Hi! How exciting to get to the planning phase for your kitchen. We completed our kitchen remodel this time last year & although it is not open on one side it is a similar size with openings/wide doors to a sunroom on one side & dining room on the other. We worked with a kitchen designer since we were opening walls & moving plumbing & wanted to maximize our effectiveness. Her guidance about work triangles is that today's larger kitchens actually have more than one work triangle. Ultimately you have nice work space that multiple people can simultaneously work in. I think it is ok that your main sink is across the room from your refrigerator. You may consider placing the prep sink at the end of the island nearer the refrigerator for ease of access or you may consider putting an under- counter refrigerator to keep veggies for dishes you are working on or at times for easy access for drinks. Having the prep sink as near the other sink as you do may create a little bottle neck, plus you'll have access to water at both ends of the kitchen -- a thought. (It looks like you have plenty of space to move around -- KD recommends 42" if you can do it or scaling down to 39"-ish between counters.) Our KD recommended the trash pullout between the dining area & the dishwasher so that as the table is cleared anything to go into the trash is dropped there as the dishes are placed into the DW. She also recommended a breakfast center, so we have our coffee pot near the drawers with cereal and coffee. If you use your toaster oven for breakfast it can also go there. I would consider to the right or left of refrigerator depending on how comfortable you feel (or perhaps you plan to keep the cereal in that wonderful walk-in pantry). Then when you want the toaster off the counter you can lower into a drawer or into the pantry. You also probably want a drawer for all your plastic containers. Our KD suggests to have that drawer at a place near the fridge & where you will walk from the breakfast/dining room with leftovers, fill the containers, & place immediately into the fridge with minimum steps. I appreciate you wanting to have an above or under counter shelf for the microwave. If you want it under the counter I'd consider to the right of the refrigerator -- it seems like I am always pulling things out of the fridge or freezer & popping into the microwave. This way you won't be carrying it far. Otherwise the other end of your island could work. I recommend you consider (or at least look at) the Sharpe Microwave Drawer. It is wonderful! I can stir or test temperature without having to get on my knees to look into the Microwave or pull the dish out onto the counter. It is a built in. How much do you use the door going to the outside? Your microwave & plastic containers can go there or your breakfast area. I guess it depends on the time of day that door gets used the most. Otherwise you can place items that seldom get used, but you want easy access to. I agree with kmennenga about the desk. Perhaps put it on the wall near the pantry. You can have a hutch-style or desk. Have drawers for hanging files so you can manage your papers. This was something we didn't have room for. We converted the lower desk space in our old kitchen to a butler's-pantry style area & have one large drawer for hanging files, as well another drawer with a writing surface (under the writing surface is space for place mats or entertaining supplies -- cocktail napkins, small dishes, small-ish cheese trays & spreaders). Also lots of electrical outlets to plug in laptops & cell phones can be placed along side the light rail(or also in the island). I hope this helps. Good luck with your project.

"The wall ovens were always preferable but optional, as was a 36" wide fridge as opposed to, say, a 31" wide that is taller." Regarding the refrigerator...stick with 36" wide by 70" to 72" tall. Manufacturers in/for the US are standardizing on 36"W x 70" to 72" tall refrigerators as their minimum size offering. Yes, you may find narrower ones here and there, but they're usually low-end of the mainstream refrigerators or very high end manufacturers (e.g., Liebherr). So, plan for this size space for your refrigerator: 38.5" wide x 72" tall. Width: 36" wide + 1.5" for end panels (3/4" on each side) + 1" for air clearance and wiggle room = 38.5" Height: 72" tall This way, you won't have to either search far and wide for a smaller refrigerator or pay $$$$ for a high-end refrigerator. Periodically over the years we've had people come to either here on the Kitchens forum or the Appliances forum frantically looking for a refrigerator to fit a small space (width and/or height). If it's a built-in, you don't have to accommodate the end panels b/c a built-in does not need end panels to hide the sides of the refrigerator. Counter-depth and standard-depth do need the end panels. And don't forget a 24" deep cabinet over the refrigerator (I can't tell for certain from the drawing if it's 24" deep, so I thought I'd mention it!)

I tried out some options, some suggested by you all, and am curious what you think. I would like to keep the Stuart Swan chairs but probably have to let go of the ottoman if I move them to the living room. And then we may do a sofa with upholstered ottoman in the dining room for TV watching. Or a sectional with a left arm chaise (chaise closest to DR entrance, I mean; but that would make the entrance to the room a little less open). Thoughts? Option A, couch at window and chairs under piano window. Imagine a slim table between the chairs, a square coffee table and poufs opposite the chairs. Side table and lamp where pharmacy lamp is. Rug under chair & sofa legs. Bookcase goes. Option B (below): Couch under the piano window. Imagine rug under sofa legs and chair legs, slim table between chairs or C table on left one and a square coffee table with poufs opposite chairs or couch. Matching side tables and lamps on couch ends. Slim pharmacy lamp on left chair (if no side table). Bookcase goes. Out of option A & B - do you like either? Or do you prefer my earlier post with the two chairs like so, let's call it option C:

There are also shades that roll up and roll down that are kinda cool, but pricey. If glare is a problem, curtains are the solution!!! Denita says to hang them close to the ceiling. I always use thermal or backed curtains because we live in Indiana, and it gets cold!! Great idea about the bookcases.