How many to eat ? How often ? Any area elsewhere you can liberate and use for extra storage or as a breakfast nook or space for fold down table etc ? The smallest kitchens are the ones that require the most innovation ! Sounds like you could benefit from spending quality time with an excellent kitchen designer ... If you can't get that one to one time with someone for free in a busy showroom - then perhaps consider hiring an independent designer (like me!) working with you to get results that suit the room - but also suit you !!! Most kitchen companies will offer a discount when you rock up with your own set of plans - as 1. It means you are a genuine buyer -not just come on out of the rain 2. It saves them time and travel 3. They know you will be shopping around so they need to give you their best price to be in with a chance of securing your business ! So it's money well spent !!

Thanks ‘Man about the house’, we hope to house the boiler, but as it’s non-standard size (it’s a commercial sized boiler) we are exploring doing a bespoke cabinet with a standard door but this depends on the cost! I like the idea of a light and airy kitchen - will definitely explore this. For cabinet doors, am now thinking perhaps f&b ammonite coloured doors but worried that grey won’t be in fashion in a few years so perhaps looking at colours that are more classical/light such as f&b old white or James white. Currently testing these colours on our kitchen wall! Will post pictures when am home.

A Beautiful inframe kitchen designed and made by myself a few years ago with seating booth and dropped soffitts. stunning results...!

There are not many appliance brands that sell a venting / downdraft hob with a gas cooktop as to do it right needs alot of expertise.. ours works & works really well. The burner are sunk down low in the cooktop..giving it protection from the extractor..