I would second the motion on a mini split heat pump, because the actual workhorse sits outdoors on the ground and the condenser mounts high near the ceiling. I installed a Fujitsu model a few years back in my kitchen/dining room. You could barely hear it run. the air dehumidifies and cools in summer, and reverses action to heat in winter. It will sweep the heat flow or fix it across the room or down to the floor. The unit is a very efficient. As an alternate heat choice without the summer cooling option, you might have a local gas company size the room to see if a Rinnai gas space heater would fit below one of the windows.

I just did this in my crawl space here in New England. This was a real DYI project since I am not handy. My contractor estimate was $5,200. I did it myself for $475.00. First remove all insulation and replace with new since it may be moist and not effective. I then ran construction foam board ( used on new exterior houses) horizontially along the walls of the crawl space. I attached them to the wall using "Good Stuff" the insulating foam in the can. I sprayed some between the foam board and wall and it's still attached. Then I applied 6 mil poly to the floor and up the sides of the walls ( now covered by foam board) for about six-eight inchs. THE KEY IS TO PREVENT ANY AND ALL MOISTURE FROM COMING UP THROUGH THE DIRT FLOOR. So you can leave / go over the exsisting poly. When done with laying the poly, where it met the walls I again sprayed "Good Stuff" where the floor met the wall still leaving the excess up the wall. When it dries to the poly, wall and floor you have a Tight seal. The worst part was working in the crawl space. Grab an old pillow or cushion for your knee's. Knee pads didn't work for me. Also a dehumidifier works on a "closed area prinsible" If the vents are open, it will just take the moisture out of the exteriior air. GOOD LUCK

Thank you all so much for the diagrams, link and ideas. This is exactly the type of info I was looking for! Gooster - I am concerned with the space looking tight visually as you point out. I don't want the seating area to look squished into a corner. That chair with it's back to the french doors would have about 34" of space from my calculations. I have it set up that way now, to see how it feels. I am very interested in learning more about your movable storage banquette with padded back. Do you have any photos you could share with me? Lavender_lass - I can't do without the peninsula in this floorplan. But, what do you mean by not being able to access the banquette? Which part? Thank you very much for your help. Scrappy25 - I really like your idea of doing a furniture piece rather than a build-in, I hadn't thought of that. Cost-wise that is very appealing. I would need it to have back support, so I'm going to look at what options might exist for that. Overall, my concerns are making it look appealing and well designed, rather than squished and that the seating would be comfortable for someone with back issues.

I am not a KD but I love the idea of benches that fold up and a table that can be used for entertaining.. Very interesting! I love the idea of having a space for your family to eat as one of your important parts. My only worry (and this is because my family is messy) that if something spills on the counter it is going to flow right on to the back of those cushions. Of course your family is not the messy bunch mine was. (kids off to college now) I like your kitchen plans and look forward to seeing all the clever solutions that the experts provide.