I think you have a real handle on what you want but a decision this big needs people you don't know and never will's opinion. Support and agreement is good and these folks know there stuff but it's your place you will live there. You never mentioned budget but for the kitchen I don't believe your prices include labor, electrical and plumbing, do they? I do know some people that paid more for the kitchen remodel around here that you can buy a simple tired home for. 12X14 sunroom. I was in the sunroom business and didn't want one for my home, sweltering in summer and stone cold in winter. Yes you can heat and cool them and watch those utility bills skyrocket. They look to be initially inexpensive but once you factor in added utilities it is more cost effective to extend with traditional construction with a large focal window. They will tell you they will appreciate the value of your property greater than traditional construction but now that they have been in fashion for a while they can actually be a deal killer. We are looking at homes and don't want anything to do with a sunroom. Glass is glass, the greatest heat loss is through the glass in a home, until they invent a high insulating glass that is affordable that is simply a fact. R-3 per pane, maybe, you do the math. Full thermal break or not. No one would build a room and put in R-6 of insulation in a wall. Sorry I know you are focused on the kitchen but thought I might give you my spin on sunrooms.

I realized floor plans may be helpful, so I made two, quickly. These are the two spaces in which I would like to do the majority of updating. Thanks!

I would change the siding to a darker gray board and batten. Remove the shutters and paint the window trim, including the bow window, black. Change the front door to a stained wood, along with the garage door and porch railing. Add a modern black light fixture and 4" modern black house numbers stacked vertically to the left of the door. Paint the downspout to match the brick.

Thank you to everyone's suggestions thus far! I really appreciate it. I agree with everyone that a good deal of landscaping in front is a must and would go a long way towards adding curb appeal to the front of the home. Beverly- what if I have the budget to change the entire level of the roof over the single story part of the home? I was thinking I could do a dramatic higher A-pitch style roof to add visual interest and also enable the addition of a long front porch? We just keep envisioning a french country exterior and we will do what we can (within reason- not going the entire value of the house) to get that look. Changing the roof line (to either an A pitch or a multiple "peak" look) would also give the appearance of a larger home and also allow us to raise the ceiling heights in the main living area of the home - i.e., opening up the entire kitchen and living room to each other as well). I did get an estimate to move the AC unit and it was around $1500 so not cost prohibitive for what we want to do.