Why do you not think there is space for an island? I'm thinking since you entertain quite a bit, an island with a seating area would be really nice. There was a picture posted here of someone's kitchen where the back side of the island was a bench for seating and then a table with chairs. It looked really nice.
I see 72" slider window. Is that a sliding glass door? Do you use it to go outside? If not, I'd STRONGLY urge my husband to allow me to build a wall with a window and that would be the most logical place to move your sink/DW and then put counters in where they used to be. But I know you said no walls, no replumbing, so...
What is along the 69" space by the dishwasher? Could you put cabinets/counters there? Hard to tell without an actual picture of the space.

I like the banquette idea. If you do this, you won't need such a big dining space, so can you move the fridge where you have the dishwasher, now? Maybe add a pantry on the end, that either faces the living room or makes the best use of space, in that little corner. Leave the range where it is, but you should have more prep space, between the fridge and range.

Move the sink to the other side of the kitchen, where you can see that beautiful bump out window. This will also be closer to the banquette and family. I'd have dishwasher on the side nearest the slider and trash on the other. Lots of upper cabinets for dishes and maybe have those glass or frosted.

Normally, it's not good to separate the sink and range, with a traffic pattern, but if you're careful draining pasta...something like 'no one move, hot pasta/boiling water coming through' you should be okay :)

Here's an idea that builds from your idea to create a banquette in the window bump-out.

{{gwi:1950551}}

It's hard to tell how much room you'd have to the left of the sink (I've no way to measure along that angle with Paint) but I hope to give you at least 15"-18" to the left of the sink before the counter angles. You may need to scoot the DW to the right a bit more. There will be an odd void area between the angled wall and the range wall, can't be helped with an odd shaped room. I shaded the void areas light green.

The Ds in the banquette area denote drawers in the benches.

Hubby's coffee station can be on the counter next to the banquette.

If you can swap out slider for counter-height windows (great idea, bahacca), then here is what is possible:

{{gwi:1950552}}

It's a bit tight around the fridge. I'd rather have a bit of room between it and banquette but I didn't want to give up counter space. Hubby can have his coffee station to the right of the sink.

You should get at least 48" of pantry cabs on the angled wall. That will help make up for limited cabinet space in your kitchen.

The angled sections at the kitchen entrance in both plans can be changed from a void to display shelves or it could hold a shallow command central station - place to stash phone, bills, schedule, etc.

I posted banquette dimension tips in the thread linked below (see my post of Sun, Sep 25, 11 at 12:53). I just checked my math and the way I drew it will be tight for 4 on the benches but that's easily solvable by making the table wider and the side benches a bit longer, too. This will give everyone their own leg room and table space for plates, utensils, and glasses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Two very similar layouts...which would you choose?

I forgot to mention that Plan A allows for a 33" full depth fridge in a 36" cabinet. Plan B allows for a 36" full depth fridge in a 39" cabinet.

Sinks in both plans should be larger than you currently have. The 33" in Plan B denotes the cab size. Couldn't figure out what cab size for Plan A but I'm pretty sure you can get at least a 24" wide sink in that plan.

Given your kitchen's small size, you should definitely consider frameless cabinets to maximize your space.

I'm so glad that I finally quit procrastinating and decided to post today. But, *sheepish grin*, I wish that in my umpteenth reread of the layout I'd noticed that I wrote slider window instead of slider door.

Thanks for the great ideas. I didn't realize this much was possible...I sensed more was possible if we move the sink. But your comments were fantastic. I'll have to get working on eliminating that 'no plumbing' rule.

bahacca - yes, the slider window is actually a sliding glass door. It opens onto the deck and is the only access to the backyard from inside of the house. I didn't think it would be possible to have an island since my kitchen is smaller than 12' long or wide. Maybe I'm reading too many magazines? :o/
The 69" wall has the light and dimmer switches, a programmable thermometer and a large framed photograph on it right now. It's a tall, empty wall. The wall height runs from 11' where it is joined to the range wall to 12 1/2' where it joins the wall leading to the bedrooms. DH thinks it looks fine but I think it looks lonely and sad and wants a makeover. We could definitely put cabinets there and possibly counters depending on the depth and the placement of the dining table. If it would help, I'll try to post pics of the kitchen/dining area this weekend.

