Hello Spacie1977, I think you could make this fabulous!!!.. Where boxing in is necessary I think it's a must.. Why not look at adding on to the kitchen in some way to what is in place if it's sound and solid, if needing permission it's a great way to approach the subject by letting on that you want to conserve! .. .. Possibly extend where needed and perhaps you could replace the cabinet doors?... Painted cabinetry can give a completely different feel.. With the red flooring it may be fantastic to have matt or eggshell charcoal cabinets... You could replace the hob easily enough.. Paint the rads to whatever colour that portion of the wall is.. If you removed the tile you could either panel or paint.. Perhaps take that line a little lower to about dado height.. NB you don't need to add a dado to finish the paint work.. Just make sure the lines are really straight! There are actually many ways you could approach this... Keep a few of the rustic charms... Maybe you want to paint every other floor tile to make it a chequered floor.. Easier than replacing... Maybe you want a two tone kitchen... Looks brilliant and everything can be treated including tall cabinets... Brass cup handles and other fantastic fittings can take a boring cupboard and make it wonderful.. Matt paint or an eggshell. Perhaps half and half... Think Plain English! Or deVOL Also consider 1 colour as this can also have a striking effect on a kitchen... Rub the worktop with fine wire wool and then sand lightly and oil... Paint the french doors to stand out... Here's a few pics for inspiration to illustrate a few suggestions I made... Also consider window frames, skirting and all other woodwork which can be bold and exciting.. They don't have to be white.. The other things are accessories... Piles of wooden chopping boards.. Shiny brassy taps... How you display your crockery... All these things can add warmth and finish : ))

I would have a fold down bed in the living area. Do a search for Murphy beds as you can get cabinets with a dining table or desk with a fold out bed

In a lot of cases, I suspect the answer would be for the same reason you do eat at a table - it's what people generally grew up doing, it's what they're used to doing and, being part of the television generation, it's just too convenient to do otherwise. Ironically, I don't tend to watch very much television at all, except when I'm sat, tray in lap, eating ... Another possibility is that not everyone has the space for a permanent formal dining table, and use one with fold-down leaves, for example, which can be hidden away behind an armchair, or somesuch, and wheeled out requiring the moving of other furniture) for special occasions - entertaining, or xmas dinner. For my own part, it's a combination of familiarity, and the fact that it's simply more comfortable to sit in an armchair, or on a sofa, tray on lap, even if I don't bother putting the television on.

Although it is not ideal not to have garden view into the living room, having the bedroom in the front of the house is not practical. How close is the house to the road? What about the road sound while sleeping in the front of the house? Also the bedroom too close to the kitchen. It just not feel natural progress of space. Now you enter into the flat through the living/ dining. With regards to the structure, you can always introduce a beam and have a bigger opening – not open completely (refer hatched in image). Also try and get light and ventilation at a higher level at kitchen (not sure what the existing heights).