Keeping the plumbing near existing will keep the costs down - might sway husband a bit if you point that out ?! I do like the idea of adding a laundry/utility backing into the existing kitchen ! Depends what will improve your use of the home and how best to make a difference that suits you ! Worth siting and chatting with either a designer with building knowledge or an architect or builder ! Prior to this - make a wish list on detail - ie I'd like two washing machines and access to outside line and a two dryers ( if you do loads of washing ) or I need a study space / music room / tv lounge whatever ... Work through which space will best accommodate each need ! Have fun !!!

Carole, you really need to create a new post for this as it will get lost on this heading and you might not get the response you're hoping for. Anyway, what do you mean by overlaps? Have you sanded them down first?

@Sonia. I know what you mean. The forum is inundated with companies posting on every post some days and all the posts are the same. They’re just pushing for work. In the past I have clicked on the flag but all it has done is hide the post from my feed. From that I presume everyone else can still see it. Houzz need to pull their finger out and sort this.

Sarah if I'm honest it's proving a bit of a pain. Its a UK gov grant so go to the website and then search for registered trade people near you. Supposedly they've only registered for the green home improvements they offer but I've found most ticked ask the boxes. I only found four around us that did under floor insulation and two are completely booked up, one isn't responding and the one we've had a quote from just feels a bit off. They have a handful of reviews online and just something doesn't feel right. so I'm doing some more research before committing. Then lots of paper work to complete but in the end we only pay our share and the company get the rest directly from the gov grant. Hopefully it'll work out...!