Hi Catherine, You have a lovely open plan kitchen and lounge, but as you say, it lacks punch and interest. Since you're stuck with the stainless steel kitchen for the time being, you need to work with it and have some fun. A symmetrical arrangement of stainless steel shelves either side of the splash back for the cooker would allow you to put up interesting bottles, plants, china, etc. What about painting this wall a bright colour like Seville Orange from Crown and the other walls in natural white. You could also paint the base of the island in the Seville Orange. In the seating area, use the orange colour and some others like plum or blue-grey in fabric patterns, have cushions made up for the seating area. Also an area rug large enough for the front feet of your sofas and the coffee table to sit on with colour would brighten up this area. It's unfortunate that the TV is blocking a French window. Can it be moved somewhere else, perhaps the bay if the bottom shutters are never opened? Instead of half of the bay window having plantation shutters, I would recommend a second upper row, which could be folded back or, if you don't need coverage for privacy on the upper windows, have an interesting, colourful valance. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=valance+and+plantation+shutters+for+a+bay+window&biw=1516&bih=839&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIzdu7xO-FyAIVh0gUCh1aigXI&dpr=0.95#tbm=isch&q=valance++for+a+bay+window&imgrc=SjLxqYYGnQmhlM%3A

Hi Helen, The garden looks fairly large - you could extend outwards? A ground floor rear extension, get rid of the sun room, install velux windows or skylights, some bi-folding doors and you would have a really bright, spacious lounge. If money/building regulations permit, you could extend upwards also? If this would not be possible, extend the first floor outwards at the rear to create two more bedrooms (where the attic room is). As Gabby mentioned, you can now get modular extensions and loft conversions which cause minimal disruption - entire rooms are designed and built off-site then installed over a number of days. A very time efficient solution but not as cost effective - they are pricey! The leading company for these is Moduloft, I believe. I have no direct experience with this type of conversion myself, but know this method is rising in popularity. In terms of the ground floor, the kitchen looks to occupy a very small space currently. I don't know your feelings on open plan but you could knock down the walls between the lounge and the kitchen, and bedroom 1 and the lounge to create a large, open plan living space. You could arrange it so that your new kitchen-dining space are where the current kitchen and dining room are, and the living room is in the space where bedroom 1 is. This would allow for the living room to feel like a separated little nook while still being part of a larger, open plan room. In terms of the exterior - there are countless possibilities. Replacing windows with some in a more contemporary style (e.g. grey upvc), replacing the door and repainting the exterior are the simplest but most appearance-altering. I have attached a picture to illustrate what I envisage a rear extension with the velux/bifolding doors combo I suggested looking like - good luck with everything!

Brian, I strongly suspect any solution similar to those in the photos you have supplied will be extremely expensive. As you have mentioned, you have already had one company provide a price which was at a price you envisaged. Unfortunately, a designer solution such as this is rarely scalable in terms of size, the fact that you are mobilising a designer, fitter etc. will carry a substantial price from the outset. The previous suggestions offered by professionals on this site suggested by B&Q and Ikea are clearly at a different price point, but nonetheless a solution to the dilemma you presented.

I really like the way the beversbrook one was done. Can I ask can you share the design/dimensions at all? It looks a lot bigger than mine and im struggling to visualise the space with the dimensions I have. if I potentially do the courtyard around the 2nd bedroom, bathroom and part of an open plan living area I'm not sure about what sort of space I will have. I'm going to have a play around with this idea.