Is the optional sunroom door in place?

How about a pair of chairs flanking the slider, each with its own ceramic garden stool table for coffee? By the fixed door you could add a slim floor or reading lamp to make a reading nook or a nice area to peruse cookbooks and do meal planning.

@everdebz Sunroom door is not in place (we're not adding the sun room). We did add the corner cabinets as it seemed to be an awkward empty corner otherwise.

@decoenthusiaste My concern is putting things in front of the operational side and being able to get out (once we add a deck). Do you think there's sufficient space for flanking chairs?

Well, now you know you do not have a custom builder; you have a production builder.

Nothing wrong with that, as his final cost to you is less than if you had a custom builder. The con is there is very little wiggle room for changing what comes with the build.

I think extending the island is a great idea. Also, there is no reason to fill the slider area with table and chairs, especially if you are building the deck outside. I would want that entry way open.

Add window treatments…fabric makes empty look full.

Not sure on furniture placement, but could you do some shelving/cabinetry on either side of the sliders to fill in the nook area and make it feel intentional.

You could do it just bookshelves if you have something to put there (a pottery collection? way too many cookbooks--is that just me?) Or build drawers/cabinets below and then a spot to house a coffee maker. I love the little pullout board on this one and the tile behind!

You could also build it into a cabinet. You could also make it an actual bar (or coffee on one side, booze on the other) and even add a wine fridge down below. Or leave one side with a counter for a landing spot as you carry things out to the deck.

@JudyG Designs You're correct - we have a builder that does both custom and production homes, and who sells himself as semi-custom for this development, but due to the current real estate frenzy they've basically said no to most changes. We tried the custom route last year - designed and bid a home - and discovered (as you noted) that our house was too expensive for us to build, so that's why we're going this route. Sacrifices must be made I suppose! I will consider putting nothing there, but I do like the idea of another sitting area...

@Hannah Wolfson bookshelves are really intriguing! We'll only have 18" on each side so it might look cramped but it's something I could draw up...

Depends on how much space the extended island will take up. If you only have 18" that's just about enough for a drapery stack back. Looks like the left one is the movable door, correct? Do you plan on the door and sliders to access the deck? If not, a chair could angle at that corner with cabs/opt door on your plans.

18" on each side of the sliders? and how deep is the adjoining small walls?

If you think you’ll mostly just use one door of the slider, with the other one essentially a door shaped window, then could you put a set of chairs in the corner, sort of back to back with your living room end table?

@everdebz Actually we'll have 12" on each side of the sliders. I was looking at the outside dimension. We upgraded to an 8' door there. That side wall is a little over 2' - maybe 2.5'.

@decoenthusiaste Yes I think the left will be the operable slider. We won't have a deck right away but will eventually. DH wants to build it ASAP.

@Sara S we could do that but we'd need to put it on the other side (the left is the operable slider)...it might work even better there though.

Are there electrical outlets on any of those 12" or 29" walls? With the doorway closed, and an outlet on one of those walls, you could do a floor lamp, table and chair.