I'm less concerned about walking in and seeing the shower right off than I am about how crowded the 2nd sink is next to the tub. The way you've drawn it, it looks as if anyone standing at the sink would be smack up against the tub surround. Where do you envision placing the shower door? At the left end where there's empty space? Or next to the sink? The former would not crowd the sink; the latter would mean that you'd have to reach a long way in to turn on the water, getting wet in the process. You've drawn an L island before and it's not the shape I have an issue with, it's the oodles of empty space it leaves in the middle of your kitchen in this latest version. Unless you intend to get an integrated, built-in fridge, you'll have less than a 48" aisle between seating area and fridge. I don't think I'd like to sit with my back to the fridge, getting a blast of cold air each time it is opened. Would you consider this type of kitchen seating instead? [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/amy-birdsong-traditional-kitchen-phvw-vp~66441) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Suffolk Kitchen & Bath Designers Amy Birdsong [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/hokanson-siller-traditional-kitchen-houston-phvw-vp~4261671) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Bellaire Home Builders Hann Builders [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-kitchen-with-walnut-table-and-banquette-for-family-of-four-eclectic-kitchen-newark-phvw-vp~133967) [Eclectic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by Morristown Interior Designers & Decorators Marlene Wangenheim AKBD, CAPS, Allied Member ASID [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/loft-condo-renovation-industrial-kitchen-chicago-phvw-vp~10913310) [Industrial Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/industrial-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2113) by Chicago Architects & Building Designers Besch Design, Ltd. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/alamo-ca-farmhouse-full-service-design-firm-kitchen-farmhouse-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~14919678) [Farmhouse Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2114) by Lafayette Interior Designers & Decorators LMK Interiors If your heart is set on a L island, flip it so that seating is against the lower wall of the kitchen not the upper working part of the kitchen. Here's one L- island worth considering: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/easton-maryland-traditional-kitchen-with-lake-view-traditional-kitchen-baltimore-phvw-vp~6447773) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Chevy Chase Kitchen & Bath Designers Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath This one is dramatic: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-essex-phvw-vp~15778135) [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by East Anglia Kitchen Designers & Remodelers Nicholas Anthony Why have you drawn narrow cabs on each side of the DW? I'd move the DW next to the sink, combine these 2 narrow cabs for a decently sized cab between DW and fridge. Also, it looks like you've allocated too much space for wall ovens. A 30" - 32" wide cab is generally enough for 30" wall ovens. How do you foresee using the pantry, counter and shelving at the bottom end of the kitchen?

Thanks for the new comments! As I mentioned before I am working on being able to post a much more detailed floorplan. Thanks for hanging in there with me! jejvtr- Thanks for your detailed observations! Some great thoughts. To answer your Qs: Existing fireplace is not appealing - it's old and ugly. Hard to see from floorplan, but the hood doesn't impinge on the masonry fireplace - it's actually in front of one of two existing pantry closets that flank the existing fireplace (this room was originally a tiny den). This wall gave us a lot of headaches - considered a wall of pantry closets surrounding a fireplace with the kitchen on other side of room, but this was a much less functional use of space and would also have been $$$$. I really appreciate the comments about issues involved in covering over the FP - will definitely ask ALL of those Qs. Range - A range is not my first choice - I prefer two full sized ovens, and not to have to bend down, but I'd consider, if it would really help matters (they do look great). Base cabinets - definitely want drawers for pots and pans - they are just not shown yet. Pantry - an extension of one of the existing ones. Re: adding a cabinet to the right of the sink - I can make that happen by reducing the size of that window. Only issue is that the pane size won't then match what is in the rest of the back of the house, but that doesn't bother me - it also gives a natural ending place for backsplash. No room for a wrap around hutch there, unfortunately. Thanks very much for taking the time to look at this with me! mjlb- Thank you -loved the drawing! I am especially excited about the idea of bringing down that corner cabinet to the counter - I think that would, indeed, give some balance to the run. I think you are also on to something as far as switching the position of the fridge - it's not that much farther away from the window sink and becomes easier to access for others. If I end up putting a primary sink in that island, it's like having two zones and remains very close. I like the concept of open shelves there, too. Verry interesting. To answer your other Qs: As mentioned, we can reduce that window and make room for a cabinet to the right of sink. I thought of a single post lamp fixture. Only Q is whether it would provide adequate light for the current 9' island. I have given some thought to the idea of two smaller islands, too. However, I'm also thinking of moving the sink to the middle of that island and making it a primary sink, in which case I'd need pullouts for trash, a dishwasher etc. But I would consider. Main entry near pantry is from the front of the house and the foyer/main hallway The room "below" the built in desk is the existing (already decorated) living room. Your point that the old part of the kitchen seems vacant is well taken. I felt that it was even worse when we tried to design a plan that was flipped the other way, though. Bigger is not always easier to design -unfortunately walls are not always able to go in the right places! I like your idea to try to break up the uninterrupted built in cabinets against the wall look. - a separate hutch, rounded edges, a desk designed to look like a desk, rather than a built in , etc. I think that with this comment you really got to the heart of one of the major things bothering me about the space. Thanks again for all your help! segbrown- Thanks for your suggestion! I especially like the idea of ending the island where the ceiling height changes. I will look into this. Maybe there is some creative way to incorporate the island with that in mind. I do think there is an issue with turning the island 90 degrees in that it can't be too long before impinging on the breakfast room space. Thanks so much!

The dining room seems like such wasted space for a small family. It's so big that even with a huge table, they've had to add two random chairs at the end to fill the space, that most likely will never be used. With young children you will likely retrofit this space with doors and stick all their toys and massive amounts of stuff in there and let them watch loud awful tv and spill yogurt. :) It seems like such a shame to have enough money for a huge home and then waste the space with high foyers and quiet unused dining rooms that no one spends time in. Consider your hobbies, your husband's hobbies, the way you expect to use your house, work from home, etc. I'm always surprised to see houses with only 4 bedrooms where all the secondary bedrooms are 16x16 or more. Have you seen a room like this for a child? Even a master this size needs to buy extra furniture with large beds, multiple dressers, a bench, etc. Most people want a twin or full bed for a child, a dresser, a nightstand, and a closet. Maybe a desk. A 10x12 or 12x14 room is plenty big for that without it being a challenge to fill the space or line the walls with plastic kitchens. You could make those rooms human sized and use the extra space for a library, office, craft room, den, kids tv space, anything.

I think you've done about the best you can do. When a room is really busy with odd angles, you have to go a bit simpler with the decor and eliminate clutter. I think your mock up looks a lot better than reality because the clutter is gone. For starters, the front door opens the wrong way into the room, IMO. Can you reverse that so you're opening up to a welcoming place to sit and not the TV screen? If you need more seating for entertaining, consider a round hassock for your coffee table so it can double as seating. Use a tray on it and keep it about the size of your table now. The room can't handle a larger one. Place a chair left of the fireplace. Add a large colorful piece of art 5" above the mantel. It can be as wide as the firebox opening. To tackle the wall over the sofa, I would use the pieces you have already to make a gallery that actually just incorporates the window that's there with the stained glass. Center the sofa on that entire wall and then plan your gallery to work above it just like the window does (at the same height and with a similar volume.) Eliminate the shelves. Maybe use them right of the window in the adjoining room, or the kitchen.