@minipie I could put the fridge freezer on the main run of the kitchen, but that would then reduce the work surface on that wall - and the work surface is sure to be small as it is. If I turn the island 90 degrees to be parallel to dining table then it would mean that neither the hob/oven/fridge/sink would be behind me. I would have to walk from the island across to the main run for everything...... not sure how practical that could be. And if I did do that then, I would have a nice view while working at the island but anyone sitting on stools would be looking at the staircase, which wouldnt be right. @Heather - the space is already 5 x 6 m almost - I dont think we need to add an extension. That should be enough space for a decent kitchen with dining table. I dont need any extra living space either as we do have 2 large lounges. Keep the suggestions coming, thanks!

rinq good point. Here is what we have so far. Some notes: - The rest of the plan has changed slightly so I don't want to waste people's time commenting on that. I will upload our final draft in a new post when we have it for feedback on the whole plan. - The main room in question has had 1m added along the horizontal to make it 8.90m long. - We have decided we want to swap the kitchen and dining rooms. - The front door has also been removed from that back wall (the bottom of the plan) so that back wall is now doorless. The front door is now located where the word "screenshot" is conveniently located. :D Ellie good questions. The house is being designed now. The architects have suggested a room this size based on feedback we gave them. Now we have it drawn up we don't love it. For example, I hate having the back of the sofa in the way of the hallway there. I think that is terrible design. It all looks cramped to me. There are 3 of us in this home. In the plan above you can see a rectangle in the top right with the lines across it. That is a closed in porch/veranda so there is some living space there too. Otherwise, this is it. minipie thanks very much. It's good to know it works for you and yours. I've added the proposed zoning above and wondered if that resembled yours in any way?

Ah, @Daisy England, I too am a fan of L-shaped corners - but not in the 900x900 variant, which I find far too awkward to access, as the opening is only 4520ish diagonally. But my main kitchen provider does truly wonderful options in 1030x1030 (2x 400 doors, 570w diagonal) and a whopping 1080x1080 (2x 450 doors, diagonal opening of 650 ish). They are a really great & inexpensive way to kit out a corner and keep everything accessible. Or for compact kitchens my German manufacturer does a really great 800x800 L-shaped carousel unit - great for tight spaces! Caldicot Kitchens

Building a pergola can be a fun project. Based on the photo, it seems like the posts could indeed be 4"x4". As for the frame and Metal Joists, it's a bit difficult to tell from the picture alone, but I would suggest using 2"x6" or 2"x8" timbers for the frame and joists. These dimensions should provide sufficient strength for your pergola. Now, when it comes to fastening the frame to the posts, L brackets can definitely be an option, but there are other methods you could consider as well. One popular choice is using metal joist hangers. These are specifically designed for securing joists to beams or posts. They provide a strong and reliable connection, ensuring the stability of your pergola.