Thanks for the feedback! It's much appreciated. A little more about the table clearance (which I agree is an issue, I'm just not sure if it's a deal-breaker...) I think the layout as drawn has between 2-4'' extra inside the U (between oversized inside corner clearances and clearance around the range), so I don't think the aisle space between counter and table will be worse when built with a 1.5'' counter projection. Our stools project out 13'' at the bottom (widest part), so they shouldn't be much of an additional obstacle. And I just re-measured the wall/counter to table clearances around the dining table in our current rental and it's 33'', 32'', and 23.5'' (the fourth side is open to the living room), so I guess we're used to a tight squeeze! Although having the open side makes a world of difference, so I really am listening to your concerns. I do also worry that a shimmy that works when you've just turned 40 could become a more significant issue as we age, since we're planning/hoping for this to be our forever home. @bmorepanic - it's funny you should suggest that layout b/c I've been noticing a lot of home decor articles lately focused on having a large table in the center of the kitchen. So it would be both very stylish and of-the-moment, yet completely fitting in our Victorian. Your layout also makes clear that it would make our kitchen feel huge. The downside is I'm not sure I like the total openness between kitchen and dining. I was hoping to get away from the feeling of "I'm eating in the kitchen" - but that may be unavoidable in this space, so perhaps I should just really embrace it. I think I'd also miss having a seating option that's puts the sitter closer to the stander's eye level (if that makes any sense). Very good food for thought, though, as it's an option I hadn't seriously considered - thank you. @missingtheobvious - an earlier iteration of the design had smaller clearances in the corner (that couldn't accommodate a lazy susan or pull-out) but I forgot when we changed things around and decided that a 30'' range would be better than a 36'' one in this space that we now might be able to do more with that corner. I love the convenience of just having to open a drawer to grab a pot, but if we can really capture a significant chunk of new space, that would be great. I'm going to take @hollysprings advice from another thread and mock up some drawers to see what will really fit in them and see how much the extra space is needed. Thanks for the reminder to do this. @localeater - I purposefully didn't include any seating inside the U as I think I sit enough during the day and need to force myself to do more standing! ;) I love the idea of a round table. We've just been using the table we already have in the design (which has a leaf, so it can seat 8, 10 if we squeeze) but a round/oval table with a leaf would give us some more inches where we need them. I'm off to hunt for round tables so I can add them to the layout and see what that looks like! And great idea about swagging the light. In our current rental, when we extend the table, it's only possible to do so by moving it away from the center of the ceiling fixture, which drives me a bit batty. So I'm into a creative idea for being able to position the table in a way that allows for maximum traffic flow for everyday, while being able to move it for entertaining (when people expect to squeeze a bit anyway). Thank you all again for replying! It's really helpful to hear your ideas and think about my reaction to them, in terms of clarifying the priorities and concessions I'm willing to make.

I'd shut off the door to garage/car port if not used, leave the doors into LR if possible - are they glass to let more light into the 'unsun room'? if not, I'd put in glass doors, and put sheers on the sunroom side. put in a skylight, close off the doorway into the kitchen and make a doorway into DR (where windows are now). and use the sunroom as a TV room study/office, computer room??? then in DR you'd have a partial wall ( along sunroom side) to put shallow cabinets. pantry cab? hutch with glass doors for dishes? I'd keep the kitchen where it is to see out that window into backyard (I love that myself). I'd keep the sink where it is - put as much window over it as possible - no upper cabs over sink wall. on the turn from the sink to the right I'd run cabs with stove toward the end of that wall - and if you really need a peninsula area (for dh to sit and talk to you while you cook - or you to talk to him while HE cooks) just put a nubby one at the end there part the stove (coming off of what is now door to sunroom and). put the glass doors (maybe not sliding tho) to the left of sink area/counter. on the other wall (counter and fridge now? I can't read the wording on the LO - bad eyes) I'd put a counter depth fridge with a bit of cab/counter on either side of it for a landing pad. another possibility would be to swap the stove and fridge - setting the fridge back into the ? area in the sunroom. then you could also look out the back glass door while cooking. tho I think I'd like the fridge more on the other wall - out of work area (in case dh/ someone wants a drink/ice etc while I'm cooking) - and so dh could sit at counter top and talk to me. I doubt dh would be sitting there to talk to you while you are taking things out of/putting into the fridge - lol!

If you have friends and family who are willing to help, and you plan on doing a substantial amount of DIY, it can be done, but plan on living in a construction zone for a very long time. We added on a story-and-a-half (to match the bungalow style) seven years ago--360sf downstairs, small entry overhang with a patio, and a bedroom above, breaking through the existing roof where a knee-wall closet had been. We paid a local contractor to do the framing and finish the outside, except for painting (which my mother, sisters, and I did--we actually painted the whole exterior). IIRC, the contractor's fee was about $25,000--and did not include electrical, which we bartered with a neighbor who is a master electrician. We gradually finished the inside ourselves--and I do mean gradually--I just finished the bedroom last November. Here are my ideas, including some notes. You might not like them, but you asked WWYD? For that budget I'd compromise, choose the important things--and also consider what will be important in the next 10-15 years while your younger children are still living at home. I'd turn the LR on the left into a first floor bedroom, moving the entry to the other side, which will be the LR/TV room. The master in my house is on the first floor (front left), with kids' rooms upstairs, and I love it. Soon your little ones will be spending more time in their rooms, and with a bedroom downstairs, aging in place, for you, is an easier transition. I might also cantilever a closet with a shed roof, but I don't know if that would meet code in your area--bungalows often had a cantilevered bump-out along the side. The alternative is to leave the LR on the left side and put the bedroom on the right, where it seems that a bedroom was once located--it already has a closet, and the entry would not need to be changed. Then there is no option to have an entry to the bathroom, but it's just across the hall. The bath is expanded, with stacked W/D sharing plumbing. Can the dryer be vented with the bathroom vent? Other than building in the back porch and BR above (see next photo), and running new plumbing/electrical, construction is mostly moving doors, adding walls, and finishing, which can be DIY. I've noted some options--new back entry, opening between DR and LR--since we don't have a lot of info about which kind of plan you'd prefer. Also, you didn't note how much of the new kitchen you want to keep and/or re-use. Click to enlarge: On the second floor, I've added a small bedroom over the enclosed porch, and made the bathroom a full bath, which makes the existing bedroom smaller, but closer in size to the new bedroom--less fighting between daughters. ;) I've noted small doors to access storage in the eaves, and made a nice closet along the right side, for extra clothing storage. Alternately, you could increase the size of BR#3 (red rectangle), by building it out to include a cantilevered overhang, over the downstairs porch entry (porch will be enclosed). That BR could be a sleeping room for both girls, with their closets along the right side wall. Bedroom #2 would still be yours, and the LR and TV rooms downstairs would both be in the front of the house. Another idea, suited to an older home: I've thrown a lot of ideas at you--some might be helpful, some might be crazy, but trying to remodel an older home requires some work-arounds. ;) For more ideas, you can post in the Kitchens forum--some of the folks who post there also like to do whole-house layouts. And, you can post in the Smaller Homes forum for support from like-minded people. As Greendesigns suggested, it might be better to consider moving, rather than invest in changes that aren't ideal. Good luck!

I'm afraid I don't fully understand the plans. Where is the window in the little eating area (below the AC, beside the one sad red chair)? My first thought was what about a kitchen with no upper cabinets? You could run lower cabs / countertops right to that half wall above the living area, getting rid of the "bridge" of upper cabinets. Maybe a shallow pantry cabinet on the load bearing wall, and possibly shallower cabinets opposite it as well depending on the aisle space available.