Here’s something to think about: when your family (currently 5) eat meals together, a table in the kitchen is a cozy location. I would suggest a round table which seats 6. 48”-round to 54”-round will work. A round table encourages conversation because you will be facing each other. It’s convenient to have a table in the kitchen if the kids need to do homework and may need help. It’s a great spot for any casual meal, coffee with friends, going through recipes, paying bills....many activities. You keep the dining room for company or special occasions. If you have a big gathering, some of the people can sit in the kitchen (kids?).
You want the dishwasher next to the sink, the stove-sink-refrigerator triangle convenient, a good prep zone in or near the triangle. A pantry for extra supplies and bulk goods. Enough storage for pots, pans, dishes, glassware, bakeware, flatware, and bigger serving pieces for bigger gatherings.

Trista, I think it makes sense to move the kitchen into the corner as you are doing. I can see in your hand-made sketch you have an L shape, but in the 3D rendering up top you have a J shape (with corner pantry?)

Which one is the current design?

I'm also curious about you saying both that you want open and you want privacy. Maybe you can articulate more how you picture people moving around and through your space and how the areas will be used.

Do you would do a table in the kitchen 🤔I’ve always wanted a island in my kitchen and husband wants to be able to eat at island. Would felizlady mind making a sketch of how you think it should be. Trying to figure out rebasheba means by the L shape and the J shape. We had talked of doing a corner pantry next to the dining room but didn’t know if I want corner pantry or a pantry in a cupboard. I have a pantry downstairs. Also my husband would like a coffee bar somewhere to.

Rather you would do a table in the kitchen 🤔?

Another question. Would you do a oven barn or just a stove and what about a prep sink in the island?

@Trista Penner you posted this which has cabinets on 3 walls = J shape

But then your pencil sketches show cabinets on 2 walls = L shape

Which one is the actual design?

What rebasheba meant was that you posted two different kitchen layouts. This is a J, the island is surrounded by 3 walls. If this kitchen is 13' wide then you don't have room for an island with the right clearances (24" on each wall for perimeter counters, 42" minimum clearance on both sides of the island would leave you with a 24" island).

This is an L shaped kitchen that you later posted with no third wall. This could accommodate an island given that there is nothing that really is there that you forgot to draw in and assuming that there is enough space between the island and your living room furniture.

Going off the L shaped layout, what if you did something like this (my drawing is 1 square = 12"):

You would keep the range on an outside wall for proper ventilation

Have proper counter distance between the range and sink

Have the sink centered on a window

Keep the fridge along the outside of the kitchen where non cooks can access without being in your way

Have proper overhang on two sides of the island to better promote a traditional dining experience - and have no obstructions/appliances in the way

What is your budget for these changes? How much DIY labor are you contributing?

No we don’t have a budget. Would it not work to have a prep sink?

Where would you put the microwave?

Everyone has a budget. Is it a 5K all DIY paint your cabinets, add a backsplash, plus some lighting and painting the walls? Is it 20K to keep everything as it, professionally paint it, new counters, backsplash and lighting professionally done? A 70K complete redo, with all new everything? A 100K redo with all new everything and adding structural changes? A 200K Houzz level project?

What is the house worth? 15-20% of that is usually a target to spend. Unless it’s on the lower valuation side. Those homes will spend more. Unless they DIY it all. What is worth it to you for changes? How soon will you sell and move? 3-4 years? Skip doing anything but cosmetics. 10-15 years? You’ll get a lot of use out of a change.

I would personally put the microwave in the island, something like this that can be close to the fridge. It also allows you to keep it off of the counter.

We are still trying to decide if we want to keep on renovating the house or just finish kitchen and try selling house to be moved off and start over new. The garage is no good so we need to either add on or just complete kitchen and start over fresh🤷🏻‍♀️. The house is around 50 years old. We just put all new windows and doors too.

Is your stove against a weight bearing wall? That red wall?'

Are you looking for a room dividing cabinet to support a weight bearing wall?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275071489713713540/ 

Are you swapping spaces?

Would you be interested interested in moving your entry door? If I understand your space available (and I may be misunderstanding what space you have), perhaps you could leave your sink by the window and reuse that plumbing where it is currently located and extend part of the living area into what is now dining and move the dining area to the front -- meaning you could end up with front to back family sitting area alongside both the kitchen and dining area. .

Is your stove against a weight bearing wall? That red wall?

Unless you're moving your stove to an outside wall, you might consider building your island where your red wall and stove are now located and put your stove back where it has been -- creating a T shaped island and enabling the wiring to be reused.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/327918416589026590/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/547750373425756643/

Not a pro, but wouldn't the cabinet/counter height of the island be several inches higher than a typical dining table? With your children being so young, I'd think a normal chair at a dining table would be easier on you and them plus I'd never place eating spaces around a cooktop.

I like having a landing zone for things to/from the fridge. Your planned fridge and ovens are next to each other and then you've got the dishwasher right next to the ovens. I've had three different shaped kitchens and haven't had that set up, but somehow that whole appliance area doesn't seem ideal or particularly functional to me.

