I’m a real fan of plenty of plenty of cupboard space, it really tidies up a room, so I think getting a carpenter to build proper cupboards next to the fireplace, with a few floating shelves above for choice items is the way to go. He could then put a door on the understairs area as well as shelves or pull out drawers. Adding a window sounds good, but what is on the other side of the wall? If it’s next doors wall I’m not sure how much light will get in?

You could improve the dining area by changing the chairs for ones with a lower back. Tall ladderback chairs can be heavy and just get in the way sometimes!

Here’s a few ideas

Thanks very much for your suggestions Sonia!

We have alcove cupboards plus floating shelves much like the one in your picture in our living room, which we think work well. I like your idea to change the chair type.

The window faces onto the paths in between our house and next door's – so as you say, it would essentially have a view of next door's wall. As such, you're right to question whether it would let in enough light (something we're not sure about either).

Nice suggestion – I hadn't considered one of those. Ta!

All of the above is great advice. You could also get the carpenter to build in a banquette /built in seating in the corner where your table is ( you would then have loads of extra storage for toys etc inside, you can then rotate toys in and out). If you want more light you could put the table in the middle and turn the sash window into a floor length window quite easily. It’s a lovely room with that fireplace. Good luck.

All ideas so far are great. Although I like that letterbox window, I think it would be best to bring it further down, to sitting height. Privacy is maintained, as it's your own passageway, protected from view by the facing wall. You would then have the (widened) window sill doubling up as bench, practically a window seat with cushions. Behind it a generous, large window. The view is onto a brick wall, but with a few plants in hanging baskets, it still gives you more space and light. Also from outside it will be nicer to walk past a window, than between two brick walls.

Thanks R Bolton and Siglint Kessler – really appreciate these suggestions!

:-) And keep that size of table, not smaller / square!

There are 1,000s of small terraces with this layout, I have two of them. For me the problem is the dinning room has to double up as a hallway leading to both the kitchen and the back door. This leads to all foot traffic wanting to walk the same route door to door.

For me the best solution, budget allowing, is to replace the dinning room window with a glass door and widen the opening to the kitchen. The back door can then be bricked up increasing useable space. I know open plan kitchens are not universally popular but can be space efficient in smaller properties.

I’d suggest an extendable dining table and clear chairs for plenty of light around the room.

I think you may need planning permission for the envelope window. I love the built in cupboards either side of the chimney. Have hidden drawers if possible and chuck out some of your junk. Or all of it. 😜. I’ve been decluttering every lockdown. Good luck.

Another vote for turning the window into a French door and widening the access to the kitchen. If you go onto Rightmove sold prices for roads similar to yours, you can see the internal photos of numerous houses with this type of rear room. It’s a great way to see all the possibilities.