There are five plans posted so I'll just go in order No.1 - that's your current plan No.2 - would work - the only thing I would change is the range and sink. I would switch them so that the DW is located close to or at the end of the counter run, then the sink and then the range closer to, but not in, the corner. As far as having a pantry in the dining room, there are all sorts of ways to design it so that it looks like it belongs. The middle part can be a buffet with glass in the upper cabinets and a marble or wood counter. Go and look at actual DR buffet/hutches to get some design ideas. If your worried about the table being off-center wrt the window would it help to put the pantry/hutch against the stairway wall? I think it might be about a foot shorter but it might also feel like it's more in the kitchen. Your island could go a little longer toward the fridge. It looks like you drew 5' clearance but if fridge is french doors you could go down to 48" or 42" clearance. And depending on the size you need/want for your family room you could take your island closer that way as well. But that is your personal choice and depends on your priorities in spacing. No.3 - with the peninsula it just feels like things are getting a little closed off especially when you want to have a more open feeling. Not really enamoured with the feeling that it gives. No.4 - in a minute. No.5 - I do like this one, however my concern is your aisle clearance. Your island is only 2' wide giving you, as you have drawn it, only 36" aisles but counter overhangs are anywhere from 1" and up. So with this in mind, when you have two counters facing one another you are going to lose at least 2' giving you aisles of only 34" and with 5 people in there that could get really tight. I also see a real pinch-point between the lower-left corner of the island and the wall where the fridge is coupled with the door for the stairs in that space as well. Now back to NO. 4 I would pick the peninsula in this reiteration because it is roomier. So depending on budget, as you have drawn your plans I would pick either No.2 or No.4. Now there are layout gurus here who can probably come up with other suggestions as well.

Pony wall makes no difference for function, but I was trying to hide some of the dish mess and give you a separate clean-up area, where there is no zone crossing during prep and cooking time. It wouldn't be difficult to extend the pony wall to the ceiling. There are windows flanking the range--I just forgot to remove the label. It is open concept, with easy interaction between the cook(s) and anyone in the LR, but it sounds as if that's too much interaction for you. I feel the same--we closed up a wide pass-through from the kitchen to the LR when we bought our house. I also switched the door and window in the DR (door could be a single or French door). Accurate plan: M/L flipped to the other side--I don't think you could have seating at the island, except for a seat on the end, unless you cut the top at an angle (red lines). the entry from the deck would need to be a single door, 60" French doors, or single with side lights: Eta, with the kitchen and DR flipped, you could have a deeper, framed pantry wall, with a coffee center or bar in the middle section. Drawing the plans is no problem--I just rearrange boxes in my Paint program, but all the rearranging of the windows and doors on the back wall might be more than you want do. Good luck! :

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. My fiancee would really love to have the room feel like one large space if possible, and so we're trying to see if we can make it work with one large rug, if possible. We would also like to soften the space as much as possible, and provide some softer landing spots for our pups. I agree with Yaya about the couch I posted. I like the look, but comfort should be just as important. I'll keep tossing around new ideas. Thanks again!

You did not give the dimensions for this living space. But, should you try to make a walkway behind the sofa, as shown in your most recent picture, it will require 42" of space. Anything more narrow will not allow two adults to pass without turning sideways. Some TV-size Viewing Calculators say a 48" 4K screen is best viewed from 4'9" to 7'7", but a 48" 1080p screen allows viewing between 5'11" and 9'11", and the closer distance is considered best. However, that seems too close to me also. Other sites give a general distance of up to 3 times the screen size, or 12' for a 48" set. These widely varying distances make me throw up my hands. You definitely should NOT put the TV in front of the window. Back-lighting causes eye strain. While you may not watch daytime TV, summer gives us longer day length. Either of the long walls is best for placement. I agree that a low entertainment cabinet will allow your space to look larger. The center of the TV screen should be level with your eyes when you are seated, so look for a low profile cabinet.