Hmm. My first thoughts are that if you put the kitchen where the living room is, the kitchen is the first thing you'll see when you walk in the front door rather the plan's fireplace as focal point. The kitchen will also be on the opposite side of the house from the garage. If you haven't already, I'd also run this by the "building a home" forum as they have great insight into new-builds and whole-house ideas.

I like the living room where it is. Makes cooking (and doing dishes) more social. I can't really tell where the pantry is on my phone but why not put a pantry at the end of the island wirh the door facing the kitchen, then the refrigerator, walking space, island, and then the oven(s) where the breakfast nook is now. You'd have to scooch the island toward the nook a few feet to make room for the new pantry but I think that would result in an even more open kitchen/living room area. Big screen TV in the living room and entertaining would be a blast!

I understand your concern, but when I look at it I see that you won't really walk through the living room to get from the kitchen to the dining room...

I'm down with benjesbride. It's not Downton Abbey where you have a huge walk/hike to get from kitchen to guest. Plus the dining room generally is a formal use room. I think I'd prefer to keep it separate from the goings on in the kitchen. Do you really want them watching you sweat while your hollandaise is barely clinging to life?

I think I'd figure out definitely if breakfast nook stays or goes. the 3 things-living dining and kitchen will get their rightful place , but without nook, I'd want a bigger island with good seating in a pivotal spot for this open plan you are embracing. One assumes the"post " needs to stay-is that right? so what happens with the wall without the nook-does the living room wall just extend as situated all the way to bedroom? will there be a French door or patio door and how many windows---will there be any wallspace besides the glass areas for tall pantry of pull out style? I think the kitchen located there will be good as the entry to porch thru a slider or whatever seems correct,along with a bigger island with seating in that area. But the back wall without nook will be important as far as how much wallspace vs. your desire for winows/entry door to porch,etc.

What if you just rotate it all so the kitchen is to the left of the entry, then dining behind it, and LR where the kitchen is now? And it's no further from the garage than putting it where the LR is now.

Would you consider moving the kitchen into the nook area so you could have nice light? What direction do those windows face? And where are your best views?

Just a quick, rough layout of how I would use that nook instead of getting rid of it. Personally, I wouldn't move it to the left into the current living area both due to it being the focal point when you enter the house and due to the extra steps from the garage to unload groceries.

Would you consider moving bedroom 2 upstairs? You could put the kitchen where the bedroom 2 is now, and a den where the dining room is now, and the back of the house is all view. You could modify the right side a bit so the garage entry is closer to the kitchen.

edited to change bedroom number

Sorry, but the kitchen---and the rest of the home as a whole--- would benefit from real design help. As in, start over with an architect first. And a KD second. Your builder does not have a good sense of flow or proportion or how the interior floor plan affects the exterior or......

Jillius, you always notice the most obscure things....and I mean that in a good way. I would certainly be thinking about your observations.

I'll add mine. I'm struck by how much square footage is wasted on that long hall from garage to living areas. Square footage that could go towards creating good storage. Have you posted your plan in the Build a Home forum? Would you like help tweaking things so you keep the second bedroom downstairs for those times you need it for recuperating family? Do you want the 5 year old to stay down there or eventually move upstairs? Can we help you beyond the kitchen?

I suspect you're not getting a big response because people see too many issues of concern with your plan. I know a lot of folks here dislike kitchens in the front of the house but I think that's fine as long as two criteria are met: (1) that the kitchen is shielded from immediate view when guests enter and (2) moving dining/living to the back of the house makes sense due to orientation of the view and the family's lifestyle. Since you bring groceries in through the front door, that's a plus.

Oh, next post, GW is being glitchy with posting photos.

I didn't put in cabinets in the kitchen. Just moved appliances where I would put them, roughly, could definitely use tweaking. Extended the wall down so the kitchen is hidden from foyer.

I think I'd keep the "nook" and move my living room there. The nook would be make the space more interesting and fun to decorate than a straight wall, imho. Although you will still have the issue with sounds near the bedrooms, I don't think a few feet are going to make much difference. I would move the fireplace to the living room.

Some more questions:

Where is your coat closet for guests?

Does the rest of our family usually enter through the front door also? If so, where is there spot for coats, school bags, boots/hats/gloves/scarves (if you live where there are harsh winters), sports gear?

I really hope you'll accept input on your entire plan from folks here or at the Build a Home forum, or both.

Did I read somewhere else that your builder is also the designer? If so, I'm sure he's a nice person, but isn't he creating an expensive house to build with all of the bump outs and angles? Is that a bump out for a tub? It seems there are a lot of inefficiencies that will cost you to possibly profit your builder/designer.

Funky, I like your idea for the kitchen (I love my front-facing kitchen). The house is in Louisiana, so no snow boots, but maybe rain boots? (Lisa OP mentioned in the Bulding forum)

Make sure the builder puts that sound barrier on the 4yo's bedroom, too.

Did you like the kitchen in the front idea at all? Or is that a no-go?

I've only been in your state once so I don't know the weather but I had the impression it rains a lot there. You don't need a place for guests to leave their raincoats? Umbrellas?

Could you provide the link to your discussion in the Building a Home forum? It would be helpful to read what they're saying.