Salmon, Idaho...I don't know where that is but it sounds nice! The island could turn 90 degrees...but the fridge probably won't work on the other wall, if you have the door outside. I mean, you could make it fit, but the fridge will be blocking your view of the door..and a bit of the banquette. However, if you don't plan to have an under counter fridge, you might want to make the large fridge more accessible to everyone. What do you plan to have? Do you need a freezer? Would that be downstairs or in the mudroom? Do you want a big range or do you need a wall oven? I just drew a basic layout (popular right now) with fridge and range across from prep sink and clean up on the other wall. Make sure you know how you want to use the space and adjust the layout, accordingly :) Oh, and if you want stools on the opposite side, I believe an island should be 3 1/2' across...and most walkways are 3 1/2' to 4' depending on access to appliances, etc.

I can see why you want to make the changes you are proposing. For me and my young family, I like your new plan better. Esp with doors to separate the living room from dining area. For a quick layout change -- what if you scooted the big island a bit closer to the sink wall, and put your seating on the long side (backing up to the fridge and double ovens). Or even leave space on 2 sides for seating. Just seems like folks sitting on the oven side would be more.out of the way from you working at the cooktop. Also, you could prep on the sink side of the island and talk with them. And have you considered switching the sink and the cook top. Then even though you'd still have the island in the middle of the triangle, it would be more natural to move from fridge to sink to cooktop in order. And although you wouldn't have a window over the sink (in the corner), it looks like you could have one over the primary prep area btwn the sink and cook top, which would be lovely. Do you have a specific purpose in mind for the second island? Seems a bit odd - I think the space would be better left open, esp as the dining area is narrow at 143".

Your request for help is quite broad and without a lot of specifics. That makes it hard to answer. I'd suggest breaking it down for yourself and for us like this: 1) Before you start choosing finishes, you'll want to solidify your kitchen and likely furniture layout/orientation. You'll get the most help with that if you post a current floor plan of this entire floor drawn to scale with measurements noted on. Your architect might already have a floor plan you can share here, or you could make one with a tape measure and some graph paper. Generally a 1 square = 1 foot or 1 square = 6 inches is a good, usable scale. Please indicate on the plan which sections of which walls are coming down and any other features (good/bad views out certain windows, fireplace, ducting that can't be moved, etc.). Also note anything you'd particularly like to achieve layout-wise (e.g., an island, a view from the island to the TV, etc.). Post that and and people will have enough information to make helpful suggestions. 2) While you're fielding suggestions about your layout, sift through Houzz and Pinterest to find some inspiration pictures you like. Look for rooms that really sing to you and have the kind of appearance or feel you really enjoy in a home and want to achieve here. Once you have found, say, six or more pictures like that, post all of them together on here and ask people to help you review the images and figure out what the commonalities between the pictures are. This will help you identify what specific things you really respond to so you can include those deliberately in your new spaces. 3) After you can articulate what it is your really like and want to bring to this space, THEN repost this question about colors choices and finishes with that information. Provide your final floor plan (the result of #1), explain what specific finishes you like or what you're specifically trying to achieve through finishes (the result of #2), and then ask us how we'd achieve those stylistic preferences in this space that you have planned. You'll get MUCH more targeted, helpful help. Only then will people understand your taste and the space that we've got to work with. THEN they can say helpful things like, "You might like X paint on Y surface with Q backsplash, plus maybe G feature on M wall? That takes advantage of your space for K reasons while adhering to your taste." Also, some side notes: a) I think you'll have an easier time balancing the dining set with styles you prefer if you break up the set across several different rooms. Use the table in the office, the chairs in the dining room, and the hutch in the kitchen or whatever. With all three - the hutch, table, and chairs - together in the dining room (and being the only furniture in that room), the country note you don't seem to be a fan of will inevitably dominate that room. b) I disagree with Sophie that it makes sense to hire an interior designer at this time. When you bring in a professional, you want to have some idea of what you're asking them for. Something you want them to help you achieve. I don't think you have that yet, and free discussion here is a good way to pin down your own thoughts a bit more. c) I don't think whoever said this looked like an inexpensive house meant it in a denigrating way. You mentioned several very large ticket items (kitchen reno and opening up two separate stories of your house), and I think she/he was simply trying to make sure you're not putting more into the house than you can get back when you sell. That can be devastating. But in case that made you feel weird about having posted, rest assured that people post on here with every single kind of house. Is this the grandest house we've ever seen? No. Is it the humblest? Also no. But no one cares. We're all just here because we like improving homes. The starting point really doesn't matter.

yes, remove the threshold molding piece, and lace in the new w/the old. if some of the older pieces can be removed, put the newer ones in that place and the older ones w/some of the newer ones. (Unless, can the older floor be refinished? prob not) in any case, once the island is done it should look ok to the eye. you could always throw down a runner. the other option would be to use a slate or porcelain tile floor in the kitchen area