I'm sure given enough money and effort a great kitchen could be realized. The current set up is extremely particular (the DW location alone - wow!). Not sure what your friend's expectations/budge would be for this house

Hi damiarain, I know, the dishwasher placement is ludicrous. budget abt 50-60k. They are handy, so they can do their own plumbing etc

It's really difficult to provide feasible suggestions without knowing the layout of the house. Originally I was thinking about possibly closing up the entrance from the front hall, moving the refrigerator to that spot, then add a door where the refrigerator is currently. But that may not make any sense if there isn't a common space on that side of the house. Are your friends buying this as a primary residence or will this be a vacation home with rental potential? That could guide any remodel ideas.

Hi zmith, this would be a primary residence. As the walls are stone, it would difficult to create further openings or even closing up entryways. Here is a link to the home and more pics. https://www.royallepage.ca/en/property/ontario/perth/207-allans-mill-road/9203966/mls1140224/

Hi think, yes a designer is needed. However, the home has yet to be purchased. So before purchasing, they want to know if anything can be done with the kitchen. We may get the realtor, to take better measurements

Do your friends have a family? Is anyone at home during the day? Does everyone help with the cooking? Do they have kids who like to participate? Or does just one person like to cook in complete privacy? Do they need/want a "one bum" kitchen or a multi-bum kitchen?

Do they cook often or reheat takeout? If they like to cook, do they any specialties or preferences -- baking, stir fry, canning, etc. Do they have lots of kitchen things -- small appliances, dishware, gadgets? What sort of storage do they need? Do they go grocery shopping often and regularly, or do infrequent shopping in bulk?

The answers to all of these questions (and more lol) would inform the best re-design for these particular owners and their particular needs. Probably the best thing for them to do is to read through the top posts in this thread while they tour the house again,

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500754/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first

This is a particularly helpful post for figuring out kitchen layout,

Looking for layout help? Memorize this first: Ice. Water. Stone. Fire.

As a postscript, much also depends on their budget. With a healthy budget, almost anything is possible and the kitchen could likely be entirely re-done however they wish.

I see what looks like an Elmira range, would they keep that or replace it? And is the wall oven vintage?

Hi becky, thank you for all the questions and info. I guess, at this point the budget will depend on the purchase price of the home. It would not make sense to pay premium for the house with a view to spending even more on the kitchen. So sad, These old Ontario farmhouses are increasingly harder to find.

It has a lot of space, modern appliances, and doesn't look like it would be hard to fix up. Looks like the range is vented, which can be tough to add in an older building. My only complaint without working in it is the DW location. It doesn't look like that would be a hard fix, though.

For me the most obvious fix would be moving the refrigerator closer to the island, where that large floor-to-ceiling storage cabinet is. And depending on how much baking they do, if the range already has an oven, I'd put the wall oven in the current fridge location.

I looked at the listing, and it's a lovely house and site, and a great combination of old and new (pool and sunroom).

Thank you for fori and Becky. It is a neat house, however, the pics may do it more justice than it actually is. I like the suggestion if swapping wall oven and fridge. More info to be had, for sure (:

I just don't see anything that would make me run screaming "Full Kitchen Gut Required!!!!"

Nothing urgent...I've bought much worse. :)

I wasn't aware the interior walls were also stone. That certainly changes things.

Fori, thank you. More research to be done, @zmith, exterior walls are stone and if an addition was added to the house, those, now interior walls, will be stone. The sunroom addition, for example has interior stone walls, as you can see. @shady that sink/dishwasher is crazy silly

My suspicion is they put the dishwasher on the side with the widest aisle to avoid blocking the walking area when the door is open.

Even if some of the walls are stone, the kitchen does have potential since it's open to a hearth room. It looks like it might be "easy enough" to simply move the refrigerator next to the oven, as someone already mentioned above. Then there's the dishwasher issue. Maybe the island could be pushed back or rotated to face the refrigerator/oven wall. A rotated island orientation would allow for a longer island and make a nice prep area.

This is all pie in the sky until more information is given AND known. No one knows the architectural restraints on any of these suggestions. The only way to emphatically say that the owners goals can be achieved is if they have an unlimited budget. Right now I see red flags if they are considering DIY in order to make this work based on a limited budget. Older homes ALWAYS have issues. They are never an ‘issue’ in the negative sense if the money is there. Owner should be prepared to refinish floors in this room if any appliances are moved. Older homes are somewhat of a gamble and with any gamble it’s fun and rewarding if you don’t loose your shirt in the process. Good luck to them and to whoever actually buys it.

What's wrong with giving "pie-in-the-sky" ideas when that's what @tryingtounderstand has asked for?

You, are correct @think, more info is needed, however, as zmith, says “pie-in-sky” is perhaps ok and fun. So far, good thoughts re fridge placement and mystery for odd dw/sink configuration, good support from fori. More info to come, eventually.