. I mocked it up this morning, and it is ok, but not ideal.

How about a galley style instead of a U? Range could go on the outside wall, and you can have a large pantry in the corner, and a 30-deep cabinet between the pantry and fridge, with 15" cabinets above. No corners, so more efficient use of a pretty narrow space. ***Have considered a galley style. Will sketch out your design later.

Thanks.

I would take a look at similar homes that have removed the 84 in wall. There's no other passage to bedrooms/etc,so by removing this wall you would gain a nice open space, yet still have a working part of kitchen[sink wall ]removed from the activity area.. In the future, more appeal would be found for a small family/couple abiding here.

W wall is load-bearing. Would need header. Will consider.

There was a mistake in the E/W ruler bottom of drawing. I fixed that.

I always like "plunk space"--a place to put things temporarily. When you haul things to and from the dining room where will they be plunked? Think...dirty dishes, bowls of food, water glasses, mail, etc.

Good ideas, from here and elsewhere. Prompted by herbflavor, I have been perusing local kitchen photos of local homes for sale. Looking at the project with different eyes now. Need to keep budget under control, though. Do not think I want to remove the entire 84” W wall, but now considering putting an opening in that wall. It would connect the LR area of that room and the kitchen. Not certain what opening width, height, and location would work best. I think a galley layout would work best in this scenario, with a 30” sink base (single basin), 24” dishwasher, and 30” some base cab on this opened wall. Much to consider. Keep the ideas coming.

Unless you have a closet on the opposite side of your stove to be able to completely recess the fridge, I suggest that you put a 12" wide pull out pantry in the corner of that 84 1/2" wall, and then a built-in CD fridge.
After the fridge, completely remove the wall from the counter up to the ceiling. This would allow you to have a level counter which extends into your dining/living area over the pony wall about 12" to 14". This wider opening and greater counter depth would significantly visually extend the size of your kitchen and add much needed additional counter work space.

Still mulling over opening the W wall. LR/DR has large, single radius, plaster ceiling cove. My initial thought was to stay below the radius.

Attaching a drawing of the entire N side of the ground level.

I was thinking about ankh's galley kitchen suggestion. The range would be on the exterior wall then, right? The south wall could hold a shallow, 8" or 12" deep, 36" or so pantry between the counters. Easy to find stuff, a broom still fits, or hang it on the door.

That would give you some more counterspace along the long walls, as well as a landing for the refrigerator, or a slightly wider opening into the living room, or you could move the refrigerator down a bit for "plunk space" (fun expression, florantha!)

Yes, under annkh's plan, range would go on E (ext) wall. It can go wherever the best layout puts it, though. The layout in the original post was just a starting point for discussion. Now I am heavily leaning towards opening the W wall.

Where is the front door situated? Where does the door on the west near the DR go? I do think it would be good idea to open it up if it doesn't mess up your sightlines.

Front door (entrance) is in NW corner of LR/DR.