I've been thinking long and hard about the many good critiques that have been shared in this thread and I've made a first pass at a modification. First the image and then the explanation: The oven and the microwave have been relocated. The oven is now under the cooktop. I feel like an idiot for basically replicating a range, paying double the money for the same functionality, but that cursed wok on the cooktop is going to cost me a pretty penny - cooktop + wok + oven instead of just range + wok. I also lose the flexibility of having a kitchen that's workable for someone is a wheelchair but if that fate ever befalls me I can simply move the oven back to the original location in the wall cabinet, lower the cooktop and sink and then I've got a working kitchen that's good for a disabled person. The design can be modified without too much trouble if the need ever arises. So, now that the oven is underneath the cooktop all of the pots that I wanted handy for cooking had to find a new home. They're now in the island where the recycling drawers were. That was easy. They're still handy, behind me instead of below the cooktop. The microwave is now immediately below the countertop in the peninsula with enough space to have a cabinet drawer underneath the microwave. This is a pretty handy place for the MW because it's right across the aisle from the fridge and just a step more removed from the cooktop/oven. Now as I enter the kitchen I can grab something from the fridge, pop it into the MW, and then I can proceed to the banquette or take the food out of the kitchen. All of the bulk grains and baking supplies are now relocated between the microwave and the wall cabinet which used to house the MW/Oven combo. The side of the island facing the peninsula now has a top drawer and 4 vertical drawers underneath which will hold all manner of baking sheets/pans. The sheets are close to the bake prep area and they don't need to be close to the oven - I will transport what needs to be baked either to the oven or to the wood fired pizza oven. The wall cabinet now stores two recycling bins, canned food, less frequently used baking equipment, and other odds and ends. My fear was having a useless section of counter/cabinets attached to the peninsula, but as I thought about how the space would be used, it can still function as a secondary prep zone but with the secondary sink on the island, it functions well as the bake zone and all the equipment is close at hand. The suboptimal aspect that arises from this new layout has to do with recycling and garbage disposal - it's now a walk to get rid of stuff. Similarly, if I want canned good or boxed goods, it's a walk from the cooking area to this storage area. However, these inconveniences are not as mission critical as the impracticalities of the original plan - the use of the oven and microwave in the old layout were more of a burden than the need to get canned goods or to dispose of recyclables. Here's the exit question for everyone (besides anything new that you can find to comment upon): What are the inconveniences of having a microwave underneath a counter? I'm used to using microwaves either at counter level or in the upper cabinets.

A floor plan should be your first step, with exact measurements, etc. Find a good on line room planner and experiment with different configurations, based on how you want room to function. You won’t know what room can handle until this is done and until you have determined your needs, ie: couches, sectionals, and chair combinations. Two identical sized seating areas grounded by two rugs. Or each side different Or a really large area with a smaller intimate space Would you like seating by window, a place to nap, does a tv need to be considered, etc Once you have layout figured out, there will be all the other decisions. Size of furniture, best fabrics for your lifestyle, accessories, etc. It may be worth hiring someone and with the discounts they benefit from, it may be worth it if you are buying for the whole room from scratch

As I’ve said before, the carpet will be first to go, to be replaced by wood. The long couch and the loveseat will go. The TV stays, but I want to either hang it in front of the niche or (better) widen the niche on the right, toward the door, and hang it there, maybe on an extending arm so DH won’t complain about its being too far from his chair.

Can’t really see much furniture but usually you want to face the furniture toward the fireplace/focal point …it won’t obstruct the view …if you place it far enough away for a grouping… usually a couch centered on fireplace an a side chair or two angled on each end/side to round out an area for conversation as well …tables at each end of the couch can also serve the chair seating.. if there is room behind the couch for a long-ish console table… I love to see that low enough to have a chair or bench to sit at.. for a snack…or to sit cups or glasses while watching tv