I agree, you need to get an expert kitchen designer on the case. I agree that you need to keep light and airy. Plain is good as it add to the illusion of space. I personally think that the large American Fridge freezer is too big for the room, uses up space that could be better used. Also, it's a big old grey lump and if you want to go for open and 'spacey' go integrated. As it's large and grey it sucks light out of the room.

You could also go for some of the very pale blue / greys which would match in with your flooring or the very pale sagey greens, which would do the same.

Get the layout right first!

Thank you jacksplash! I'm pretty new to Houzz (enjoying it so much though!!) but I have spotted One Plan too :) Hopefully my dilemma will attract a few more comments. - Aw thanks! Sonic is a lovely boy. A real gentle giant!

Hi Man About The House, Thanks so much for commenting! An integrated fridge would be awesome, but is dependent on how much extra it would add to the project. Unfortunately the size has to be, as my kids eat like horses and I need the space :))) . This is what I thought of to try and fit it in with the design...

Sorry I think the new kitchen looks boring compared to the existing one. The new one looks too plain and lacks soul. I would think carefully before modernising it too much

Hi Susan, I agree that it looks a little boring as it is. But the plans are only for the layout, which I'm hoping will be a more social space than it is now. HOpefully the right colours for the units will introduce some life :)

Thanks Daisy :)

The breakfast room (and that part of the whole house 2 up 2 down) is over 400 years old and the beams above are original, but you're right, unfortunately the beams in the wall are not. Did you see the stonework behind the curtains? They're cool! :) I'm hoping to accentuate them with some clever lighting rather than hiding them behind curtains as part of the new design.

I'd still love to hear opinions on what colour scheme you guys think would work and what worktops. And do you think the layout plan works?

Hi Veronika, with a bit of updating and some better lighting to show off your new kitchen we think it could look great. Where are you based? We offer a free no obligation design service if you are able to pop to us, and if you're not too far we can come to see you? Have a look at our houzz and website for inspiration, good luck! (Your dog is beautiful!)

Hi. I agree with jacksplash and Man About the House - hopefully OnePlan will find you, because I'm worried about your layout.

Some of the figures are difficult for me to read on your floor plan but I'm thinking about all the doors and where they lead and the traffic flow of people. Is there room to get around things, especially, say if the fridge door is open? Can someone get by or do they walk in front of the oven? If someone's cooking, is there room? If someone is at the sink, can another person walk by? If people are sitting at the new rectangular dining table, can you get passed to that side door, the double doors, or the door to the stairs?

With the big fridge in that spot I'd do a practice and erect cardboard boxes that equal the depth of the fridge and more that represent the island and see if there really is room for it all.

Heres a helpful blurb in case OnePlan doesn't pop in: http://www.metric.org.uk/kitchen-planning

(Maybe my username should be "killjoy"?!)

Thanks Zeyko Kitchens :) We're in Herefordshire. Little far from you I think :(

Hi Veronika, it is a little out of our area. However if you are ever in London do pop in! If you are looking for a full kitchen refurb you are welcome to send us your plans and ideas no obligation and we would look at these and offer you some advice! Good luck :)

THank you boundsgreener! You're very kind to have given our project so much thought. The idea now is that we will do the outskirts of the kitchen but hold off with the island until we see how much space we'll actually have once the wall is taken out from between the two rooms.