I can see doing a wider french doored (or pocket french doored) opening to the left to increase the accessibility of the kitchen to the rest of the house, but PLEASE do not make the mistake of "opening up all the walls" in this home! Part of any older home's charm is the distinct closed off rooms that are cozy discoveries. If you do the fireplace "keeping area" in the lower ceilinged part, that will be the most highly sought after gathering spot in the house and you won't want or need to "open it up" to any other room. It will be a destination area. A retreat. As far as layout, it's a no brainer than the sink can go along the right where the tall windows are currently located and the range and fridge can go on the opposite wall. I like the idea of a farm table in the middle, but my back does not if you would use it as a prep area! I would need a 24"x36" prep area that was at least 36"-38" tall. Now, if the farm table were to be T'd off of that prep area, that would be the best of both worlds. That prep area could be a chunky created butcher block, or other antique cabinet. Good luck shopping! I think that's more than half of the fun of an unfitted kitchen.

@hlove - you did a great job on your kitchen. It took a minute for me to realize you moved your ceiling up so much. It was hard to reference with the upper cabinets missing. We were originally going to do that here, however, that would mean we would to have to build yet another addition elsewhere to add a bedroom, so we decided to live with 7' ceilings. @Maine_Mare - your cabinets fit in very nicely! Your contractor did a wonderful job. They look like they fit perfectly in the house. I am so glad that others have to deal with 7' ceilings also. Most people enter my house and wonder why we haven't tore it down. Of course that was before the renovation started, so I am hoping to make a ton of converts. We have decided to go for the recessed lighting, I am with you and not a huge fan, but I like a lot of light in my kitchen and there was no other way I could get it where I needed it and for years we banged our head on another light in that kitchen and decided no more. We found some really nice options for trim for the recessed and hubby has some other ideas if we don't like that once it is up, so we will see. I absolutely am in LOVE with your sink though!!! I so wish I had enough space for that. Where did you get that? Do they have smaller versions?

I think that kitchen is not just unfitted, but part of the European trend of the invisible kitchen, a particular favorite in small homes where the entire public area is one space. Everything is done up to a high level of finish, and often the appliances, even ovens, disappear behind doors. Most of these invisible kitchens are very modern, so it's good to see one done in a traditional style. However, I am not grooving on the professional appliances sitting in the middle of the living room. Either their finish level should be brought up or there should be greater visual separation from rest of the space.

Hi Mountain, I've been away a lot recently due to family health issues, but am watching your project with interest, as I've bought a very similar shingle house the same age about an hour north of yours (Portland). We even have the same garish yellow wall paint -- the '80's answer to "Craftsman style", I suspect. In our case, that flat wooden 'chute' on the wall to the left of your window (our is in our butler's pantry) hides the house stack vent and would be quite difficult to resituate without major wall-opening work. ... actually, looking closer, you do have the same one in your BP, to the left of the sink on the wall. Hmmm. Poor photo of ours from initial realtor tour: We have the wooden wainscoting Lavender references, throughout the entire kitchen and BP, and we are not sure whether to keep it or not. The beadboard gaps have collected an interesting century's worth of gunk. Still, it's lovely and original, and we'll work with it if we can. What are you thinking about the floor? Is that currently a sheet vinyl? I like your kitchen table, but would probably put it elsewhere in the house, since the benefit of a large center table in an unfitted kitchen is its usefulness as a work space, and the immobile benches on that beast prevent standing comfortably up next to the top for peeling things, kneading dough, etc. But how perfect for a kids' coloring table in the rumpus room! We have very similar dimensions in our kitchen/BP, with a large adjacent dining room via swinging door. We're also mulling over the issue of functionality vis-a-vis cleaning and cooking space. We weren't at first thinking 2 dishwashers, but I'm beginning to imagine that it won't work otherwise -- after I prep, where do I throw the dirty bowls and knives without walking 8 feet over and inside the BP where our current DW is? Etc. I like your dish drawer plan. Another query: where is the heating in this space and do you have to work around it? I can't see any radiators in the photos and wonder whether that was the sole function of the castiron range you're going to remove. That would be typical for these parts. Depending on when you use this home, I can advise from Mainer experience that you'll want at least some heat in there for 3 seasons (unless you put in an AGA), and you'll really benefit if you plan to aim that heat somewhere towards your toes in the sink/cleanup area. :-)