With existing structures it is best to seek a talented local architect that will be able to gather all the existing information and conditions that will effect the design.

No advice from me, just a looky-loo because I have always adored MCM homes but missed out on our opportunity to buy one. I think the layout looks pretty fab, as-is, and quite private. I'm unable to see your issues with the entry unless you wanted some kind of "grand" entrance for your guests and instead it's low-key. Maybe you could decorate in a way to create some moody, understated drama with the existing layout. I will be curious to read what the more discerning eyes pick up.

What is the divider between the kitchen and dining? Is it a full wall? Half-wall? Screen?

What is the current kitchen layout? By scullery, do you mean the pantry? Why do you need it larger? I’m not challenging your desire, just wondering how you plan to use it.

Off-hand, I’d add a doorway from the foyer to the kitchen, it seems like it would flow better.

Here are a few photos from the entry door into the foyer area. I don't need a grand foyer, by any means,

Here's the current kitchen. By scullery, I'd like something that can house a 2nd sink, 2nd dishwasher, coffee station, etc. We entertain quite a bit (during non-covid times) for very large groups.

@Mark Bischak, Architect Totally get it! I worked with a fantastic architect (now retired) when we expanded the house 20 years ago. I find the group ideas on these forums to be very useful for me in thinking outside the box.

@bpath Hopefully the photos help answer your questions. LMK if not!

oh my gosh! what an amazing house!! Not an architect or even a designer but what about the pantry wall if you opened up the entry that way? if you are reworking redoing the whole kitchen could there be a new place for a pantry?

@melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/ Yes, it it totally cluttered, LOL! I agree, I like the visual blocking in the kitchen. i'm just not keen on the jagging that is required to get from the front door to the back of the house.

Looks like a great home! A couple of thoughts- it appears you can steal some more garage space to allow for a redesign of the kitchen and add a more scullery type of pantry- perfect for closing off when you have parties (there WILL be parties again!). For the master bedroom, I prefer not going through a bathroom to access the closet. The moisture from the bath is not good for clothing storage, even with good ventilation.

When redoing the kitchen, talk to a kitchen designer that listens to how you entertain and need a set up for every day use. A home like yours would look lovely with a light toned wood, flat door cabinets. Very minimal in design.

Regarding the entrance- there are lots of bits and bobs. Shift all the storage to the adjacent wall so you can flow people into the living room space. I don’t see a coat closet, so maybe as the part of the kitchen renovation you can add one? Certainly hire an architect to help with the space planning, one that specializes in MCM homes!

Love the Leonbergers!

Very cool house. I don't mind the entry - I think it's the clutter that is causing the issues. But you could reduce the size of the pantry slightly so the entry wall with the door continues in a straight line to the pantry. It would give you a larger entry. I would reduce the wall between the kitchen and dining area to a half wall, so you still have cupboards and countertops but the spaces open to each other. In the master, I would find a way to put the doorway into the closet from the bedroom rather than the bath. You've got a great space to work with. With 3 bedrooms sharing a bath, I would try to squeeze in a small powder room somewhere for guests. That may be a better use of the pantry space.

Not really any great advice I'm afraid, but the house is beautiful and the foyer is perfect as long as those dog are there doing the greeting! ;)

For me, the best way to look at this entry would be to remove everything visible from the front door. That includes the scatter rugs, pictures (the picture on the edge of the fireplace wall is too wide for the wall) and even the furnishings can all be pushed out of view. The foyer will look so much better starting with a clean slate and adding back only those items that are part of the MCM house aesthetic. I know we love our stuff, sometimes there is just too much of it.

The architecture is NOT the issue with the home. The house is pretty great, as is. No need to spend a couple of hundred thousand doing anything. It’s all the STUFF. Have a garage sale. The house is instantly 50% bigger. You need subtraction, not addition.

Well, I’m going to be the dissenter. I think the front door should open into a new foyer in the pantry. It gives you a foyer that is not also a pass through hall, doesn’t open with the edge of one wall in front of the door and the living room beyond. It invites you to enter the house, room for a bench on the right to slip off your shoes or leave a parcel or dry the umbrella. It feels to me like it would make the living room a bit cozier, by not being in full view of the open front door. Where the door is currently, maybe frosted or textured glass with a rock garden, very MCM, (or dog beds), or higher windows and a console table below (with dog beds underneath?), or enclosed storage, or even just turn it into a closet, as the house doesn’t have a lot of storage.

If you are redoing the master suite anyway, put the scullery where the master closet is now.

I think I'd do something like this:

Take the wiggle out of your foyer. Move the garage entry further into the garage level with the wall of the pantry. You could choose to put your bar facing the foyer or the kitchen, depending on your tastes.

Regarding your kitchen: it is huge. The main issue is that you have a wall of cabinetry with a cluttered counter that is much less useful than it should be. I echo the advice to purge your stuff. If it doesn't currently have a home and you don't use it on a weekly basis, lose it or banish it to a storage shed.

These suggestions are excellent! Totally agree the clutter is bad right now, but the foyer issue is indeed a layout problem related to the zig-zag.

Is your laundry in the garage?

It’s in the current pantry. It was a laundry room but we converted it due to husbands collection of cookery.

Next question- would you consider relocating the entrance and changing to a one car garage to accommodate?

Sarah, absolutely!! Thank you for asking! Nothing is off the table. We could also pull the entire garage forward and take over that space for home.

@bpath thank you for the dissenting opinion. That's exactly the kind of out-of-the-box thinking I was looking for! @Sarah thank you! @Jennifer K thank you! The kitchen actually isn't that big...roughly 9' x 12" give or take. It might look larger due to the two walkways: one to the garage and one to the master suite. Question: if you move the bar, what happens to the half wall where the bar currently is?