So after following along and reading and reading all the good advice and then OP's responses I did myself wonder a couple times (with a few head slaps really????) - are you reading AND THINKING about the advice posted or just posting more "I am totally out of control help me right now" questions that seemed to not take into consideration any of the advice. It was more I have to have 10', I have to have it large, I have to have it.....HELP regardless of the solutions posted. I kind of started to wonder if you are a college student in design school trying to get someone to draw up a kicking design for your homework assignment and it was the 11th hour. But I am no design expert just a learner myself. If nothing else there are some good designs in this thread with lots of elements that many would enjoy (well maybe not the topiary IN the kitchen). Oh wait a minute - THE TOPIARY IS THE SHRINE! You are all set!

Yes, Sena! I love that layout so much better than mine. My heart was set on this layout but yours is better. Plus, I think yours may be more budget friendly which is a plus. :-) And Buehl, you have described exactly what we're dealing with currently. The first picture is our current layout and I found myself nodding in agreement with each of your points. For the cabinets in the former Nook - my husband and I had previously discussed your exact suggestions. We'd move the coffee station over to that area and install a MW drawer closest to the fridge. If not there, then we're thinking possibly the island. I think the only thing I can't quite envision is the snack/coffee station area. My concern is that it might look odd since that area is set back a bit from the fridge. The island currently houses the downdraft cooktop and I don't love it there. I didn't see any other options unless we built a wall between the nook and kitchen as previously mentioned. I like the idea of moving the cooktop over to the current prep area and using the island as an actual prep area. And I'm in complete agreement with the current prep zone. When either my husband or I prepares dinner, the other is cleaning and the dishwasher is in a frustrating location. I could never figure out why I didn't like the locations of the ovens but after seeing Sena's option and your explanation, now I get it. In all of our other houses, we've always had a counter to the immediate left or right of the ovens and in this house we don't. I've always felt cramped when using them - now I know why. It's so obvious now. The more I look at Sena's layout the more I love it. It gives me the needed space in the laundry room and the counter next to the wall oven is perfect.

Why such a dark color in that area ? It seems to already be a dark space so I guess a lot more light with any fixture if you are not painting.I like light fixtures that actually light the table and not the ceiling. You could do a fixture with 2 pendants similar to the kitchen onesonly a bit larger.

😂years of experience Robert. I really like men, have mostly worked with men. Appreciate the trades and defer to their expertise when I do work with them! I also recognize when someone is out of their element, has bought a large home and needs the help of a DESIGNER! People with far more experience and more years and many more homes in their lives know the value of hiring a designer. I understand that you don’t want nor see that value. This is a young couple with very little experience and not a lot of vision. Trying to design a home on a forum by consensus of many opinions while it may be fun is going to get this couple ( who obviously has communication problems) nowhere! I don’t have a problem with you personally as I don’t even know you and I’m sure your home is lovely but your experience is quite different than Swilkinson’s. I’m sure you don’t mean to insinuate that staying home and raising children; taking care of a family and large home is not also hard work! I know you could not be that insensitive.