live_wire_oak: not sure of I have 60" to allow for as a fixed piece but was thinking of something moveable so that I can allow more space when needed. Is this a reasonable idea? ellessebee: yes, essentially a counter height dining table/ kid work table/ everything table! I'm starting to feel like my area just isn't right for the 48" deep island with seating that I want and a true dining table with the appropriate spacing between to differentiate the spaces. Using a 36-40" deep work island (with smaller overhang for perching rather than sitting) and another parallel to it (48"), maybe my space would work better. Here's a sketch I've been playing with:

You know, I agree with you that the island perpendicular to the window wall doesn't feel as right as the island parallel to the window wall. Interesting. I stopped and thought about why that would be. My first thought was that, with the island perpendicular to the window wall, the end of the island closest to the living room now feels as if it's intruding into the walkway between the kitchen and living room. Even though the island ends in line with the side of the fridge closest to the living room, the island still feels as if it's intruding. However, when I look at the island parallel to the window, I also think the end of the island closest to the dining room feels as if it is intruding into the dining room. Even though the island ends in line with the side of the perimeter cabinet closest to the dining room, the island still feels as if it's intruding. So when you're standing in the living room, you like the perpendicular-to-the-window-wall island orientation less (because the island feels as if it's intruding towards you). And when you're standing in the dining room, you'll like the parallel-to-the-window-wall island orientation less (because the island feels as if it's intruding towards you). Given all that, I actually think this shape island (posted earlier upthread) feels the best from both perspectives: That is because the island is completely and clearly inside the invisible borders of the kitchen as delineated by the side of the fridge closest to the living room and the side of the perimeter cabinet closest to the dining room. A square (ish) island doesn't even touch the borders -- it's well inside them by a foot or two, making it impossible for the island to feel as if it's intruding into another room. This home layout is so open that it lacks some of the normal cues (walls/doorways/floor changes) marking where the kitchen ends and another room begins. So in this island's case, a setback from the technical kitchen border helps to clarify things. The island's definitely in the kitchen and only in the kitchen. Here is an edited version that stops the island a foot or two short of the borders in both directions: I'd recommend having seating just on the living room side of the island. Seating on the dining room side puts those chairs back to back with dining room chairs, and I always think that looks/functions a bit oddly.

I don't know how much baking or cooking you have time to do, or if you have special diet needs for your family that might be a bit more intense, but your wall is so nice, a great wall oven would fit nicely wherever it is easiest and efficient, like do you do alot of pot roasts or long term baking? if you do, you will love the wall oven on that wall your frig is on. IF you wonder what to do, given my experience with the drop in unit not being as quality overall typically as a cook top and wall oven, but the oven is larger than a built in oven,I think, typically. So, if you really wonder, and if you enjoy baking things for the family like a roast and a pie at the same time or pies and cookies that require alot of in and out, you might consider a drop in unit, just for the economics of getting the 2nd oven area, as well as the wall unit oven on your pantry/frig wall cabinet area.... Than you get the effect of that table top cooktop, and the wall oven, and you have the lower oven for less money than a 2nd built in oven would ever be! Find yourself the best quality built in oven you might want, for the wall where the frig is, and than, knowing that a larger oven is typically part of the drop in range unit, get the nicest one you can either afford or tolerate LOL. That to me, IF YOU DON'T need the lower storage below the cooktop, of course, would be heaven. You have the 2nd built in oven, they typically will hold a standard roaster, but not a roaster and a sheet of brown n' serve rolls, or muffins also.....and you have the oven below the drop in range unit if you need it. Than, you can dedicate all the island storage on the dining room side of your island to the oven and stovetop cookware. If you haven't thought of that before, well, that's what you get when you go asking for help. Too many good ideas!? LOL I worked full time, and loved to have company for all the occassions that go with kids growing up, and to have that 2nd oven, just in case I needed it to keep the covered dishes warm that folks brought or to catch the overflow on the days when all 4 of us were feeling like baking projects for bake sales or food competitions with 4 H or the like.. What a nice kitchen you are going to enjoy! no matter how you determine in the end. I don't care for convection ovens too much, unless you want to bake something covered well(not home made pizza. HAHA) but a gas oven and an electric oven, would be nice options too. If you have a gas drop in unit, get an electric oven built in on your pantry wall, maybe??. I have no experience with the units where the cooktop is gas and the attached oven is electric or vice versa..tho I have seen them in stores the past 10 or 15 years? if that long..

I agree about the comfort I am tall so another issue altogether. 18” seats are generally pretty comfy both at the table for height and the seat allows most adults to touch the floor. IMO those chairs hubby likes went bye bye in the 80s don’t bring them back. I think you need to bboth go to sit on chairs to find one you can both agree on. I do think leather is not as comfortable as a nice padded fabric seat but maybe in the kitchen they might work. IMO you do not want big clunky chairs on casters for sure. I am not so sure they need to match the DR I have a large table that can seat 12 and I never want to have 12 chairs sitting at it so we have 6 chairs that match and we bring another 6 in from outside for 12 it works and both styles are quite comfortable.