I think a comfortable distance between the island and the counter is around 42". It seems that you have only 30" between your cook top and the counter. I might be a little too tight. The wall between the entrance and the kitchen could be 4' long instead of 6', you would then be able to move the island a foot which would give you more room between the cook top and the island. Could you switch the location of the toilet and vanity in your dad's bathroom so your enter facing a vanity instead of a toilet which is a lot nicer.

I am not sure how deep and bright the two colors are that you each have selected but I might suggest that you pick a green and blue that are soft rather then intense colors. My favorite paints are ones that are made by Restoration Hardware. Of course you can get any paint company to help you achieve very similar colors. Look up Restoration Hardware and see if there are greens and blues that you each like. Most of their colors work with each other. Have fun..........

Thank you Groveraxle for the virtual ! you are too good a designer that is why I cannot help troubling you ;) you have your biggest fan in me ever since your first advice:)) As for an in-house designer I am certainly going to call somebody soon . Just that I get such a lot of options and great advice from highly accomplished and talented Houzz designers ..I would be better prepared after these conversations ..please forgive me for pestering you guys like this:)

I feel partitions are not needed. You already have too much for the space. Adding a partition will shrink the space further. The simplistic solution, you do not wish to discard any furniture would be to paint all the walls in lighter pastles. And use some wall painting frames to highlight certain walls.