If you haven't already done so, I recommend you post this on the "Discussions" side of the Kitchens Forum. This is the "Gallery" where mostly finished kitchens and few picture-heavy threads are usually found. However, not much goes on on this side on a day-to-day basis, unlike the Discussions side...which can be quite lively! Good luck!

Doing a little more digging. Thinking a Pavillion over the deck, filling the space between the entry door and the lookers right side of the deck. Thinking the sloped roof would help fill the space above, break up the wall, and give us some usable covered space outside. Something like this, but on our deck/attached to the house. Any photo wizards that could help me get a better visual on our actual home?

The swap between the kitchen and dining room was discarded because my son and DIL felt it would put traffic from the garage/family room through the new dining room. Bringing in groceries from the garage would be just that much further., and as my DIL has some mobility issues, it would be harder on her. They also have traditional dining room furniture which includes a large breakfront; there would be no large wall space for one in what is now the kitchen. There would be space for it if they didn't remove the shared wall between kitchen and dining room, but since the goal was to open the kitchen/dining room as much as possible, that wall wouldn't exist. Flooring is a tough issue. Currently, the foyer and kitchen, including the hallway to garage/family room is tiled. the dining and living rooms have a pickled wood floor. However, whoever installed the tile put it down with literally a 2+ inch mud base, Where the tile meets the wood floor at the entrances to living and dining room there is a nice toe-stubber. The tile floor will need to be jackhammered and repaired. I believe son and DIL would prefer tile in foyer and kitchen again, new wood in dining/living again. With DIL's style of cooking, tile is the wisest choice in the working area. They seem to be enamored of the island layout I posted yesterday, the same layout their friends have. I'm not so sure. The friend has a 2 level island, which sort of defeats the extra working space it could provide if it were a single surface. However, in their current kitchen the sink area is usually wet, and a single surface island might be disastrous. The 2 level does have an advantage with electric outlets, though. I suggested they pretend to prepare meals in there. I also encouraged them to give mama goose's layout some consideration. DIL would still like to see some sort of island in there; maybe to fit in a small stool or 2? If fridge were moved to the area designated as ”hutch”?

The deer skull is quite dramatic and may work better in a spot where it can be a focal point. You need curtains; the windows are lovely. I would use a big, wide bench along the wall where you have the cabinet.