Concerns about tree roots could be from the neighbours or due to a TPO. We’ve been through this recently and have designed our extension to avoid the entire tree protection area (based on an arboricultural report-a requirement for us even to apply for planning). Despite that we have planning conditions on storage of building supplies (not near any trees), not being able to change ground levels (eg around patio areas) and being required to dig manually, not use diggers for fear of damage to roots. An arboricultural consultant should be able to advise on where and how you can build in relation to the tree, and then you would need the Council to accept the consultant's opinion. I assume the vendors must have had an opinion to plot the protection area? Also my understanding is that TPO legislation overrides permitted development legislation. As we've several TPOs, we’ve got to know the local council tree officers, but it’s the best approach as there can be heavy fines if you get it wrong.

Dulux Rock Salt is a grey but off-white which reflects a lot of light but dries darker than a white. It joins warmer colours like blush or grape well and the Laura Ashley Garrat side table in honey you can see sits well too. It easily matches your marble but would join your tiles, accent wall and floor up I'm positive. This is in our westerly facing landing and stairs which doesn't get a massive amount of light; painted this week (so not quite finished). In my view, yellowy greys look more of a beige too and would look sickly with your other colours (the dust sheets you can see are creamy beige for context). Rock salt looks very clean without out being cold.

Thanks for your feedback. It’s good to hear from someone with a similar setup. Yes most time is spent in the lounge as it’s near the garden and is the nicest of all the rooms. The current dining room can be a bit shut away and get quite cold. If we were to change it and move the lounge to the front we know this would still be an issue but we would plan on making is cosier with furnishings. There is also an external chimney breast we would reinstate to be able to install a fire. Which as a lounge we would use, but as a dining room not so much. Yes there is a room above unfortunately but we would have two side windows facing west and the large patio doors facing south. Usually once we get to mid morning the sun fills the current lounge and kitchen through most of the day and evening, which is almost too much in the summer! But I guess in the winter that won’t necessarily be the case. Something worth thinking about I guess before deciding.

We chose to put our sink in our island as it was the best place for it. Our island is very long so it can accommodate the sink on one end with a clear space on the other end for seating - I am personally very against having a hob in the island as it will send splatters of hot oil etc. across the island and people (kids) sitting there. I also think the current trend for open shelves is odd - I always think they just end up looking cluttered (beyond the perfected curated pages of houzz), and everything will get dusty and oily if near the hob. One thing that we did in our kitchen was include a defined tiled area around the island - I love it and everyone comments on it. It may help add that little bit of extra in your design. (please ignore 1) our bar stools - we still need to get 2 more! and 2) the hole on the left where our broken wine fridge is waiting to be replaced!)