This will count as my first post on these forums, so here goes:

I'm preparing to redesign my kitchen in my first house. However, it's posing quite a problem. I'm now looking for any and every idea I can find. Take a look at my attachments and let me know what you think. I've had quite a few ideas, but I keep running into problems and I end up having to abandon those ideas. How do you think I should design it?

Keep in mind, the wall behind the stove is a load bearing wall, it cannot be removed. However, it can be braced with two columns and a 4"x10". I've thought about doing that and installing an arch in order to hide the 4"x10".

Don't be afraid to suggest moving appliances, tearing out walls, or doing away w/ the pantry & closet. I can do all that. However, if I remove that pantry, I need to build a new one somewhere. There's already another coat closet elsewhere in the house.

 

Welcome to the forums! Well not to offend you or the horse you rode in on.......that light in the middle has to go....somewhere. Dumpster, maybe. The kitchen overall is not a bad design, and IMO moving walls would be unnecessary. Tile is dated, linoleum has to go, insert ceramic tile. Countertop tile is truly dated and useless with those grout lines. Demo and replace with another top, and not laminate .
Can't tell much about the cabinets. Are they custom or off the rack?
I don't think you have a terrible amount of reno to do in order to get it first class. You have access to the rooms adjacent to the kitchen on both sides. You have a dining room built in.
Others may have different viewpoints so wait and give them time to chime in when they wake up.......slackers!

Larry

 

Thanks Larry (Chandler). I had already planned on doing all of that (tile, linoleum, hanging lamp, etc). I'm gutting the entire kitchen and replacing everything. The bay window above the sink leaks and is being replaced this week. The linoleum was hastily put down and so has some ripples in it. The cabinets have some water damage due to the sink leaking at one point, and none of the cabinet doors shut proper.

My problem is that there is minimal counter space. The oven has a little strip of counter space on each side, but it's barely a foot wide. This makes it very difficult to have ingredients nearby, or a place to set a hot pan or pot after cooking.

We are going to get dark wood counters with a "Topeka" quartz countertop. My current thought is to move the oven & small counters to the left, where the door opening currently is. Then creating an opening about where the oven use to be. Effectively swapping the positions of the oven and door opening. This will give me a L shaped kitchen and would make it easier for moving about.

 

I see your problem. Yes, eliminating that door, or moving it as far to the right as possible considering your framing and whatever is on the other side of the proposed opening, would be a gainer. You will then create a deep corner where all sorts of things can get lost.