If you are trying to avoid closing in a small space with a lot of tall cabinetry on both sides, look at putting in a 12" pantry tower that would open by pulling out towards what I think would be your kitchen (in the direction of the two small pictures. That could go to the edge and you would have a small space behind it for a small cabinet -- bookshelves, charging station, secret space behind a picture, mirror, chalkboard or other message center and the cabinet could house pens, pencils, tape, stapler, paper clips, rubber bandsm charging cords -- those things that tend to clutter a "junk drawer" (like a medicine cabinet -- could even use a medicine cabinet, but think of message center/charging purposes). The whole wall could be dry walled and give you a space for art, etc. or a wall your table could be placed against if you want to change up the traffic flow and give more room by the other wall of cabinets. Not seeing the whole space, you description of a small space with tall cabinets on either side and a table in the middle seems a bit uncomfortable to me. I'd try to think outside the box or look at putting some of that storage elsewhere, combining it with something else or seeing if I really needed that much stored all the time. If you do, try to get creative. I do like the hutch and glass cabinet ideas, but I also like the idea of something on one wall and leaving one wall more open. Maybe you could combine those ideas?

the old glass cabinet had heavy leaded glass and a very wide door. Yes, now that you say it, I think it's the width that I don't like. It's so much wider than the other cabinets, making it seem like "odd man out". I'm not surprised to hear you say that the plate racks /small drawers were pretty much useless. Interesting. I like to analyze just what it is that I like /don't like.

this layout looks nice, but you need two sofas facing each other, or some type of sectional. Any chance of getting new furniture down the road? something like this layout This entire set up (color, rug pillows and table) would be perfect in your room Another layout you could try as for the other wall, lots of ideas. do the whole wall in the shiplap,,,,and (here's many ideas) do a built in bench or nook just like this one. (ignore the fireplace). you'd do the same size shiplap that you already have shown here w/two benches, storage, shelving Do the entire think like shown here in an accent color. put a little wood bench under the picture in the middle. See how this wall was done? ignore the fireplace. Set up your furniture like this for the tv on the other wall. on this one they did a black slat wood w/cabinets on either side or, do some trim molding on either side and float some cabinets w/decor items bookcases w/the shiplap for the back panel paint the sides black, shiplap w/natural wood shelving. on one side do a desk if you need one. other side do a cabinet of some sort So many ideas you could do.

If you bump out your lower cabinets around the range for more counterspace, you will have more freedom with backsplash decision as your range won't be butt-up against it. You can then have deeper (front-to-back) upper (if any) and lower cabinets. Mine are like that and nobody notices that they are weird. :) I do have all my drawers extending all the way back because I needed the storage, unlike Lucky. You probably don't need it either with that envious pantry space. (Psst, put a sink in your laundry room while you're at it, if you didn't just forget to draw one in.) If you don't have the tower cabinets framing the range, you can squeeze in a prep sink on one side (although with this space, it might make more sense to put it on the island unless the island is for seating).