Sorry for the mix-up, pepper. I guess I think of "adjacent" as having a corner between the sink and range, and "next to" on the same straight counter run. I think it would be very convenient to have one just around the corner from the other as it would only require a couple of steps from one to the other, as long as there's enough prep room. I was so disappointed to have to stop the project, just after the plans were basically finished and just before we signed with a contractor, that I put everything dealing with plans into a box in the garage. Therefore, I'll have to rely on my memory-- uh-oh! I considered the possibility of adding a lowered section onto the island to serve as a kitchen table, as I don't care for island seating. In that way I thought I could use the current nook space in some capacity, but because it bumps out from the other wall and has a window, I realized that I wouldn't be able to put a longed-for hutch there (close to dw,) nor the fridge, which would have freed up space elsewhere. If I brought the opening to the entry closer to the sink wall, I could reconfigure on the other side of the door, but that would force me to use a prep sink, which I'm not sure I want to do, as well as have the traffic flow take a turn. Right now, my galley kitchen has the sink and stovetop separated by the doorway which means traffic is constantly in my way when I'm cooking. So, back I went to the original plan. My restrictions that force me back are: --Sink under the window (I get so bored too!) --Stovetop or range close-ish to sink and not on island, due to my messy (Indian) cooking style. --Traffic out of my way while cooking! --A separate kitchen table (I just feel more comfortable with this.) --Still can't decide whether a prep sink will be helpful to me --Enclosed kitchen, meaning not open to the family room because of forementioned messy cooking. --Hope to have a raised dw due to back problems, but probably no room for a counter between it and the sink. This is what led me to consider using the nook space for more counter space and/or hutch. My traffic flow goes from what would be your dining room/living room door to family room (almost same location for me.) We intend to move a door that is currently near the table that leads to the garage, to the family room instead. What is your doorway to the basement, study, etc. is mine into the dining area; (it's too small to be called a proper dining room--I'm in a ranch in No. Cal.) You have more space than I will (someday!) but mine will also be mostly a square with the same doorway locations. Those doorways dictate quite a lot! Hope I didn't go too off-topic.

I think that sectional is really nice for your space. There are lots of sectional haters on this site, but many of us who have them, love them. It's a nice scale and will give you lots of lounging space, as well as seating without so many arms (as with sofa + chairs) taking up space. You could probably (it looks like it) add an armchair or small recliner if you want one, where the wood armchair is now (by the sliding door). Not sure what color you're thinking but that green in the ad is yummy and would look nice in the forest setting. Maybe an upholstered chair in a print with green an blue to bring in the water element you want - also pillows and rug to bring them all together. Have fun! eta: I see in rereading you're thinking of greige for the sectional. If you want it to be more fun than your home, I'd rethink that and commit to a color. Something that would be more fun on a dark, dreary day than greige. From your Pinterest board...look how yummy and fun this color is - this would warm you up on a cold, snowy day:

Hopefully this will give you some food for thought. Your goals are: 1. I don't want anything super big or that puts me out on display in the middle of my yard. Privacy is a concern. 2. make a connection between the deck steps and the basement areaway. That could be a simple as a pathway. But if you fill the space with toddler toys, fire pit, and the chairs around it, you need the space to be even bigger 3. The actual patio space will be used for some of my toddler's toys, Will this be a toy box? or storage for tricycles etc? 4. possibly the grill (it's currently on the deck), and for Since the grill will be used often in the late afternoon, and you have the west sun heating things up, the deck must be a really hot spot to grill currently. Could you locate the grill in a shadier part of the yard? 5. either a propane or wood fire pit with chairs around it, the fire pit will not be built in. You should have the fire pit at least 10-15 ft away from the house. And you 'll need some substantial space around it for chairs. You don't want to be too close to it. You said you don't want anything super big but you'll be surprised how much space you need outdoors to feel comfortable next to a fire pit. Here's something to think about. Gray is the paving, dark green is planting beds (some of which will have tall shrub and trees) and the pale green is grass. This plan will give you a good size patio for your fire pit, and you can even put the grill there if that area is shady at grill-times. The play area is nice and close to the house for supervision. The large area of paving is perfect for tricycle play, and the 2 areas of grass can still be used for things like ball games since there are no planting beds separating them. The view of the patio and fire pit draws the eye to the back of your property, making it seem larger and an inviting destination. If you put in your 5 ft planting beds along the property line that will define them adequately, with no need for the rail fence. Big shrubs along the property line will give you privacy. Hydrangeas are one example of a shrub that grows well and blooms in shade, and comes in every height from a foot to 15 feet. The large pannicle hydrangeas such as Limelight fill a lot of space, cutting down on the costs of planting such large beds, since you only need a few. Because the paving hooks up all the areas you want to use, the backyard is usable even when the grass is wet or muddy in early spring. The paving could be done in stages as the budget allows. I think a simple paving would look best with such a large area - no need for borders or stamping. The shape is what gives it interest. Areas between houses and beside your morning room and deck are hard to grow grass because of the shade, and this plan will, I think, keep the grass in the sunny areas where it will grow well even when it gets hard use as a play area. Grass in shady areas is much more fragile. Hope you can use some of these ideas!

Before you fill in the space consider whether you would like a shaded area near the pool and whether you have an opportunity here to sink supports for a structure. Then find out from a pro what you can do to safely a durably bring it level with the rest of the concrete. If it can be done then draw up a layout of how you want to arrange seating for eating and relaxing or shade. Either your new seating arrangements will cover up the patched over area to such an extent any mismatch is trivial or you‘ll want to think about how to make lemonade out of a lemon and iuse the patched over area as one element of larger decorative design on the concrete that you create. There are a zillion sites on the web for creating designs on concret.