I would suggest you take out the cabinet that is to the right of the stove and use it elsewhere in the house -- perhaps in the bathroom or dining room with a hutch above it. Then, I would suggest you have someone install a lazy susan cabinet in the corner between the sink counter and the stove, meaning you would move the stove down a bit and have a small cabinet/counter top to the right of the stove. I would suggest you have the cabinets refinished in white and then paint the walls a pastel you like. If you would prefer white walls, then add white-painted crown molding and paint the ceiling a light neutral blue, such as Sherwin Williams Niagara Falls Blue. Then, I would suggest you choose a favorite accent color and use this sparingly in accessories like towels, pot holders, small vases or floral arrangements, and a valence above the triple windows. For a genuine 1940s look, you might have white ceramic square tiles with a rectangular red border installed as a back splash behind and above the stove. If you are replacing counter tops, I would suggest a light color such as white with a beige or light grey vein or striation for some sort of pattern. You might be able to find the same color and design in floor tile OR opt for a wood floor as another poster suggested.

I'd fire that kitchen design person lol. No such thing as a corner pantry being outdated. I would bet she is new to the biz and has no real clue. If you have the space, then go for it. I have a closet in my kitchen that is considered a pantry, but kinda wish it was just a large floor to ceiling cabinet. I have a base and wall corner cabinet that I started to use for mostly canned and dry foods and it works much better because it's closer to my stove. Whatever works for you the way you use your kitchen would be the way to go :)

With the pantry being located where it is, it provides a opportunity to make it inbuilt and continue your bench top along. This would then provide more bench space and would make sure you are using that wall to its full potential. However for space and flow and to make your kitchen more ascetically pleasing, we would suggest keeping the island bench and making the appliances integrated. This provides opportunity to make that far wall a feature wall, which can be as simple as a blackboard or pictures, to making it a colour feature (depending on you cabinetry) or even to make it high class you could create a wood paneling feature. I hope this helps, either way you can add bonus features to your kitchen, you can create more storage and bench space with changing the pantry, or you could make a design feature out of that wall. It is up to you and where you design flair may take you. Good luck! :) If you would like to see these designs with a quote please call us on 03 423 9067 and we can organise a free one for you. Below are some pictures - in built pantry vs. feature wall. (making where the appliances are a low bench top with below cabinets). (goes beautifully with a black and white colour palette).

Hi, Wondering if anyone has any ideas for our house layout? There are 2 options we are thinking of at this stage: 1 - keep the kitchen where it is located but take down the wall where the fridge (fridge is actually where the stove is located in this picture) is located and the wall where the door into that space is and put an island bar in. We would put a door in to block off the hallway/bedrooms. Possibly try and put access to the Laundry (which is in behind) so the laundry can be a laundry/scullery space as the laundry is quite a large space. This may not work though as the kitchen bench space would become quite small on that back wall. 2 - move the kitchen to the living room in the centre of the house and maybe have access to the side cupboard for a pantry cupboard and make the old kitchen space as a games/movies room. 3 - ???? Any other ideas are welcome. Thanks.