lavender_lass - lol, I'm naturally clumsy, so I'd probably teach the kids to stand at the edge of the kitchen and yell 'no one move, hot pasta/boiling water coming through' for safety purposes and a good laugh! Love the idea of glass or frosted upper cabinets and will definitely be part of the final plan.

lisa_a - wow, thanks for the ideas and for helping me to dream. A bigger sink? No more wet midsection trying to wash up pots and pans? I have to stop looking at Plan B. That pantry and all of those cabinets...it gives me needs. I think Plan A works best with DH's rules plus I messed up the description of the slider doors. In Plan A, is the sink on the straight or angled wall?
I'm planning to get frameless cabinets for the exact reason you mentioned.

I wouldn't have thought of making the banquette the permanent dining area. I knew I'd come to the right place!I'd originally thought to place the banquette horizontally but there are so many possibilities. Looks like I'll be procrastinating on my house cleaning.

I can't thank you all enough for the great ideas. Now I'm off to dream of my new kitchen. Sorry if I'm gushing. It's way past my bedtime.

You're welcome!

The sink in Plan A is the rectangle to the immediate left of the DW on the angled wall. Plan A is actually very nice because it gives you a lot of uninterrupted counter between sink and range for prepping, plus another 30" span to the right of the range.

My measurements for the sink/range walls are estimates, btw. Light and dimmer switches shouldn't be affected. If it's necessary to move the programmable thermostat, they are fairly easy to move (that should mean inexpensive) according to contractors we've spoken with (we have one that might need to move a few feet).

You are correct in thinking that your kitchen isn't suitable for an island.

You know how it is that your brain gets stuck on an idea, and you know it doesn't follow the instructions. You know its a fail - but ya got nothing else?

bmore-LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOmetimes breaking the rules is what you gotta do. I'd wait an extra year or 2 to save more money for that remodel.

Cool plan, bmore! I thought of something similar but didn't proceed because the windows aren't counter height (29" off the ground). But then I went and offered a plan that suggested replacing the slider with windows. Go figure. ;-) Now if the OP is willing and able to replace those windows, your plan offers up a very interesting option. I like that the seating area is now in the traffic pattern to the outside, not the range. I also like that someone can come in and grab a drink from the fridge without fully stepping into the kitchen, getting in the cook's way.

Curious to know why you'd suggest changing out the windows to counter height ones but wouldn't suggest removing that bit of wall so that the counter between sink wall and range could be continued at standard depth.

If the wall was gone, the sink alcove could hold the DW, a 36" sink cab, a narrow pull-out (6" or so, store dish towels perhaps) and a 36' corner Susan. I'd make the section of "tall" closest to the sink/DW area a china cabinet.

I've been waiting 10 years to do this remodel. bahacca's right that we'd have to wait another 1 or 2 years but I could do it. Of course I say that now, but the more time I spend on this forum the more things I find wrong with my current kitchen.
bmore, that is so not a fail. I like it though DH will have a controlled fit! The wall where you placed the fridge and the range is a partial wall, so do you think we'd need to heighten the wall to hide the fridge from view of those in the living room? Or is the idea that we see the back of the fridge?
Would it be possible for me to leave the windows as they are and replace the counter and cabinets with an island with a sink? The wall where the range and fridge are is 38" but we could heighten it if necessary and it should cost less than the windows. Just practicing my selling points.
lisa_a, would you mind sharing your similar plan? I'm loving all of these ideas.

I'm not sure what you mean by leaving windows as they are and going with an island. I can't picture that at all.

You just reminded me of the other reason I abandoned my idea that was similar to bmore's - your 38" high walls between kitchen and living room. I never drew anything up once I realized that, sorry.

