Thanks Lyfia! All three ideas could work well. The closet wall currently would be between the two transom windows, so it wouldn't block either. Still, I especially like your idea of putting in a nice PAX closet, at least initially. A 59" (or 49") PAX closet, with a bench or plant in front of the left sidelite. I think that could work very well (if DH will be willing to be unconventional. I'm from Europe, so I'm quite used to wardrobes and no closets). I've been wanting to do a closet organizer anyway, so PAX could accomplish that. And, as you'd said, it means we could see what the space really feels like after we move in. This makes me wonder whether the entry door should be 2'8" rather than 3'0" wide. A smaller door might make the space feel larger ... and would leave more of the closet accessible. I'd assumed that 3' was more practical for bringing in fridges, couches, etc. But if 2'8" is a standard, then there must be other ways movers cope with massive furniture. Thanks! Very interesting ideas for me to sleep on. :-) (Yawn).

@bpathome - yes, we like symmetry (this is a classic colonial)... :) To answer your question, we're concerned that the closets will obstruct the sight lines from the foyer into the library and from the foyer into the dining room. You'll notice that there is actually more room on the wall that connects the library to the foyer than on the wall that connects the dining room to the foyer: The general contractor thinks that it might be less obtrusive if we were to put only a single closet on the wall connecting the library and the foyer (because there is more room on that wall. Questions: 1) What do you mean when you say "...what if the closets faced the door instead of the hall?" Where would the closets be positioned in this case? Are you suggesting that we keep the closets where they are currently positioned, but just position the doors to these closets facing each other, rather than facing the stair case and the passage way leading from the foyer into the kitchen? 2) Why you you think it makes better sense to put a single closet on the wall that connects the dining room and the foyer? Thanks!

Your original kitchen plan is VERY similar to my current kitchen. Except that our fridge is next to the pantry door, and we have wall oven/microwave where you have the fridge now. And our island is a little longer -- matches same size as its opposite wall, not counting pantry door. Our place (a condo) had no space for an L with island, so our options were more limited. I like having the sink in the island opposite the cooktop because it allows me to face the views/ windows and socialize with those in the living area while i'm prepping/cleaning up. It is true that it can get messy (sink splash) behind the sink, and for that reason we only have 4 stools, two on either side of the sink. But I love having the pantry and fridge together, as it makes pulling together ingredients for a meal easy. Your plan would frustrate me as it would seem you'd have to walk to the pantry... walk all the way to the other side to the fridge... If you move the sink to the L part then it seems a long long way to the fridge. Imagine getting out some veggies from the fridge, walking them ALL the way over to the sink to wash them, then to the island to prep them while you chat with family on the stools. Now it's clean-up time and you've packed away leftovers at the sink / garbage can, but have to walk ALL the way over to the fridge to put them away.... I'm going to also say that our kitchen works because we have ample walk-in pantry space (coffee station and cleaning supplies live in there too) AND also have floor-to-ceiling built-ins along the DR wall for entertaining items, china, tablecloths, seasonal stuff too. Overall I love our kitchen layout as it's tight and super efficient. I don't get a work out making a meal as everything is close by. Making pasta? I fill the pot at the sink, turn around, walk two steps, and put it on the cooktop. Draining the pasta? It's reverse. I prep on the side of the right side of the island across from the fridge/pantry. I pull out hot oven trays and leave them to cool on the left side. I have less comments on the master bath/closet as I dislike double sinks and toilet closets. I would prefer more closet space and less bath space, but that's me. Master closet: you may be different than us, but it was #1 priority for us to have separate closets, having had to share for years. Mine is a walk-in his is a built-in along one wall. You could possibly do a built-in across from the bed and have a space for a t.v. if you want a t.v. in the bedroom. Laundry wise, think about noise, if you do laundry at night. Linen closets are awesome, but you do seem to have enough space in the baths for towels in drawers, and the laundry is generous and not far away. Just think about non-linen items like extra TP, toiletries, maybe cleaning supplies, etc you generally store in the linen closet now (if you do). Where are your cleaning supplies going to go? Vacuum? Mop and other tall/ bulky cleaning tools? We have a very small entry but it works; but it does have a closet. We don't use our DR table all that often so we were fine making the trade-off for a larger kitchen/ smaller DR (in fact we swapped the two spaces in our reno). The space is probably below standards for clearance but we put in comfy DR chairs and mood lighting, and nobody complains.

There will be some moisture accumulate in the laundry closet while the washer runs ... moisture is present anywhere there's water. The question is whether there's sufficient ventilation for it to dissipate. Warm or hot water will reasonably generate slightly more moisture than cold ... but don't take that as an excuse to avoid warm or hot washing when needed. Washing all loads in cold water is b-a-d for the machine, smutz from laundry soils accumulates in the outer tub and other hidden areas. Presumably the dryer is always run after a washer load, which effectively ventilates the laundry closet being that the dryer pulls air in (through the laundry closet and the opening from the clothes closet) and blows it out the exhaust (unless it's a condenser/non-vented dryer). Is there an HVAC register in the clothes closet? You didn't say if the washer is a frontloader or toploader. Either way, I would leave the washer lid (toploader) open or door ajar (frontloader) whenever the machine is not in use so moisture of it inside can dissipate (that goes a LONG way to avoiding mold and long-term rusting of the machine). I doubt there's enough moisture getting into the clothes closet to be of concern ... but that's impossible to say without first-hand examination.