You should be able to get everything that you want ........ Are you going to have a cabinet maker build it for you ? I suggest that you work with them and have them draw it up for you........Most cabinet makers are very good at working with their clients to get them what they want.

Buying a home that needs a lot of updating. We plan on painting the kitchen cabinets white or cream and installing granite countertops, new sink, new light fixtures, new stove vent, etc. The floor is hickory hardwood. My dilemma is the island. Should I keep it? Or remove it? If I keep it I am thinking of topping it with a dark butcher block to match the floor. I am open to any suggestions to make this kitchen better, without breaking the bank.

Greetings from Dream Design, -Oil based paints can actually be toxic, and has strong fumes -Acrylic paints are among the most popular type of paints on the market. Water based, they are also the easiest to clean -Latex paint is water based, but differs from acrylic. Latex paint is also easy to clean This paints do not do well with faux finishes or any type of glaze. So overall Acrylic Paint is best paint

Hi Ramyashree, Kitchens are the spaces which require plenty of planning and storage options. They also have to be flexible with number of people using them - helpers and owners. You have a very interesting layout and multiple options can be planned based on your need. For your kitchen, I would recommend a breakfast counter adjacent to the open end of the counter facing the dining area. 1. The extended breakfast counter will act like a serving counter. When having your meals, you would want to immediately serve the warm food from the serving counter and not walk inside the kitchen. This is a good practice as you can serve your guests quicker and in a much organized manner. While your meals are on the serving counter, the kitchen is available for other activites like cleaning or preparing of additional meals. 2. Island counters are only helpful if you have a much bigger kitchen as it serves as a break between two platforms which are far apart. In your case, it will form a hinderance.  3. The breakfast counter will also provide a visual break and designate the kitchen  space from other areas. I am attaching the plan marking the idea and location of breakfast counter. Regards, deSigneR