The trend right now is to have an island with seating (even with the dining room less than 5 feet away which makes no sense to me) and failing that to have a peninsula with seating. If you are not already using the seating in the kitchen and the reason why is not being changed by these plans (does current seating stare at a wall while new seating will provide a marvelous view?) then I would nix the seating and definitely opt for more cabinet space. On the lower cabinets I would have them all be pull out drawers for easy access and rather then seating consider pull out cabinets too as shown in the photo.

Can you post the as-built (existing) floor plan?

My first impression is that the pantry and fridge closely flanking the range distract from it rather than accentuate it.

I agree with benjesbride. Further more, your second sink is not located well to be used as a prep sink. I know people are afraid to move the main sink from a window, but the truth is that most of us don't spend that much time there - especially when a prep sink is in the plan. I'd put the range on the outside wall centered between 2 beautiful windows and a stunner of a hood also setting off the entire wall. The smaller sink is then perfectly located for prepping in front of all those great windows and your clean up zone is nicely separated from the cooking zone.

We had a galley with 5 feet between counters and I didn't like it at all. I love a galley--it's my favorite, actually--but 7 feet between counters would be too much for me.

In the first floor plan at the top, what's to the left of your kitchen?

If the range is to be front and center, it'll probably be most visible on the exterior wall, flanked by windows mentioned by controlfreakecs.

Interesting how we're all different. I wouldn't want any less than 7 feet between cabinets in a galley. Any closer makes for congestion when more than one is working in the kitchen, imho. A prior home I had was closer to 8 feet between each side and I loved it.

If you don't eat in your kitchen, it's still nice to have space to store a stool just so, if you're doing a lot of prepping and need a rest, you can pull it up to the counter and sit while working for awhile. Maybe have the end of the peninsula be an overhang with room to scoot a stool or two under so they're out of the way but can be pulled out when needed? This would also allow for storage under the peninsula on the kitchen side. I'd at least put the stool seating on the other side of the peninsula so someone can sit there and visit while facing the chef and this also puts access to the storage on the kitchen side.

If it were me and I was using a Nanowall, I wouldn't have any cabinets or walls above the counters and have a full sweep of windows wrapping around the corner. I would leave the two uppers to the right of the sink. Of course, then you still have the issue with dish storage near the dishwasher. What is that black thing to the left of the dishwasher? A microwave? If so, I'd use that area for dish storage and move the microwave under the peninsula.

With 7' b/w cabs, I think it will be better to have sink and range on the same counter. Maybe something like below.

Yes, sena01. Sink and range on same wall.

Maybe my dislike for the wide galley was because the sink and range were across from each other; crossing the aisle with pasta was not ideal with two children and a 80# dog nderfoot.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone--lots to consider!

-practigal, what's the advantage of the pull-out cabinet that you posted the photo of? To use the counter for seating if needed?

benjesbride, here's the as-built. To the left of the kitchen is a bedroom. We considered incorporating that into a kitchen/family room, but with a smaller two-bedroom house on a 35x100 foot lot, there isn't much room (or budget) to expand and we didn't want a one-bedroom house.

Looking at the as-built shows me that we've basically been living in a 7x7 kitchen and also that the 7'4" between fridge and sink isn't at all troublesome to me.

funkycamper--I agree about it being nice to have a stool for resting or for a friend to perch on with a glass of wine while I'm cooking, etc. The area above the peninsula in the as-built has a table and stools, but we never use it for eating or hanging out. My thought was that a narrow table away from the main work triangle could have stools under it and also offer another prep surface, but it may just be too crowded.

I also agree with you about a full sweep of windows wrapping around the corner. And the black thing is a microwave, which works much better in the peninsula.

sena01--huge thanks for taking the time to put that view together. I'd vaguely thought of that arrangement, but seeing it makes me want to consider and discuss it further.

Correct. It seemed to me that you didn't want stools and did want a small table, but were unsure of counter seating, this way you get the small table and it can be stored out of the way...and if you change your mind you can have counter seating.