Wow, I thought I was favoring windows to the detriment of walls and storage! But at least you have space. It sounds like you like to entertain and cook for folks, with that pizza oven and hot tub and the rest (invite me please!) But I digress...

If I were you I'd build a two-tiered island with a long bar atop it...you could station your blender, coffeepot and coffeegrinder there. Build another island (or peninsula jutting out from whatever wall you do have)...and fill all spaces inside with storage, put shelves on the ends, etc. Make sure you build in electrical outlets on both ends of each island. You need to milk storage out of every possible nook and cranny...so before you build, explore options for in-cabinet expansion of storage (lazy susans, spice racks, sectionals/dividers, etc).

About all those windows...have you considered window seats in kitchen area? Right inside the window seats you could stack pots and pans in one, kitchen linens and tablecloths in another, etc etc. Of course you can also affix one or two beautiful pots and pans racks from your ceilings and hang stuff above one or both islands.

Your place sounds beautiful...enjoy your project!

I know it's a little crazy but we have been light starved for 30 years so I couldn't help myself! and we are so lucky to have great views of the foothills behind us :)

carolbarrel, the two tiered island idea is something i hadn't considered---not quite sure how to do it though.what were you thinking? electical outlets on both ends of island is a way good thought. thanks
windows on east wall in kitchen are counter height so i could put window seats there or i can put sink and dishwasher there and also have some lower cabinet space. the window seats are especially appealing though, because up to this point i have only been thinking of counter or bar height seating at one of the islands. if i did put storage under the seats maybe i wouldn't be gving up too too much storage space. what do you think?
would love to know if anyone has any experience with refrigerator drawers. the original plan to put refrigerator and an under the counter oven together would necessitate more bending than would be ideal (getting old sucks!!!)-.so i am wondering if using the same space and putting wall ovens (now i get 2 ovens) where i was thinking of putting fridge and then putting fridge drawers in one of the islands would make more sense. could always put a 2nd fridge just off kitchen in butler pantry area. are fridge drawers good for everyday adult use and not just snacky stuff? would having the "real" fridge out of the kitchen proper be a mistake?
thanks again for the input ...and yes you are invited anytime :)

I hate two tiered countertops, so that's my opinion. I put appliances away after use, except the coffeepot and a nice looking toaster oven, both of which I stash away when we have a large party. The only tall things in my kitchen (sorry no pictures) are the fridge and the double oven cabinet that is the same ht. as the fridge.

Look at the possibility of a short pony wall, tall enough for ovens and fridge. Will that fit anywhere?

Hi, Lazydm. I know what you mean about getting carried away with the idea of having lots of windows. I did too but don't regret it at all.

I got lost after taking in those two lovely walls of windows on the east and south. But you seem to have a fair amount of room. How about taking some of the width and adding one or two pantries to the appliances somewhere on that west wall? Maybe walk-in, maybe shallow, maybe a combo of both. Even a small area of floor-to-ceiling storage can hold a whole bunch of stuff, and the added depth could be designed to make a nice transition to the dining room.

lazydm, I think you'd get more responses if you made your post more readable. Putting the shift and return keys to work would go a long way.

I was going to suggest maximal usage of toe-kick drawers, but you do not want to bend low, so I'm not sure. You can do two islands, one all one level and then the outer-more one two levels. It doesn't have the feel of a wall, but it does create a partial barrier. You can fit all sorts of drawers into one of those, even drawers accessible from both sides. At least it wouldn't interfere with light from your windows. I read a kitchen-building guideline recently that said to put your frequently used and heavy stuff at a level between your shoulders and knees. (OT: I'm short, so that would mean getting rid most of my counters so that I could store stuff at that level. These guidelines do not work for all of us.) You could relegate linens and flat, lightweight items to the toe kick drawers, so that you wouldn't have to torque your back to lift items out of there. Also, some people have built shelves across windows or cabinets of glass on two sides, so that you don't block all the light, but still have some above counter storage. I would also check out the various fittings for cabinets that maximize the usable space as well as the access. Maybe Haefele, super susans, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: There are examples here

thanks everyone. i am going to take jon's advice and repost a more reader friendly version but will still check here just in case.

rosie, i think you're on to something - i have been thinking about expanding kitchen to west and adding some type of pantry or cabinets-( maybe upper and lower with counter). i wonder if this would be a good place for 2nd oven or coffee bar?

kitchen detective, you are so right about using all available space-- my new mantra may have to be "bending is good exercise"! i may have seen the same article if it was in fine home building--interesting, but as you said guidelines are just guidelines. thanks for the cool link

once again, thanks all, and hope to hear more.