Am so glad I asked for your advice! Hadn't thought of using glass, but am now thinking that might be a good idea. The stairs are currently in the dining room, but we plan to remove a wall so they will be part of open plan kitchen diner once that's done. As for our style, I feel a bit lost as what our style is right now having just moved and inherited carpets/decor etc from the previous owners. I'm not sure the shabby chic look we had in our previous home works here! Thanks again everyone!

I would always rather invest in stunning furniture than spend money on more permanent changes. In my experience you can make any space look great with the right furniture and decor. Rather than spend money on something structural I would work with the space you have with furniture that works better than the heavy farmhouse style. The nicest furniture in the room is the sideboard so I would build on that. I'd look at something like Gubi Beetle dining chairs to bring in an organic streak. Not cheap but cheaper than building in storage (the next best option) or enlarging the window which won't make much difference - and you can take them with you if you move! You could look at Made.com for a cheaper but complementary table. Then a decent lampshade - perhaps Tom Dixon Etch - a side lamp on the sideboard and lots of plants and pots to empathise the organic, cosy nature of the room. Finish with some pictures in the wall and you have a lovely, cosy, earthy room that feels like being down Alice's rabbit hole rather than under the stairs. Good luck.

Poor you! Unfortunately, if your builder won't come back, the only alternative is to get another builder or just a carpenter that can help with the measurements. We have had great success with topflight stairs - who made two staircases for us on a project in record time for very little money! Maybe you can colaborate with a carpenter and do a DIY order to save money - Topflight stairs Plus you'll be able to get it signed off by building control and having it as a real room in it's own right will add value to the property.

my thinking was the table could be pushed flush with the island the majority of the time leaving a gap to walk past of approx 140cm. Thats with a 110cm gap between island and units, 90cm island and 90cm table. Or if you rotate the table and have it pushed with one end against the island, a 120cm table would sit 4 and leave 110cm to pass which is the same as the gap between island and units. If it was an extending table it can be rotated 90 degrees on the rare occasion more seating is required. Yes, it would mean it would probably close off that side of the room but if it's not a daily occurance? Some compromises will have to be made if you really want to fit everything in that space unfortunately.