As an update, after spending some time with this over the holidays, we aren't really feeling the various iterations that would allow laundry--it seems like we'd really have to take out the lower lefthand window entirely to make that work and even then the flow wouldn't be ideal. The most viable spot seems to be where the coats and broom closet are if we move the door, so we'll keep that as a future option. That lands us with storage and a baking counter along the lower lefthand wall. (This is what is already there, except right now it's on freestanding shelves and carts.) This leaves a couple of dilemmas: length and depth of baking counter. We have 24.5" of clearance for a counter in the corner before hitting the bottom window (and only 20" if we want to clear the window moulding too, which would probably look better and be simpler). This feels too shallow to be useful for rolling dough, etc., so I'm considering keeping counters 20" deep on the ends with the section under the window coming out to 28" or so. Second question is the length. The window opening is exactly 36", and with the moulding, it's 46" long. So if we stick with stock cabinetry (which I would like to do from a cost perspective) this could be a 21"/36"/21" split along this wall, or a 15"/48"/15" (both with a couple of inches of filler on each end). The first feels like more useful storage, but will it look strange to follow the window opening vs. the moulding? As far as utility, this will all be drawers below with two 18" open bookcases on either side of the window, and much of what will be stored here is moving out of an existing 32" drawer bank, so the 36" seems more than adequate. Two 24" drawer banks would also work. Thank you!

Your changes add a huge amount of expense, and take away from the functionality that exists now. If you’re going to expand the kitchen into the breakfast area, than that comes with actually moving around the work zones. Sink. Stove. Fridge. All crammed into one end isn’t making a bigger kitchen. Just a bigger expense for unused cabinetry, Just throwing more cabinetry at it and losing your table isn’t making for a better kitchen. Start by moving the sink to the window to the right. Then start moving everything else around until you get proper workflow.

How many people generally to be seated. A pedestal works as shown. You could hunt for a drop leaf and keep the one side down and push it furthur to wall if need less seats Normally. Longer rectangular farmhouse or trestle tables are fun and can be a bit more rustic if you desire,

Okay, I'm confused. In your new layout, where will you be eating? At the island? You say you don't need a formal dining room, and I get that, but right now you have an informal kitchen table. If that gets replaced with the island, is the island going to be your only eating space, or do you need to carve out space for an informal eating area in the room in question? I understand the urge to open up walls between kitchen/dining/living, but it's not as obvious to me why you would open up the kitchen to a random space you don't know what to do with. I'm not necessarily saying it's not a good idea (you get a bigger more open kitchen and an island) but you need to think about the space holistically, not decide what to do with the kitchen and then wonder what to do with the space it opens onto.