Welcome Missyjo! I have a few questions and comments to start. I don't have a lot of time right now, but I thought I'd ask them/make them now b/c others may have the same questions/comments (and if I have time later, I will have the answers for further work on the layout). Why are you not willing to change the cooktop and sink locations? This will severely limit what you can do. The less flexible you are, the less we can do to fix issues we see. Honestly? I think the Kitchen looks cramped. Aisles... The aisle in b/w the sink wall and island should be more like 45", 42" at the very least (42" for one person, 48" for two people, 45" to be able to pass b/w an open DW door and the island). You don't have a wide enough aisle b/w the kitchen table and the island. You need more like 48" with no seating on the island on that end (which you don't appear to want) - assuming you have seats on the island side of the table. The aisle behind the seats is also too narrow - with seating, you need at least 44" b/w the refrigerator door and the island. Even 44" is going to be tight. Please see the "Aisle Widhts" FAQ (linked to at the end) to understand what I'm saying. Corners... Better use of the corners would be pie-cut cabinets, not the diagonal, especially since you don't have much space b/w the sink and cooktop - which is where your primary prep space will be if you don't have a prep sink in the island. A pie-cut will give you more counter frontage and better access to the corner and, for the upper, won't be so looming as the diagonal (as well as much better access to the storage!) Pantry... How would you feel about an actually pantry instead of a less-efficient/much more expensive pantry cabinet? (KDs like pantry cabinets b/c they make much more $$$ on them than they do a built-in pantry.) A built-in pantry is much more useful and, IMHO, much more "high end" than pantry cabinets. With a built-in pantry, you have access to the entire space (floor-to-ceiling), you can see where something is at a glance, things don't get lost in the depths, and you can actually reach everything! Pantry cabinets, OTOH, are too deep and things get lost, it's difficult to see/access anything more above your head - so it limits what you can/should store in the top. Think of how inaccessible storage above a refrigerator is other than the very front. Same thing. If you must have a pantry cabinet, 18" is better b/c you can than have a pullout instead of roll out tray shelves (ROTS) - so you can at least see & access things better. You still don't have some of the advantages of a built-in pantry, but it helps. I would do two 18" pull-out pantry cabinets if this is the only pantry space you have. (Pull outs are when the shelves are attached to the door and all pull out when you open the door. ROTS are the shelves that you have to pull out individually after you open the door.) Seating & Island size... Do you really need 3 types of seating w/2 practically on top of each other? Island (with too shallow an overhang *sigh*) & kitchen table space on top of each other + formal DR. That island should be at least 41.5" deep if you want island seating (1.5" overhang + 24" deep cabinets + 1" decorative door/panel on the back of the cabinets + 15" overhang). Skimping on overhang like that means either your KD knows an island won't fit in the space as-designed and is trying to cram it in there, or your KD doesn't know any better. . For reference so you understand the comments: Layout Help: How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include? http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include Kitchen Design FAQs: Kitchen work zones, what are they? http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767031/kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they Aisle widths, walkways, seating overhangs, work and landing space, and others http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767035/aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-and-landing-space-an How do I plan for storage? Types of Storage? What to Store Where? http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767036/how-do-i-plan-for-storage-types-of-storage-what-to-store-where . Ice. Water. Stone. Fire (Looking for layout help? Memorize this first) http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

Good question...That space is actually not that big in real life. We'll likely put the 2 chairs with a table in between that we have in the sunroom now. We may end up with a moveable island in the "butler's pantry" -- agree, it's more of an extended kitchen space. But we can reuse the same cabinets so it will be low cost and extra storage since we'll have less in the main kitchen area. Moving the bathroom was deemed to be more than $10k, and creates a lot more complexity in the project. I am intrigued by that idea, but I think that will actually make the house feel smaller since that will create more of a closed off hallway from our utility room.

The reason you would need to speak to either an architect, structural engineer, or contractor is to understand the ramifications of opening up such a long portion of wall. Continuing on blindly without an understanding of that puts you in a corner with design. Typically, adding on an addiition that is not an adequately sized dimension as a stand-alone room (just partially extending out existing rooms) requires some structural design elements that compete with "open" visions of design goals. For example, a 30' beam would be massively huge, hanging down in the space, delineating separate spaces right over your island, decapitating visual continuity, creating unwanted shadows, and interfering with lighting. Columns can be barriers. The footings for either would require more demo of existing beyond just the wall. Or tearing off a large chunk of roof to minimize or eliminate a large beam might prove beyond budget, especially if living through construction. Other things, like if you are not aware of local restrictions, say on FAR or setbacks, or even if the addition will warrant a reroof of the entire house or some seismic grade beams pushing the budget.

Thanks @AnnKH - good questions... What I disliked about the kitchen before was it was a galley type kitchen but with an island that literally felt like it blocked the fridge and sink for me. I used to hit my hip on the island countertop all the time to reach the sink and it was super annoying. So I'd like an open layout this time and have one large island with the sink in it so I have a simple triangle or oven, sink and fridge with nothing in between. I like the idea of putting dishes away easily and having the fridge and sink near each other too. The kitchen did feel dark but we already took down the wall to the family so there's a 13' opening and the family room is flooded with light. We also opened up the hallway to the living room to get light from there too. I'm not sure adding another window would do much b/c that side of the house just doesn't get as much light. I would definitely love a breakfast nook because it was awkward to make our food and then take everything to the dining room. I love separate dining for formal events...but I want casual dining for everyday. That way if someone wants ketchup, they can just pop up and grab it!