Homejoy! wow! that is expensive! My cleaning team asks €8 an hour and this includes windows (I have heard some companies do not, or they actually charge extra!!!), shutters, terrace, yard area, laundry, ironing, hauling out the recycling to a common area - light cleaning or very heavy cleaning, indoor or outdoor, all for the same €8. And they have a key to my house. They are now doing all my neighbors as well. I actually pay €10 an hour as they have to come a half hour and they are very flexible and are happy to come last minute weekends when possible. I do my own cleaning but this team does the heavy stuff (windows, shutters, cupboards, kitchen appliances, polishing the floor) every 10 days, so I am normally ready for drop in guests. I wish I had them more often!!!!

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments and input, it was great to see so many of you get involved! The competition is now closed, and any winners should have received an email from us confirming their prize so get checking. Happy New Year and here's to the next one!

Most ceilings are 2.7 m high which is about 8'6" so you only have 18" more. This means that if you built a mezzanine you wouldn't be able to stand up in it and the room below will have a low ceiling. Also it doesn't look like you have a solid wall on both sides of the kitchen so you may have nothing to attach the joists too. Personally I would abandoned the idea. Instead I would decorate to show off the space you have. Firstly I would add some really substantial coving and perhaps a picture rail. I would paint the ceiling a pale grey, coving and woodwork a soft white and then a deeper colour for the walls. I might also see if I could get cornice put on top of the kitchen to make it feel more expensive.

Hi both, Huge thanks for your ideas. Good suggestion about pinching some of the hall cupboard for the FF. Will consider that for sure. Would like to keep pantry as separate space as we love walking in and seeing all our food and pots and pans etc. It's brilliantly functional. And it's what sold the house to me when we viewed it. We have considered knocking through into a neighbouring room but our budget doesn't allow as remodelling upstairs (it's a chalet bungalow and we're putting on a large dormer to add a master suite with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite). Plus, 10 months since moving in, we have grown to love the traditional layout of the home. Will keep playing around ❤️ Thanks A