Sorry I got the age of house wrong!!🤪 It’s around 35 years old.

We wouldn’t move,cause we have a commercial chicken barn, a shop and two machine sheds and grain bins. We plan on staying on this yard until we retire and we are only in our thirties. If anything we would just sale the house and build new on this yard.

...

In crunch mode at work this week. But, let me see what I can do over the weekend.

Awesome 👏🏼

I really like this!! I’m not huge on eating at the island but my husband is.

The other way I've seen this done is a bench seat attached to one end of the island and a moveable table with chairs. Make sure you add the right kind lighting for the island. It's very important.

I made my island solely a work space without seating. I've got indirect lighting to reflect off of white ceiling, two task lighting areas, and one strip of LEDs for the working end of the island where there is no induction cooktop. Plus I've got ceiling lights as well. And there's LED mood lighting which reflects onto the ceiling.

Could you please post an actual sketch of the entire floor? Trying to piece together the pictures is not working well...especially since the pictures don't show everything. (E.g., what is that "window" and "entry" to the left of the 17' wall? Is it an additional window and door b/w the current Kitchen and the new Kitchen?)

A sketch would be really helpful!

How big is the new Dining Room?

FYI...hand drawn is fine. It doesn't have to be to-scale, but it should accurately show how the rooms relate to each other and should include all interior & exterior doors. In addition to showing some key things that may be missing, it will help us see how traffic flows in, around, and through the Kitchen. Label the front entry and family entry in the sketch. The family entry is usually a garage or side entry, but it might not be. It's helpful to know which door you use to bring in groceries

Ok we’ll try and get one done. Thanks!

*sigh* I really wish you had come here for help before you made structural changes. Structural changes should not be made until you have a complete plan. Unfortunately, the windows you put in (size and/or location) have created serious constraints on your design, at least if you want it to be functional. I have a couple of ideas that are almost done, but they're not going to be ideal b/c of the windows.

Ya I know 😩but we didn’t want to lose the window looking towards the garden. Windows were on sale right then and we thought it would work but 💁🏽. It’s bugged me like crazy 😒😑might time have to take it out and put it somewhere else,

This window?

Here’s the other window

Which one has the view? The 48" one? Two things...

The 48" one could be wider, and that would help. Or, move it over another 9" or so to the left.

The 24" one...if that one came out, It would work better on that side. Is that the side with the garden view? If so, maybe move the 24" one and add another 24" one?

But, the 48" one is still an issue, primarily b/c you want so many tall items (oven cabinet & pantry in addition to the refrigerator and range/hood).

What is to the left of the 17' run? It looks like another window and a door...how wide are they? How far between them? Is the window at least 36" off the floor?

Well that’s very frustrating!! I had a big message typed and left the page to find a picture and I totally lost it🤔! Finally harvest is over and contractor has been busy on another project so the kitchen got put on the back burner. To answer your questions Buehl, we put the small window there cause we were planning on putting a corner pantry on the side that the dining room is on so we didn’t want to the kitchen to be to dim. Our days in winter are short and didn’t want to lose that south facing window. Now I wish it wasn’t there cause we’re not putting a corner pantry in, so the kitchen will be more open. Wasn’t very smart to plan that way at all! So here is another plan from the contractor but I’m just not liking how it looks. Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks!

Here’s the recent plan

The kitchen is finally done,except back splash and one more shelf in the corner and light over the sink. Could use suggestions on backsplash and lighting.

Your kitchen is not particularly large and you do have a peninsula already so consider a modest sized rolling kitchen cart island rather than a built in -- something you could use in the kitchen where and as needed but push against the dining room wall when you don't need it in the kitchen..

There is a island in my kitchen.

There will eventually be a small table up against the island.

Here’s some backsplash that we’re considering.

Here’s one light I found. I don’t know how to paste it into the picture?

Here’s a light that I like. How do I paste it into these pictures?

Here’s a light that I like. How do you paste it into the pictures?

Oops I see it sent twice 😬

Or rather three 🤣

LOL.
lovely kitchen. Love the pantry door. And all the wood. So so pretty. ( noticed those cute soaps too. Love them) I like the backsplash you chose. Pretty. I think it fits the vibe well. Sample a few in your space tho... the pendants are nice. But I think you can go bigger. And possibly even find something nicer...

Thanks! 😊 My husband built the door and did all the wood work. There is going to be a island range hood over the island cause my oven is in the island. The pendant is for over the sink.

Here’s the light for over the kitchen table.

Still planning since last year?
I like 4’-wide walkways in the kitchen so that a person can walk past a second person who has a cabinet door or drawer open. Plenty of space. If you want people to eat at the island overhang you probably need a minimum 5’ wide aisle on that side.

Yes!!! It’s finally almost finished! My husband did everything except the taping and muddling. He also is a chicken farmer and grain farmer so that’s why it took so long .🙃 There is gonna be a antique or rustic table up against the island where that ugly table is 😏

You guys are awesome. Makes the project and space so much more meaningful! Love it!

Awww thanks! It was a lot of work but so worth it!