I love the door and frame etc and feed back from people that come to the house is amazing. I feel privileged to be able to use my skills and patients on the house, it's so rewarding.

How about something like this. Shorten the kitchen and block off door to create a bathroom which should be relatively easy with regards to drains. Take down wall between existing kitchen and lounge and utilize the extended space under stairs for the kitchen diner. Create access to garage from kitchen and use part of garage for utility space. Garage could be extended forward at a later date. Use the current dining room as separate lounge. Also like Math's idea to square off the garden doorway from current lounge to make the back more uniform. You have a good size house so plenty of possibilities but I'm no expert so couldn't help with how much things would cost.

Jonathan, AMB, thank you ever so much for your advice and designs! We had been toying with the idea of pulling the garage forward. Back in the early 2000s, planning permission was rejected for a double garage in the opposite corner of the driveway but a sensible solution would be to come forward next to the neighbouring property, no light issues and should not upset the 'street scene'. I've always been keen on moving the stairs but associated costs have dampened my spirits a little. That saying, in there current guise they are incredibly steep and dangerous for the young and elderly. A new configuration may well improve the landing space/flow on the first floor. I completely agree about the driveway, my initial thought was grasscrete but we'll never have more than two cars... if that. With us eventually getting some gates up, that could be quite an inviting space. I've been watching a lot of house shows and they always mention about being able to see the garden from the front entrance which you have captured in that floor plan. Phases of work is a strong debate and you are not wrong AMB. I guess once we have a final plan, the phase of the works should fall into place. The fireplace was a family heirloom of the previous owner, took it out his grandad's property apparently! In terms of decor, we want to embrace the character of the property with an added modern twist. We are very keen to incorporate a hallway for the very reasons you mentioned. Thanks again for your comments and suggestions, all very useful.

Congrats on your new home! The cheapest option is to update the rail and add a new shower curtain- or a shower blind as previously suggested. All other options are costly. I know as I have just researched the same problem for a house I have just renovated! L shaped glass screens are not standard so are costly to purchase. I would suggest rather than spending the money on a costly alternative, spend the money on doing up the bathroom which will add value. The current bathroom has a basic suite and wall/ floor tiles. If you renovate the bathroom you will get your money back and probably a bit more depending on where the house is. Replace the suite with something new- basic white suite costs about £450 including taps and keep everything in the same place so cheaper to replumb. The basic wall tiles, if in good order, you could re-grout with a coloured grout. Grey is the obvious option but there are some great alternatives- red, blue or yellow for instance. Keep the shower curtain option and maybe move the shower fixing to the long wall and add a overhead shower head so the water goes down rather then outwards- if you know what I mean! You could lift the floor tiles and if laying on a flat surface, lay vinyl tiles which you can do yourself. B&Q have a lovely geometric design which I have used a couple of times and looks great- especially if you team with blue grout! Distract the eye of your potential viewers with great design and hopefully they will forget all about the shower- after all you bought it so others will too! Good luck! In the photo are the B&Q vinyl tiles I mentioned. On the walls are shower panels from Reco panels-not cheap but come in all sorts of designs and you can fit them yourself to the wall so avoiding the use of a tiler! Also quick so your bath won't be out of action for too long!