You have a tremendous advantage in living with this basic layout already, but I'd suggest drawing it carefully to scale anyway. Also, that will help spur thoughts that might be useful on this side. What sort of things will be stored in the non-pullout 24" deep cabinet? Have you given any thought to putting in a window on the stove wall since it's on the exterior? Something low below the cabinets, or high, above? Has DH had the opportunity to fondle soapstone yet? :) BTW, you're showing the same dining space also, so it's safe to assume it's also working very well for you. Do you have a table for two against the wall, or? Is there room to bring in a comfy chair for relaxing and chatting with the cook? I like your idea of bookcases backing the counter. Since books are one of my very favorite mood creators and decorations, I'd do glass doors there.

Ok, I've thought of a question. If we put the fridge on that back wall (where the desk currently is). How much space should that aisle have between the fridge and the island? My kitchen is 192" wide. And I am estimating that the sink base cabinets + countertop overhand will be 25". The aisle between the sink & island will be 42", and the island (+ counter top overhang will be 50"). That leaves 75 inches for the fridge + whatever size aisle I will have between the fridge and island. I just looked at a LG French Door fridge and it says with handles it is 37.5 deep. So at the max I would have 37.5 inches left for that aisle where the fridge would go. The fridge usually needs some air circulation behind it too, right? Like an inch or 2? I am just wondering if a layout like this would require us to have the sink/island isle be slightly smaller, like 40"? Or should I be looking at a counter-depth fridge? There is a possibility of my DH recessing it into the wall a bit. But he says that wall is load-bearing so I am not sure if he will want to do that. Or should I think about making my island smaller? WDYT?

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.

They'll get a lot of wear and tear and are probably just veneer, so they won't last well as kitchen pieces. I know because I have a mahogany buffet in my kitchen. It needs refinishing. If you do incorporate them, give them a protective coat of poly.