I researched this topic, studied the best way to waterproof and even found pictures and topics where people installed a small glass or plexi glass panel or "mini shower door". I ended up reconsidering creating the new shower in front of the old garden tub window because the shower spray would be directly hitting the window sill. I think that situations where a low and/or large window can be successful is if there is quite some distance from the shower head, for example very large showers. I suggest you ask this forum for help in redesigning your layout. There is awesome talent here - folks who very creative. They have a knack for getting the best layout out of very small spaces. They are very familiar with plumbing codes and also the available plumbing fixtures. So you may want to create a new thread with a title asking for help in your bathroom design.

Can you measure the current distance between the edge of the ledge and the stairway? Perhaps Valinsv doesn't have it quite right. Also, I think you need to realize that the concern is not if stools will fit, it is whether they will fit while allowing for adequate room to walk behind them. Why? Because if that aisle is blocked, people will automatically walk through the kitchen proper - past sink and range - through what is already a 1 cook kitchen space. I had this in my former kitchen, and visitors tended to congregate in the most awkward locations, such as right in front of the sink and the range (and that corner between them). This is what tends to happen when builders put in an island because "that is what people want." In a large space, islands are popular because there is plenty of room to move around them and they prevent a sensation of being "trapped" in the kitchen. However, in a smaller space it becomes more important to protect the cooking zone which is not large enough to accommodate multiple people. We switched to a peninsula design. We can now accommodate multiple cooks, and visitors enjoy hanging out on the periphery of the space because there is plenty of room to do so. We understand your desire for a certain look and feel. It is not unusual to place form over function. However, the people here will try to steer you to the most functional space possible within a desired form. I personally think your best options are to reconsider the peninsula or ditch the stools and overhang at the island. If there is no sink or cooktop on the island, people will very likely still congregate around it, just standing. Which is why I still lean toward the peninsula.

I understand your thinking, but it looked to me like the side opposite the range has upper and lower cabinets -- not open to another room. Did I not read that right? Also, if you have a pool and a lot of outdoor activity in the back, will you have drippers come across the kitchen to get something out of the fridge? Do you have another way for the swimmers to get a drink or a snack? My fridge is in a similar location, but offset from the end of the island. We left it there with the remodel, but we put fridge drawers in the breakfast room and greatly freed up the traffic across the room to the fridge. I kow the kids could walk onthe other side, but they always seem to go where the people already are. LOL Anyway, a beverage fridge on that opposite side or even in your sunroom might be nice -- if you have the room for it. None of these ideas are bad or wrong -- this is just your chance to get the one that you like best, so you want to consider all the options and uses.

I had my new countertops and new sink intalled today. I have a black silgranite farm type sink. It does not have an apron, it is also and undermount! It is beautiful!! Soooo glad I made the decision, I had dreamed of a sink of this size for years and years, now that I have it, I can't wait for the plumber to come and hook it up! You can see it on the Blanco website, it comes in several colors! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!