Keep the seating. The bow... not sure about. We have one and it creates an optical illusion when you photograph the front, that the island is bowed. However, when barstools are in, it's fine. We use this seating all the time. You have more room at the island and seating is more comfortable, with the bow - it's not like you are lined up in a row. That said, we usually eat at the kitchen table vs. the island. A couple comments on your plan. Am I missing it, or do you not have a prep sink? You have the beautiful huge cooktops and plenty of aisle space between them and the island. We have a similar setup and have the prep sink on the island - so it's chop and twirl and toss into pan. I love this. Also, we have 42'' between cooktop and island - this is fine for multiple people working in the area, I've found. I don't think you will see or access the front of the island, with barstools in place. This was a while ago: More recently (not our backsplash, just photoshopped option), with stools in place:

We have had separate reach ins for 33 years until this house where we have a shared 7'6" x15' walkin/ walk through closet bisected by doorways. One door opens to the bath and another to the study (laundry is just steps away through the study -- close enough that it has become our habit just to drop dirties in the laundry). Contrary to some, we very definitely prefer the closet through the bath! It's nice to get up, put on a robe, make the bed and open the blinds first thing before coffee and then not have to go back into the bedroom area to get dressed. Also, instead of having to walk past closets on the way from the bed to the bath, it makes for a much shorter trip for nighttime nature calls. His end is 7'6" x 5' with a dresser and cubbies on one side and couple rods on the other with a bench on the end under a high window and my end is 7'6" x 7' with a single rod on one side, double rods across the back, and dresser on the other side with room for a small chair (still have to put my cubbies up). It's perfect for us.

I think my closet plans fall into the range of "real people". Most of us don't have Oprah-sized closets or the number of shoes owned by -- is that Mariah Cary? Most of us -- even if we had the space -- wouldn't install a custom island topped with granite. After all, as lovely as these spaces are, they're closets. Here's my inspiration picture -- though at 7' wide x 8' long, my new house closet will be a little bigger than this one: Specifics that matter to me -- obviously, you'll have way more space and will be able to have more: - 3' of walking space down the middle of two aisles. - A pretty light in the middle of the space ... and maybe a couple canned lights on the edges. This is, of course, not important in terms of function, but I want a bit of fancy in the closet. - Since I am only 4'11", I will shorten my hanging clothes area. I want matching hangers. - Plenty of folded space -- we are on the cusp of retirement and won't need lots of dress clothes. Plus we want no dresser in the bedroom, so we want space for EVERYTHING in the closet. - A couple built-in drawers for unmentionables. - Space for roughly 30 pair of shoes for me, 10 pair for him -- plus several pairs of boots for the two of us -- but our footwear doesn't need to be showcased as if they were something special. - A few attractive baskets up top for "boxing up" traveling items, purses, out of season items, etc.... and a planned space for a step stool since I want to access those baskets. - My inspiration pix shows wallpaper on the back wall, but I'll probably paint something pretty with a stencil. I have a round mirror, which I plan to repurpose on the back wall ... and I want a shelf underneath it, which can hold jewelry, etc. - A fluffy rug in the middle of the closet. - A valet rod on each side of the closet for "hanging out" church clothes. - One narrow "open locker" at the doorway on each side ... with a couple hooks. This will be for clothes that we plan to wear again ... a once-worn nightgown, workout clothes, or jeans. This'll keep them separate from the "completely clean clothes".

What about a hidden inner closet for storing valuables or ? So it looks like a large closet, but there is a hidden panel/passage to another closet. :)