Do you have a dining room? If so, would you be willing to go with island or peninsula seating in the kitchen and eat most of your meals in the dining room? How many counter height seats would you need or want? I don't have a new idea in mind with this set-up, this is a just in case I do question.

Which side of the slider opens? I'm hoping it's the right side (that's what it looks like from your drawing) so that traffic doesn't go directly in front of the range. Is it possible to swap out the slider for a window and French door? You'd still have access to the deck but you'd be able to add more cabinetry and counter.

Mayor- So many possibilities! It all comes down to how much you want/have to spend and how soon you want to remodel.

Lisa and Bmore both have very exciting plans, but if you think you might be moving in a few years, then resale may have to be a consideration, too. It says that you may be moving, but this could be your forever home...so before you do anything, I would decide how much time/money you want to spend on the kitchen.

If you think this is THE house for you and your family, then something like Bmore has suggested may really work in your space. Lisa's second plan, with the sink in the window, could be great too...if you have another access to the outside.

I guess the biggest factor might be...how does the rest of the house work, for you and your family? Do you have enough bedrooms? Does the yard/garden give you enough space for a growing family? How is the school system?

You might even decide on a compromise. A small remodel now, working within the footprint of the kitchen, but doing a major remodel in a few years. You don't have to spend a lot of money on finishes, to get a well functioning kitchen. This would give you time to decide what you want to do over the next few years and still enjoy some improvements in your kitchen, for now. Just another possibility :)

the more time I spend on this forum the more things I find wrong with my current kitchen

That should be the site motto! lmao.

I don't know what that little wall-let is so I'z scared of it. I don't know that I'd replace the window, I might put skins on the back of the cabinets or something. Be easier to tell if some people published photos of the existing space.

Island - dunno about that - can I sell you a counter height table?

Well, I thought I would at least give it a shot for a layout that hewed to the instructions in the OP. Namely, here is an idea that keeps your plumbing where it is, and reuses your fridge. (I would be tempted to use a counterdepth fridge, personally, but I understand that is more expense.) Speaking of expense, moving plumbing is not always that expensive. You should at least talk to a plumber before deciding it cannot be moved.

I don't think my layout is better than the others, but I bet it is cheaper to implement.

I don't know which way your fridge door swings, or what kind it is, and I am not sure which way it should swing. The way I have it is nice for "intruders," but the other way is better for the cook and the landing space. Probably should have drawn it the other way.

Oh, I didn't try to redraw Lisa's banquette, but that is what I had in mind.

Sorry the picture is so big!

Angie- That's a very nice plan! It would be easier to do, especially in the short run and would still give Mayor so much more prep/cooking space. The range being on the outside wall, might make it easier to vent, too.

I'd probably have the fridge swing the other way, too...but I like the way you set it up for 'intruders' :)

lol. Ok, the island was a bad idea. I got carried away and forgot that I'm design-challenged. But if anyone has a counter height table to sell, I'll take 2.

bmore, I get the message. I'll take a few pictures of the space and try to post them by the end of the weekend.

To answer the questions: The little piece of wall only juts out about 2 1/2" so it's not to scale in my drawing. It's actually one wall that runs the entire length of the living room and the kitchen. It juts out that way to create a small alcove where the large window is. A picture would definitely help :o).
The slider door opens from the left side, not the right. Yes, it would be possible to switch out the slider for a French door and window if we decide to include walls and windows in the remodel.
No dining room, unfortunately.
The fridge swings the way angie drew it in her layout, which I like for the reasons lavender mentioned. It follows the rules so DH will love it. Thanks for your layout, angie.

lavender_lass - thanks for the advice. We've been slowly renovating over the last 10 years and last but not least is the kitchen. We're happy here but DH thinks we could use an extra bedroom, which is why we'd consider moving.

DH and I will firm up the scale and budget for this remodel now instead in January. It'll be so much easier to choose the direction we want to go in with these layout options. I'll have an update real soon....