Hi Matt, Is the only entry into the garage (including the garden store) through the side door? Would it be an option to look at a more multifunctional layout for the studio space that would allow for you to create temporary 'zones'? Best, Catherine

Hi Susan, do you have a floorplan of the room? This will help to advise on layout options. If a corner chaise sofa doesn't work you could always opt for a sofa with a footstool. You may find it useful to mark out on the floor where you would like the sofa etc with masking tape this will give you an idea on the space you have in the room and how easy it is to move around pieces of furniture etc. If you would like any guidance and help with your garage conversion, we are an affordable online interior design company offering expert advice with affordable packages. Heres the link to our website if you would like to take a look - https://www.thelivinghouse.co.uk/ You may also find our Facebook group community helpful, its another place to ask questions and gain free advice from like minded interior lovers and us as experts! Here is the link if you would like to join - https://www.facebook.com/groups/interiorhomedesignadviceandsupportuk

Hey Jonathon, Thanks so much for your thoughts! Maybe I should have been clearer, we will have a living room upstairs and so there is a breakout from the kitchen. Also, our planning permission was approved as long as the garage is 'in keeping with the rest of the close' and so bricking up the doors may take a second round of application. There is already an existing window on the side of the property in the garage and so we will just be enlarging it. That side of the house gets the majority of direct light during the day. Here is an early cross section of the house plans. The kitchen we currently have is tiny and on the first floor at the front, and will be replaced by a single bedroom on the 1st floor (starting where the soil pipe cuts through the room and covering where the bookshelf is currently)

Hi we had a joiner put a partition wall across our garage splitting it in half. The ‘garage cupboard’ has shelving and floor to ceiling storage, it’s ace! The front half is for bikes and garden stuff (and still looks like a garage from the drive). There is a door through to the front half. This doesn’t solve your downstairs WC, but hope that helps. Definitely worth doing in my opinion.