I'd really keep the corner pantry as a closet -- Much more usable shelf space, and a significant cost savings over a cabinetry version. (Doesn't hurt to ask your builder though, since if your cabinets are site-built, that might not be true.) If possible, have adjustable-height shelves on ALL of the available wall space, even though some would be narrow. In a pantry, even 6" deep shelves are VERY useful. For your pantry doors, I'd go with two narrow 'French doors' rather than the larger single. It's more gracious, more interesting, and IMO, a bit more practical since it won't block aisles. The fridge aisle has been covered -- necessary change. Either shring the aisle or scoot the island into the nook. And don't worry too much about lining up your sink and range. The only time the offset would show is when you were standing dead-on straight to the range and obsessing about it. And setting your faucet to one side would effectively camoflauge any offset anyway. I'd agree with the idea to expand your kitchen into the nook, because the existing kitchen space just seems too small for the rest of the house. Maybe a nice hutch-style piece with dish storage and serving pieces on top, linens and ugly stuff down below? Then a really cute but comfortable 'bistro' table and two chairs in front. Someting cozy and intimate. Keep your decorating style the same in both rooms and make it a gracious eat-in kitchen instead of a separate breakfast room. For your dining room, I totally agree about ditching the angle and squaring it off. It'll be so much more furniture friendly, and it's not a large room to begin with...

This is my house plan currently. I am still tweaking things. Maybe it will help to see the whole picture. It is modest in size (~1,614 sq ft) and I plan to use that pantry for more than just food storage. The upstairs is kind of undetermined at this point and may be left unfinished for future growth. I mostly envision some non-bedroom studio/work/play space. I don't think I would like the peninsula as well on the fridge wall. I like the idea of coming in from the garage, setting my purse down in a little cubby at the end of the peninsula, and grabbing a water from the fridge. Long way of saying I like the peninsula and fridge right where they are. But I hear your concerns about the pantry. I do need that storage. I honestly don't see myself caring too much about being in the aisle next to the stove and realizing I need some tomato sauce, and walking over to the pantry and back to get it. I mostly gather everything up before I start cooking and I keep a little trash bag/bowl on the counter so I don't have to run over to the garbage can throughout meal prep. I am definitely not a gourmet "foodie" (I tried before kids) but at this stage in life anyway I'm mostly concerned with easy, quick, and pleasing for the family. (Just to give you some background.) I think I'd like to have the microwave nestled in a cubby in the peninsula, I strongly dislike the counter space microwaves eat up and I don't want it above the range. I need to think harder on the cubby stuff - I'm mainly trying to finalize the big things like layout at this point. I guess to get back to your concerns, I would rather have more open space around the porch entry/exit than walking a few extra steps to get to the pantry. Also, the majority of the time I work it out so I prepare supper in solitude, earlier in the day, and have it all ready to cook in the evening. That doesn't always work out but I enjoy cooking so much more that way - not so much because I'm avoiding bumping elbows with someone (my little ones - two and four legged will be at my feet no matter what) but it's just so much easier to do it without distractions. If I do cook supper at the last minute my husband is usually home at the time and will make sure I'm left alone. :D

Personally I'd make the following changes. I showed you in gray how you have almost no actual great room space. You need to account for walkways, etc. The grey indicates the actual usable space on your plan for the great room. Note how it's a tiny space in such a large houseI agree with Stan that you don't need the powder room. I would remove the powder room. Then I'd move the door into the front bedroom to next to the bathroom. This would give you a longer wall for furniture or a tv or a bookcase or... The other advantage is now the door to the bedroom isn't in the great room so there's more privacy. I made the closet more of a small walk in closet in the front bedroom and added a "window" seat and a window between the closet and the front of the house. If not a window seat, it could house a desk, or a chair or a??? In the second bedroom, I moved the entry too so now you don't have an awkward wall you walk towards when you go into the hallway. I wouldn't be so concerned with exterior symmetry as you need to concern yourself with interior space. I would move the doors to the side closest to the office. I personally would make it a single 36" wide door, but left the double doors. Then I'd shift the windows over so you have 4 windows in the great room. Now notice how you have a narrower hallway space but a much larger great room? I shortened your left perimeter counter in your kitchen and moved your cooktop closer up a bit. You still have plenty of prep space and this now gives you some room in a dining room area to put a buffet or some nice furniture. I increased your island size and I flipped the dishwasher to the side between the fridge and sink. This now creates good flow from fridge to sink to prep to cooking.

So much fabulous feedback - THANK YOU!! @jhmarie - I think you are right about the white oak floors - they are very hard and don't really scratch. I'm going to consider quartersawn oak now... and you are definitely correct about a drab grey/brown combo. We are leaning towards the greige colors for the floors and backsplash. A cold hard grey won't really fit in with the rest of the house. @olmama - your kitchen looks fabulous and it really does remind me of ours. The ceilings are almost identical. @nosoccermom - I like the colors, but the shape is too modern. I think something between rustic and farm fits us better. I went to the website and saw those cabinets are oak... wow I had no idea oak could looks that good. lol. :) @Olychick - yeah I'm starting to have second thoughts about the knotty alder. with so many knots already, it might be too much "clutter" for such a small space. Out kitchen is not really that big - it just feels like it because of the open ceiling and the sun room with the windows makes it feel huge. @herbflavor - Thanks for the input on the flooring - I'm to the tile store this weekend to look at tiles like the ones mentioned above. @OneRidgeOff - Holy smokes!! I love your granite and backsplash. My partner also loves blues like that. He is going to flip when he sees your kitchen pictures. I'm so excited to pick our granite. :) @SJ McCarthy - you are 100% correct that we are going to struggle until we update the windows. the rest of the house was updated since building, but they did not update the sunroom, probably because of the cost. Those windows are HUGE. @Filipe Agostinho - I see what you are saying about contract - I'm going to focus on making sure there is contrast between the floors/backsplash/countertop and cabinets. This is a huge help. Ok, so to recap - definitely going to focus on greige floors, and will look at quartersawn oak, since it will match the trim in the rest of the house, and modern shaped cabinets will still update it, without having to update the rest of the house. You all are awesome. Thank you so much. :)