I immediately thought of njannabelle's kitchen in her 1850 home when I saw your photos. Here's her reveal thread, 1850s Finished Kitchen Pics There are similarities - fairly long, narrowish room with low windows - but she did not have a fireplace to contend with. Still, I think reading her reveal thread and her Layout for 1850 Colonial kitchen with 3 doors and 3 tall windows thread will help you. As Sophie wrote, hiring a KD is a good idea but we can help you get started with ideas and thinking through possibilities beforehand so that you make the most of your time and money with a KD. However, in order to do that, we need a measured drawing from you. We can't give any useful lay-out advice from photos. Go to [New to Kitchens? Read Me First! [(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~3638784)to see what we need to know. It would also be helpful to see a first floor lay-out so that we know how the kitchen relates to the rooms around it and how traffic flows to and thru the kitchen. One quick question. What do you mean by "double fireplace"? Do you mean the fireplace we see has a twin that opens into the adjacent room? Have you talked to a mason to see if you can close up the kitchen side? That may allow more flexibility with kitchen lay-outs. millworkman, the OP is an interior designer, not a kitchen designer. Pro, yes, but not in kitchen design.

What you didnt address here is what you would like to do with the bay window, and what you are going to do about the brickwork that will be missing if you make it smaller.

You can have more than one piece of art. For additional options, I agree with cawaps re: textile wall hanging and metal art. I actually came to offer the metal art idea. A couple of examples: 1 - https://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/uttermost-04195-lev-antique-gold-leaf-wall-art-2172319.htm?partid=googlePLA-DataFeed-WallArt-2172319&kpid=2172319&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_-Decor-_MultiConverters&utm_term=&utm_content=Decor_MultiConverters&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh7LJ6IDD6gIVrAiICR084QF6EAQYAyABEgK13PD_BwE 2 - https://www.allmodern.com/decor-pillows/pdp/rectangles-iron-wall-decor-a000783681.html?piid=

When you have to start changing an internet poorly designed plan, then maybe it's time to instead sit down with an architect to create a house that will in fact work for you and your family. What do you like about this poorly designed plan? Here is my list again. Anything in bold needs to be rethought even before rethinking the two story loft that is just wasted space. The best houses orient the public rooms towards the south for the best passive solar heating and cooling The best houses are L, U, T, H, or I shaped. The best houses are only one to two rooms deep. And covered lanai, porches, garages, etc count as rooms in this case. The best houses make sure kitchens have natural light, meaning windows so one doesn't have to have lighting 24/7 to use the kitchen. (And no, dining areas with windows 10' or more from the kitchen will not allow for natural light.) The best houses make sure all public rooms and bedrooms have windows on at least two walls. The best houses do not if possible put mechanical rooms, pantries or closets on outside walls The best houses do not have diagonal interior walls making for odd spaces. The best houses keep public and private spaces separate. The best houses do not have you walk through the work zone of the kitchen to bring laundry to the laundry room. The best houses do not have the mudroom go through any of the work zones of the kitchen. The best houses do not use the kitchen as a hallway to any other rooms. The best houses do not put toilets or toilet rooms up against bedroom walls or dining areas. The best houses do not have walk in closets too small to stand inside. The best houses do not have roofs that are overly large, and dominate the exterior of the house. The best houses do not have stick on exterior materials only on the front façade. The best houses have an organizing “spine” so it’s easy to determine how to get from room to room in the house and what makes sense. Meaning they don’t have meandering circulation paths. And added from Architectrunnerguy: -The best houses enrich their owners souls. -The best houses are timeless. -The best houses incorporate the intangibles of good design. -The best houses have strong organizational concepts. -The best houses have owners who understand what good design is….and isn’t. -The best houses are shaped in response to the Sun. -The best houses have all its parts in good proportion to each other and to the whole. -The best houses enhance the street. -The best houses balance function, aesthetics and construction. -The best houses recognize there are always design tradeoffs. -The best houses break some “rules”. -The best houses are a joy to live in.