What a great find. What you do is dependent on services, budget, planning and your own style and needs but you could carve it up into a respectable 1 bedroomed apartment, I suspect that with clever planning you could make it a small two bed or you could have a more open space for loft living.

Hi First thing is you need to find a Architect who can draw the plans for you.. shop around for the best prices. Architect will come visit you and then give you a price... it's usually a fixed price for a "drawing" and this will also include everything written up aswell location of windows materials to be used and rules and regulations. The plans then get submitted with a fee to the local Authority for approval. After approval you go ahead and select a builder of your choice. You can also call over Builders before you do the plans in fact it's best if you call builders over first before the plans are done so they can give you an idea of what can be done etc. Again if you want you can shop around for prices ... whether you will provide materials and pay them labour or you just pay them and they get everything and do the job .. which will be much less stressful. Just keep an eye on the materials being used. Your plans/drawing will state what material to be used where.. eg; fire rated plaster boards.. normal plaster boards.. fire rated door frames to be made where.. water proofing in bathrooms.. what insulation to use where etc etc etc... Just ensure you do some research.. even though you won't be building it yourself it's going to be your house and you will be paying your hard earned money to these people to make your house for you so just keep an eye out that the job is well done and to a good standard. Hope this helps

Hi not sure what you need from the building but I'd rather a bigger kitchen diner and just a loo + utility downstairs. Upstairs, I'd love a ensuite and family bathroom. Maybe build a single room (that enters from the hallway) upstairs would be the way to go here. And convert that small bathroom into a ensuite.

Hi Julie, is your fireplace located at the bottom wall? If this is the case, since you have to remove the fire flue and you are thinking of removing the fireplace, have you considered closing the wall there? This space could be used for storage options, or bookcases, or anything else really, even a beautiful large print. I would, then, place your L-shaped sofa just against the wall that will close the staircase, having the TV in front of it, adding a nice rug, an armchair and a coffee table. Should you wish to get more ideas about your room layout, I offer affordable e-design packages on my website www.amuriinteriors.co.uk Best of luck with your project!