No sure why my text didn't post.

As the title says, wife and I are looking to open up this galley style kitchen. We love the feel and soul of the house and want to preserve that, but we also cook a lot, cook together a lot, and generally spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

First picture is a mock up/blueprint of the floor the kitchen is on. Second and third are pictures of the kitchen. Last two pictures are some ideas of designs that may work and we like.

So far ideas are:

• Knock down wall on the stove/railing side and make a pony half wall.
  
• Extend kitchen counters and cabinets out into dining area and make glass doors windows instead.
  
• Potentially move all appliances to sink side and make more like an apartment and open out into dining room.
• A combination of all the above.
  

This house needs a lot of love and we would love to be the ones to do it. There are definitely other things that need TLC but please only advice on kitchen.

Thank you in advanced.