This is the other layout

This is the other layout

I agree with your explanations. If these are the only two options. Then the first plan posted would be my choice.

Are the doorways…..door next to proposed fridge/pantry and sliding door……fixed in place? Can they be moved/removed.

All the doorways are fixed in place.

Okay, thank you. Then stick with the first plan.

Is that a doorway opening behind the lounge looking towards the back of the fridge?

Yes that area is front entry/foyer to the house. There are walls along the back of the fridge and couch.

The fridge/pantry utilises an existing alcove

What is the door to on front of fridge. Would fridge be better on right hand wall?

The door in front of the fridge is to a hallway for the bedroom and bathroom

can you post a floorplan of the house?

A round table might work better.

Very roughly this is the full floor plan of the house. We can’t really move any exterior doors or windows. And have no vision of making any major structural changes when updating the remaining parts.

Yes we may consider a round table, we are flexible about the table our priority is getting the kitchen and other permanent fixtures functioning best as possible while taking in the need for other zones and furniture.

I am concerned about having fridge on the walkway to back of house. Is it there now? A radical option

An alternative may be to swap the sliding door and kitchen window allowing the kitchen to be in corner

The fridge and a cupboard are currently in that position and it hasn’t been an issue. The radical option definitely helps with thinking about moving the kitchen area and it maybe worth considering but we hit a few road blocks as there is a window along the wall with the bench that is too low and no ability to replace it or remove it without damaging the exterior cladding, which we can’t replace.

Could you let us know the layout of the original kitchen plus where the wall was removed between kitchen and living

Oh glad the fridge is working in that layout. If you do like the alternative you may be able to block the bottom half of the wind o on the inside creating a window sill. Depending on how and where the window opens

This is the old layout.

This would work with existing doors and windows, the fridge and pantry would be swung back to the wall, but still in the same position. The 3m x 900 Island could have a small sink near the fridge. The dimensions I have worked with are shown

I would prefer the fridge and pantry as is. It stops people at the front door from seeing directly into kitchen when entering the home.

I prefer the fridge and pantry as it as well, additionally since we have already knocked the wall out there would have to a be a post due to the being a load bearing wall

That’s a good point about the load bearing wall. And also with a large island, instead of your first design, it would cut into the natural walkway of people going to bedrooms.

Better circulation

Agree about the flow/circulation, I have been trying to keep the door to the hallway clear of the island as much as possible

In which case go with the layout you posted and add some bar stools with bench overhang to right hand end of island.

Just a quick sketch of a suggestion for the proposed kitchen island. Four x 600mm cabinets or drawers, two x 300mm cabinets, 300mm overhangs for stool seating. This provide a wonderful amount of storage.

based on assumed dimensions i think your island is much too big and the walkways around the island too small for the available space...my suggestion would be to reduce the depth of the island to 900 x 1800, and as already suggested, overhang with stools at one end and 300cm deep storage cabinet along the long side and, if side window is short enough add some extra cabinets or freestanding storage under the window

All great thoughts and ideas.

We have decided to go with the second kitchen layout with a 1200 by 1200 island to keep the doors free of the island and maintain circulation and flow.

We will have 1000mm clear of both benches. We will probably place the table in a similar place to the first layout.

Thank you for posting the original layout showing the wall which was removed while retaining the fridge alcove addressing some of the load bearing wall.

Its too late once renovations have started, but I would have considered removing the fridge alcove that I have as 800 x 1400, move the door along so that it opened into the "spare/bed/study room" and placing the fridge where the door had been, This would have give n better space and flow to the kitchen/dining/living. As you can see by the current floorplan the Alcove impedes on the flow and furniture placement. And having the front door open as shown will give a certain amount of privacy with the fridge built in behind a 800 deep panel.

I look forward to seeing what you decide

The layout by OKLouise will ensure you have good walkways and a large island. 900 is a practical depth for cleaning from one side. You can have 600 cabinets on one side and 300 on the other and keep stools to right hand end away from the frindge and pantry.

You have posted on Australian Houzz when you are American

I have posted in the correct place as I am Australia

sorry Phoebe, I should have made it clearer, Assistant of Lantern who posted above is American and Pro's pay to list on Houzz to attract business, so they need to do it in their location. to make it worthwhile.