First I'm glad you're going without the raised island. I have the raised island now, and honestly, as I get older, it's getting harder and harder to get up on those bar stools. LOL. Your layout now is very similar to mine with the exception that for me the fridge is across from the sink. Honestly? I find that there isn't enough room at the sink for prepping so I'm washing, having to bring it to the cooktop counters to prep and then bringing it back to the sink to get rid of the excess. I think naf naf's kitchen layout is a lot more functional. If that doesn't quite work because you want the fridge near the dining room, what about switching the sink area and the range? Like below. This will keep your island for eating, sitting at, etc and no dirty dishes. If your DH prefers to look out while cooking, you could put a small prep sink and trash drawer on the island, keep the sink and DW just for cleanup and secondary prep space and the range where it is with plenty of room on either side to spread out. I would end the wall at the end of the island counter and I do like the cookbook shelves.

The windows define the spaces. The dining at the end with the tall windows. I would plan to buy or build book case cabinetry ( both sides of fireplace), and totally hide the window with the "fence" view ., and do it to the height of the street facing window. Do not worry about the height at the dining end. Put the tv over the fire, and furnish the room. Save your money beyond that and address the rather ............ahem ............flooring.

If I were to have the sconces cut through the mirror, what trades person does this type of work? I have a 4 inch back splash from the counter, how far above the back splash is the mirror placed? Or, is it placed just on top of the back splash? Since the wall will be wallpapered is it best to bring the mirror frame up to the ceiling? This makes for a very elongated look. I have an 8ft ceiling, if I did not bring the mirror all the way up to the ceiling, the wall paper would show from top of mirror to the ceiling, would that give a choppy look? Thanks very much for your help.

I like the suggestion from groveraxle to mark out furniture locations with painters' tape. The other thing I've found useful is cardboard boxes - wine boxes are ok, bigger ones are better! And when you're ready, I love Ben Pentreath's wise suggestion to hire professional movers to shunt your rugs and furniture around for you. You sit back and feel pampered with a glass of wine, while they do all the sweating and grunting, and don't argue with your decisions like family members and good friends do! You may have to wait a couple of weeks for a good team, but when moving "season" calms down you should get lucky.