have you had your budget reviewed in detail. Costs of everything are spiralling. A carpenter friend just said lumber has almost 100% increased in price. This will be really expensive. Personally, for the expense I'd be sure the first floor becomes " age in place" with a room that is closed off.... can be a bedroom...office at the onset....a FULL bath. You have two living zones..two eating areas ..oversized kitchen and still a half bath only ...no secondary room with closed off feature which gives you "flex". You can do as you wish..this is expensive and yet not certain the space usage would be my choice.

I like it. What about a command center by one of the doors and mudroom storage by the other?

The DW should not be located between the sink and range, in the primary prep space. When the door is open it will block access to that corner. However, that layout is begging for a prep sink, so location of DW is not as important. I'd still put it to the right of the main sink, with dish storage in cabinets to the right, and relocate the fridge to the end of the other wall. A tall cabinet to the left of the fridge could house the MW (or, drawer MW in island), snack center, or extra mudroom storage.

It looks as if there will be a pinch point between the corner of the pantry and the sectional seating.

Here's a mudroom in the front...

@er612 Thanks for the design updates! I wish I could do a mudroom in the front - while my pic doesn't doesn't show it right there in the corner is a coat closet and then next to the that and more importantly is a radiator. I like the better use of the existing living room. I really need an office space and was trying to figure house how to incorporate a closed off office space within that area. But haven't gotten there yet.

For the addition are 3 of those walls all exterior? If so I would have windows on all three sides with the exception if one of the sides faces west.

Where is your back yard and what is in your backyard? How do you use your backyard?

Where is parking?

Where is the door out of the dining leading to?

Do you want to be able to see straight into your kitchen from the front door? I know you do now, but does that bother you at all?

I think you might save yourself some money if you make the pantry accessible from the area marked hallway. This would also be closer to the kitchen and doing so you could make it a bit larger and also get rid of that pinch point already pointed out.

Oh and if you make the opening into the kitchen less wide from the hallway that would also save some money. The less you need to open up the existing exterior wall and add openings there it will save yourself some money. I would rather spend that money where it matters more to have it open such as between the dining and family room.

I I don’t want to hijack your post, but could you tell me what design program you are using? Thanks!

@shayvet It’s called magicplan - downloaded from the App Store on my iPhone phone. It’s pretty basic but has allowed me to use the plans from my architect and then adjust things and see it with furniture and such.

I would want my mudroom space as close to the entry I leave when coming and going to and from my home. I would not care about backyard access—unless you are farming or doing dirty things and need a real mud room. If you want cubbies and shoe storage for a urban or suburban family, go with something near your primary exit point. At my house, we went as close to the garage door as we could and put in this. I do love it as a family convenience, it makes a huge difference in containing shoes, jackets, backpacks, etc. It’s visible from our casual living space, and that’s not ideal, but it’s worth it to me to have this organizational space.

Thank you peony421! Best of luck with your new addition.

@muriel I love the idea of cubbies and I agree I think where I placed them in my drawing makes the best space.