Your current layout appears woefully short on continuous counterspace. It does not have a long enough span to set down a large pan and bowl and plate up 4 dinner plates. Or to set down a mixer and 2 cookie sheets. Where do you anticipate eating on a daily basis? Your kitchen is quite large, but does not have the functionality it should due to most of its square footage being walkways. If that were my space to work with, I would rotate the island 90 degrees, make it larger, not have the prep sink centered, but have it across from the fridge, have the island surface all the same height, have the "work" side of the island rectangular, and perhaps do a curve on the seating side of the island. Or do all of that with no curve and no stool seating, but do a step-down counter off the island with 2 chairs on the short end by the stairs.

I like your idea to have a curved patio type entrance, easier to maintain also : ) You can use potted plants then. I really like to use night lighting so a yard looks just as nice at night as in the daytime too. I also agree about a large boulder in front....takes up space, NO maintenance, looks nice with night lighting and you could have it made to have water flowing from the top for ambiance for the entrance : ) I'd add some small growing shrubs or perennials that flower to add some color. A bit of yellow maybe? Daylilies are nice and low maintenance. If you don't like to weed and water I go with mulch around the rock and perennials too. Not sure if it is common to add auto sprinklers in your area but it helps keep plants alive if you're very busy. If you want ZERO maintenance along the side you could go with a colored stone from fence to sidewalk and put in a few shrubs there to break it up a bit. I agree with toning down the white trim with a neutral color. Also I noticed the window to the right doesn't have shutters, so it looks a bit bare comparing to the other window. Here is a quick mock up. I'm off to bed now, so hope this helps a bit : ) Some visual ideas : )

Ah thanks JustLaugh. I am most likely getting the Glenwood and I already have a sort of very pale oatmeal/creme chair that I need it to go with. I don’t want it to look like I tried to match that and failed. Your room is going to be really pretty because it looks like you can go so many directions. The H&M website drives me nuts because the pictures on there don’t look like the leather samples when you get them.

Smamattacker, you make a point about the cabinet color changes. Another on that thread said the lighting was blown up for the 'after' pic... While I agree the lighting is definitely different, and possibly enhanced in photo, if you read the thread, the cabinet color wasn't changed. Anther tip I read on Maria's site for a minor change with big impact related to Charlene's kitchen is painting the dark grout (done correctly it can last many years) the lightest tone in the floor tile. Also, painting the window trim a very light color that matches the undertones of the new backsplash; right now it competes, not contrasts, with the kitchen. It's a lovely kitchen. With the right changes, I believe you can make it a timeless and enjoyable space you will enjoy for years to come.