So am I right in thinking that the kitchen/dining area is there already with windows and patio doors in? If so, I wouldnt consider switching the windows and doors around.

Yes, the first picture is how it is now. I would rather not switch the window and doors around but I can’t think of a lay out I like if I leave them

If you keep the actual openings the same, swapping the window and doors shouldn't be stupidly expensive. Having the doors in the kitchen end would be a nightmare with small children running in and out of the garden.

I would also think twice about a breakfast bar with seating if you have a table 2 steps away. I'd rather have a deeper peninsula with no seating

I know this is not helpful for your new design, but how do you find the old one? It’s pretty much exactly what I have planned for my new kitchen/diner. Would like to switch ends, as some have suggested for you to do, but drainage/plumbing etc seems like it would be a big job.

Agree with point about having patio door in kitchen area - we have door in kitchen and I hate it - it’s one of main reasons we are having an extension. 3rd layout is best. You could put banquette seating along wall next to table - would give a bit more room for moving around.

Thanks Wumi, I like your layout as it looks more spacious and I may have to forgo having a breakfast bar as i do think it may make it all look a little to crowded.

cushion cover, our builder said it shouldn't be too expensive to swap the openings around and move the drainage/water further along the wall and i agree that i'm not too keen on having to walk through the kitchen to get to the garden.

Caro Robbo, I like how our kitchen is laid out at the moment and it seems to work well. The only reason we are having to change it is that we are having a utility built and the door is going where the double oven and tall cupboard is hence the reason we are having to change it around and I think because I like the lay out of the kitchen as it is, I'm finding it hard to imagine a better way of laying it out!

Other option is I turn both openings into windows (losing the patio doors completely) as we will have a back door to the garden from the new utility room but this seems like a 'backwards step' as everyone seems to favour putting doors in. I could have the window in the dining part a nice big picture window so letting in lots of light and i wouldn't have to worry so much about leaving 'walkway space' for the patio doors.

If you like the kitchen where it is then why go to so much expense to move it?

Do you have any problems bending down to lift something in and out of an oven? If not then perhaps invest in a hob with an oven underneath. This takes care of where to put the oven. You have a big fridge freezer that disrupts the flow into the dining room. Have you considered having an under counter fridge with a separate freezer in that big utility.

Those two big cupboards in the dining room may be valuable storage space but like the fridge freezer they disrupt flow. Could you replace them with shallow floor to ceiling cupboards (to the depth of the short wall) running the full length of that wall? You could even continue it into where the fridge freezer is now. You would retain the same amount of storage space, perhaps even gain some, but it would look and function better. If they matched the kitchen cupboards they would give a more cohesive and expansive feel to the rooms.

I would leave the peninsula as it is. It will visually recede because you will have more room to move around.

You could bring the utility door forward in line with the kitchen units and finish it to match the cupboard doors adding to that expansive and cohesive feel.

Hi, I am a lighting designer if you need help designing a scheme and specifying fittings. Kind regards, Katie