funky.... I moved the sink and the dw but I can't make the window over the sink bigger. the only thing we can afford is a bi-parting 10' window... if I go up on the window it will cost me about $10,000. which we cannot afford. this window will give us a clear 5' opening in the middle of the window. it is the same size as the sliding patio door in the great room with will also be bi-parting opening clear 5' in the middle of the door. we looked and looked at many options and this seems like the best solution . The cheapest window I saw that came close was $7,000. that is also over budget.

Thank you all so much for your input! I have been thinking hard and spent half an hour this morning standing in the middle of my current kitchen... That thinking and standing has changed my mind in regards to a proper dining table. I am now considering a smaller island and an extendable dining table which will normally sit quetly by the wall but when needed will jump out to the empty space and stretch perpendicular to the island. Disregard the photo frames and shelving on the walls, I don't really have them, was just playing with the software. I can't change the pictures now as I'm at work and the software is at home... For now I've only made that island smaller and added the dining table "placeholder". mama goose, you've just opened a whole new world to me, I'm now in love with stud bay storage! Will definitely investigate, what a fantastic option. Might work like magic for my cookbooks collection. Also a great idea to have dish drawers facing the DW. The only thing is, I was planning to put power outlets on that side of the island, where would you have them if that wall is all drawers? I guess can stil put them under the seating overhang, on a side of the cabinet with the dishes? A little harder to reach but on the other hand, well hidden from view. Also, rotating that cabinet for dishes to face the DW, would you put some sort of fake "face" on the side that is now on the front wall of the island? Just for visual continuity... Hope this question makes sense. mark_rachel - I don't quite understand. Do you mean, shelving instead of the fridge? Where would the fridge go then? I'm changing the setup anyway and there won't be "permanent" seating there so hopefully works better, please take a look. kaismom - I did think no dining table. I don't think that anymore. Family meals are important. Christmas is important. Yes, I am definitely trying to design not just the kitchen but a space for the family. Please take another look, I've updated the plan. A smaller island and an extendable table. I agree - that large island would be too "permanent" and too "customised" for when we will be selling the house eventually. cpartist - I thought about table-height section of the island. I don't really like this option, but I understand it works for many people. I would love a MW drawer but I spent a lot of time googling and it seems like not a single brand is available here in Australia. This country is my favourite place in the whole world but in some aspects we are just behind the rest of the planet... I will think about swapping the MW with some drawers in the snak area, but this places it quite far from the rest of the kitchen... Worth considering though. Thank you for your overall kind feedback Sophie Wheeler - yeah, I see it now. Please keep ideas coming :)

Would you consider taking down the wall from the kitchen to the family room & making your kitchen more of a U shape? I think it's a weight bearing wall and taking it down is probably not worth it to us at this point. If you're selling within 10 years, do white Ikea cabinets and spend as little as possible. New owners may want to do drastic things and won't want to pay for your upgrades in a tract house. We aren't looking to put in a forever kitchen but, having said that, our neighborhood is such that potential buyers might not have the money to remodel right away so we'd like to do something that wouldn't be a deal breaker for a young family. Any thoughts on how to optimize the plan below?

Try uploading a measured floor plan. The online Ikea kitchen planner is fast, free and easy.