Moving the cooktop between the windows would free up the island and makes the kitchen flow better. Are you planning to add wall paint or new countertops?

Yes, granite countertops, it is all I can get here basd on timing. I'm thinking a light green if they have it in stock when I am ready. The house is generally white/beachy with colored accent walls. I may add a colored accent wall, I'll deicde that at the end.

Wow, my comment disappeared. I also love to cook and have my stove on my peninsula as opposed to the wall. I would keep the stove where your husband prefers it. Will you add a hood?

I think 36" is a bit narrow.

In middle of remodel - walnut countertops over slab doors.

I brought home the walnut samples and they just look too dark in my kitchen. I need to go light cherry or maybe natural sapele.

Anybody? Please?

Definitely move the cooktop between the windows. It will make the kitchen so much more functional. As it is now your appliances are just all jammed together so your work triangle is so small and not utilizing the space well.

Maple performs terribly in Hawaii. I could do birch to get that light look, but that look is too low end to me, like it came from a big box. If it's not something like clear cherry or clear sapele, then it will have to go back to white which I'd rather not do. I'd do some white if I could get some opinions about which ones they might think would look good white. But now what I'm thinking is sapele or cherry, with bamboo glass inserts on the uppers between the fridge and the ovens. That would light up the upper cabinets.

I've got a new layout going, moving the stove to the window wall. Since we are going to do a 36" cooktop, we still should be able to cook together somewhat. So the island is a blank slate. It will be about 36x60. I probably will mostly prep and bake on the side by the refrigerator & stove, so now I'm thinking of putting pull out trash cans on the right, and maybe even a prep sink on the left. I've never had a prep sink so I'm not sure. I don't want it to overwhelm the island but I could see the usefulness for prepping and baking. So maybe a small unobtrusive sink in an 18" cabinet? I even see some bar sinks that are oblong and fit into a 15" cabinet. Would that make sense? So left to right I'd had sink cabinet, other cabinet, 18" trash pullout.

Without too much deconstruction, I favor induction cooktop between two windows. Flip flop the dishwasher and get rid of that termination ½ wall facing the refrigerator so you do not hop food over it. I'd put in the Galley Workstation 4 starting from the new dishwasher. 42" wide island is impressive if possible without impeding the aisles. Alternately 36" wide x 60" slab with 12" overhang at three sides with a 36" base with wide pullout drawers will permit 4 comfortable barstools with arms viewing the cooktop, windows, and the workstation. With this design there should be at least 42" minimum aisle around the island. Remove the flanking refrigerator wall, it's too boxy and place the cabinet above. Accentuate the two trimmed out appliances with a soft arch and entertain that area with a bar sink including libations/soft drinks. For more information on Galley Workstation 4 click here http://thegalley.com/ideal-workstation-4/

Thanks for your input John. I love your gallery sinks. We don't need any seating in the island since we already have the bar. And I wouldn't prep on that counter where you put the sink. There's just way more appealing places, like the island.

I think that wall beside the refrigerator is load bearing.

Still wondering if I should do white uppers or whether the upper middles in glass will lighten it enough..

I vote to keep your husband cooking happy and let him have the cooktop in the island. That's where ours is, so he can have a view and it makes him smile, so there it is staying. I get the sink also looking out the window at the view and looks like that is similar to yours. We are remodeling and centering our cooktop on the island and I think yours would look nice centered also. I agree with the cabinet above the fridge. These are all hard decisions...best of luck to you!