Hi, thanks for the replies. Like expected, the comments make a lot of sense. Minnie101: Personally I’m not too fussed about the open plan / locking away the mess dilemma. I’m firmly in the camp of ‘if the wife wants it, then that’s what we’ll be getting’. We’ve spoken about it, and she’s decided that she’s right J Great shout on bringing the breakfast bar in a bit, I’ll need to get the tape measure out to see what the width around the table would be. I’d completely forgot about allowing space for bar-stools. Yes, the small piece of wall in the centre of the kitchen is structural, that’s where the old outside wall was and the extension built (my assumption without seeing old plans, as I know that it’s been extended, and that side is where the extension is). It’s actually been squared off into a false chimney / alcove with a light in it. Looks really nice with a big vase of natural grasses in it. I’ll get a picture when I’m home. The study will be used as (currently in discussion) my ‘man cave’. I want to turn it into a music room (I have 4 guitars, amps, effect pedals, mic stands etc). I want to put my nice stereo in there, a tele up on the wall, and computer. The Mrs seems to agree with this in order for me to tuck myself away and not annoy everyone else in the house – on one condition, that I put a large cupboard/chest in there for the additional kids toys so we have a place to tidy them away, and a cabinet of some sort for the paperwork/files/stuff that we generally have lying around. It should be big enough to do all things and keep everyone happy. Also, hadn’t really thought about the casual bench dining against the wall – now there’s an idea worth thinking about !! Thanks

I agree with people voting for no hob on the island. We come across a lot of customers liking the idea but.. unless you have a raised breakfast bar on the other side, what is going to serve as a splashback while you are cooking? You'll end up splattering the worktop (and people sitting on the other side of the island) while you are making delicious stir fries or curries.. Not ideal.. So maybe going for a hob next to a wall might be more practical. Unless you go for a downdraft extractor fan than can act as your splashback.. Please see images showing the difference attached. Good luck!

Thank you all very much for your compliments and also encouragement to take a walk on the complete dark side (instead of whimping out! Ha ha) @Beano - the lights as they are in the main hall are very low level but once I have the shades on and swap the bright bulbs out, it won’t be as blinding. The entrance hall one is bright and a sensor one and I think that helps push light over to the darker side. It can be turned off though. Not decided yet on artwork ie if I should go eclectic frames or clean modern... I’m a fan of both so 🤷‍♀️

It looks mock Tudor which was very popular in the 1930s and then again in the 1980s. In fact it’s almost identical to my friends 1980s mock Tudor. The date it was built should be on the deeds or the Land Registry so worth a search. The deeds will be with the mortgage lenders unless you bought outright in which case the deeds will be with you or your solicitor.