Alternative

I would keep bedroom 1 as main bedroom as it has en-suite bathroom. Also I always think it’s nice to use all the space in your home rather than saving space for guests only! In your home office (bedroom 2), you can shut the door at the end of the day, and separate home and work. Decorate it and set it up exactly as you want it, just find a stylish way to hide any work mess/paperwork when guests stay over. 😊

I must admit, I’d connect the kitchen to the living space in some way as Jonathan has done but you say it’s been updated?

If so I would avoid the desk in your living or sleeping space, it’s not great not to be able to switch off from work. There’s very little difference in the size of the bedrooms so would have the desk in bed 2 plus you avoid the heat and noise issue during the day.

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I did initially look into a re-configuration that Jonathan has suggested, which solves a lot of the problems with the current layout. However, speaking to a builder and an architect, it would involve planning permission (as the building is Grade II listed), and redirecting any kitchen waste pipes to go via the bathroom (which is the only other place that has exterior waste pipes). Though the builder didn’t seem to have any concerns in moving a kitchen. Checking what other flats have done in my road, I couldn’t see any other examples of moving the kitchen to the front of the property (which is where Bedroom 1 is situated), but I assume this is just because planning restrictions would stop any kitchen waste pipes being shown on the front in practice.

Generally a Grade II listing means you can’t change the look of the front of the property and I think we can all agree with the value of protecting the quality of a beautiful streetscape. Where the system falls down is that enforcement of the guidelines varies by individual and some will insist on an inflexible obstructive approach and others will be competent. When I had an apartment in a Grade II building I wanted to replace a 1960s picture window at the back of the house with a sash style window. Most of us would assume this would be rubber stamped with some guidelines for implementation but the moron I got protected the 1960s window.

So you should have a chat with your local planning office about what will be allowed. I bet that they would be ok about moving the kitchen as long as you don’t change the window or reduce its attractiveness by putting cabinets in front of the window. Any kitchen has to have ventilation they will no doubt stipulate where this must go and you will no doubt have to plumb into the existing bathroom waste.

You might struggle to get agreement to knock an aperture between the two front rooms - the argument being that potentially it changes what can be seen from the road.