If removing the wall between kitchen and dining, try a dining island with a table built into it. Check this link for examples and ideas.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/query/island-table/nqrwns

I have a 12x12 kitchen with a 2x4 island. I hate the damn thing. It's in the way all the time. What if you knock down the wall, but keep those base cabinets with stools along them on the dining room side? I'm not sure where your fridge would end up. But I don't know where it will end up if you put in an island either.

Thanks. I was going to move the dishwasher to the right of the sink and place the fridge to the left of the sink with cabinets in between.

Honestly I also think it's too small to handle the island

You'd be loosing both on storage and space

If you want to open it more..what about larger opening between the kitchen and the dining more to the middle, while prolonging a bit that part where the door currently is? You'll get another wall you can utilize (hopefully)-and a sense of openness between two spaces.

I don't have tools to show what I'm suggesting, unfortunately..basically you don't take the whole wall out but leave shortened part of it where the fridge currently is, and prolong it where the door currently is..no idea how the ceilings look like in your space..photo would be helpful

If no cabinets will be put on the stair wall like you show, a 3'x5.5' island could likely be added, if you eliminate the dining room wall. Keep the aisles around 42" if possible. The refrigerator can go next to your dishwasher when the wall comes down. Mock it up with some big boxes and see how you like it.

I think you can manage an island approximately 27 "w x 72" if you use 12" deep wall cabinets with a waterfall edge to give it some weight. And use a counter-depth refrigerator.

Lincoln Square Kitchen Featured in House Beautiful · More Info

If you are looking for something inexpensive, movable and cute, Ikea makes a nice island that I think would fit at 30" x 49" I think it part of the Tornviken series.

IKEA Kitchen · More Info

First question is: Do you want a table in your dining room area or are you planning on using the dining room space for a larger kitchen and no table? If you still want a table in that space and the kitchen footprint will remain the same, I don't think you have room for an island and instead would use a peninsula. When the wall comes down, I would switch the placement of the stove and the refrigerator, placing the stove on the peninsula and moving the refrigerator over to the stove wall. I would also place the refrigerator at the end of that wall, instead of in the center where the stove was. A counter depth fridge would be well worth the investment as well. You may have room to pick up additional storage along the wall where the basement stairs are by using 12 inch deep base cabinets with uppers above.

Is your refrigerator going to be moved to beneath the stairs or ... where?

Seems too small for an island, especially since you need access to your family room via the side of kitchen ,

If you are redoing your entire kitchen, you could put both your refrigerator and stove on the same wall with a small countertop between and on each side of each appliance.

Something to consider in lieu of an "island" is a room dividing cabinet accessible from both sides.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251638697907946889/?lp=true

Yes it will be too cramped.

It's all math. You have a total of 11.5 which translates to 137"

137" - 25.5" (width of perimeter counter including countertop) = 111.5"

111.5" - 42" (the absolute minimum aisle width between perimeter and island) = 69.5"

69.5" - 40.5" (24" for cabinets + 15" for comfortable seating at the island + 1.5" for counter overhang on working side of island) = 29"

The minimum passing space if there is no one sitting there is 36". You do not have enough room.

^ Rotate the island so it's parallel to the staircase. Keep staircase wall clear and you'd have room.

144" - 25.5" - 42" = 76.5.

76.5" - 38" island width = 38.5".

Have seating on short end of island extending a bit into the dining space.

I think if your kitchen was open to the dining room with plenty of room for traffic to flow freely through the kitchen you won't feel the need for counter seating. 9.10 is kind of tight for a dining room that leads to the back door. Something open like this will help with that. On the back wall I put a shallow hutch for dish storage, but you could put a small wall/fold up table there if you still feel like you want counter height seating. To the right of the fridge is a microwave cabinet (not a wall oven.)

I would move the fridge to the wall where the stove currently lives, move the stove to the corner between where it is now and the sink (corner cabinets are a useless waste of space anyway).

Move the sink and dw to the left and create a 3' peninsula where the wall and refrigerator are currently located. It will shrink the dining space by 1 foot, but still leave room for a table and seating at the peninsula. Add a cupboard opening to the back of the peninsula so you can access the corner cabinet from the dining room.