OK, I hadn't realized that you expected to be part of the LR conversation when the kitchen was on the N side. Is the house that small? I realize the kitchen is sort of in between there now, so it's a progression of thought we weren't really party to, just looking at plans here recently. But it seems like the hallway you're creating by moving the kitchen (to the proposed N location) would remove it from LR socializing anyway, doesn't it? Or are the spaces really that small that you can imagine being part of the LR conversation when cooking in that NE corner? What are the distances there? I definitely understand wanting the kitchen to be central- we moved ours right into the MIDDLE of our (very small) house for this reno. (I read a lot of the Not So Big series, too...) But I wonder whether you'd really achieve that even with the kitchen in that N location. I would think that if that's your real focus... maybe you want to get rid of the closet at the foot of the stairs, to open up the kitchen even more to the LR, and move the main sitting area over to the part of the LR next to the stairs. You could put the closet down on the W end of the LR, next to the front entry. Or, put a formal dining table there? I do think that if you go back to the N kitchen, though, I would think harder about the transition from LR to kitchen, and site lines. As it was, with a sort of multi-use "hall" between the LR and Kit, I don't know that you really achieve DH's goal of making the two rooms flow together.... I also think that you're right and wherever the kitchen is, it becomes the focal point for family and friends. (One reason we made ours so central.) But even if the kitchen is removed from your LR, you can make it a great gathering zone. That was my point about trying to make your island big enough for stools.... I find it's such a great place for folks to gather. Especially when it's more table-like and less counter-like (i.e. without a main fixture or appliance). Too bad you don't have just a tad more space and could make the new addition area include the kitchen, a small breakfast area for informal meals, AND a sitting area/small family room. Then you could put a formal dining table out next to the entry door (W wall) and have it all!! I know- my house was too small to achieve that, too. So I compromised and made my island the informal eating area since there are only 3 of us, and put the dining table in one end of the LR. I do have a seating area in my kitchen though, with a fireplace -its in the old LR- and we have been using it so much, LOVE it. Anyway--- compromises with old houses. I guess you guys need to think about the way your family will most/best use the spaces available and decide what works best for your lifestyles... Here's my new layout if it helps at all. Folks on this board were amazingly invaluable in helping us come up with it. I was not even considering moving the kitchen but we just could NOT make a layout work...

For instance "visual appeal" = what, specifically, to you? Thanks 10-15 feet 'Marina' will get a lot bigger than that in your climate. With one in the Marina (hence the cultivar name) district there being over 40 ft. tall some years ago. In one published sizing system I know that height range (10 ft.+) = large shrub. (With small tree being 15-35 ft.).

Any tree can fit into a corner....it just depends on far out from the corner you site it. And what is making the corner.....a fence, structure or retaining walls? A photo or a sketched diagram showing proposed placement and rough measurements. would help. If quite tight into a solid corner, likely only a very columnar type of tree will work.

I would double check what your contractor has said is 'fine'. Wish I had a nickle for everytime they were wrong. ALWAYS check w/the specs on the siding your getting. What kind of siding/brand are you doing? What was the original corner finish of the house? https://www.thisoldhouse.com/siding/21110808/how-to-choose-the-best-siding-for-your-house https://thecraftsmanblog.com/5-worst-mistakes-of-historic-homeowners-part-3-siding/ types of siding I like the pic that WestCoast showed. Old cottage The mitered corners? here's one from Hardie. Not the best finishing job. kind of janky. But if done correctly, I like this. I believe this is fiberboard/cement siding seamless fiber cement siding metal corners