Thank you for all your comments. The alcove with the lamp is 3'10" h x 3'2" w x 18" deep. The width of wall between door hinges and corner of wall is nearly 2 feet. Actually 60cms. I don't think I will be allowed a range oven in the fireplace recess. People like to put their Aga in such a place and it is practical but I do like my oven and it is very efficient even though I have to get my son sometimes to sort out the technology. It is quite new. I had thought of having the hob across the corner of my "L" shaped layout with an decent extractor fan above which could access through the ceiling to a roof space. One of many roof spaces in my house. However, I have seen a lovely corner pantry in one of the Houzz photos which I am very taken with. It is somewhere I can hang or store saucepans, keep tins of things which I can see easily (i.e.keep a check on storage dates!) and don't get lost in the back of cupboards. The hob would have to go to the left of that. A tall fridge freezer could go to the right. The extractor could still access through the ceiling as it would do a right turn and go up from inside the pantry. Don't know how this corner pantry would look though!? On that fireplace wall the fireplace and mantle will, I'm sorry, have to stay. It needs renovating but that's it. Bytheway, the pantry I describe could have glass in the doors which would lighten the whole thing up and have interesting lighting. A fridge/freezer is a good idea because at the moment I have to make quite a trek to my "back kitchen" where I keep two freezers (full) and it would be handy to have the odd loaf of bread, ice cream, chips and peas nearby. I keep all veg in the back kitchen as well as it is cooler. I do like the light from the windows falling on the area where the sink and draining board now is. Dishwasher is near there. Then it is shady in the corner to the right of the oven where I boil water, store coffee pots, keep tea etc. in cupboard above. Cups, plates above sink. It is all a good working layout. Tins of stuff like tomatoes etc. are in the cupboard under the alcove work top. I'd like to get rid of all that. If I did cause a disturbance and dig out the rest of the stone I could have a good cupboard!! It would take a lot of working on my husband for him to agree to that. But, who knows. I could try. Everything would be easier to get at. Then a hob across the corner. I want to get rid of the need for those trays that angle around and do their best to utilise the corner. I got rid of my last lot as can be seen next to my fridge. I saw a way of doing that by putting a cupboard across the corner and carrying on either side with a work top. The fireplace wall needs sorting out I agree. The trouble is that the glass door opens against that wall which is correct. As I mention above there is 2' of wall behind where the door opens. Shifting the door would cause problems in the adjoining room as there is a long radiator fixed on the wall and would not look right in that room. Not really room for window seats. Window on left has a radiator and worktop or oven fits into wall beside the window. Many thanks for your plan. I will give it all some thought when I make more decisions.

Hi Cat. I hope this helps - rather than reproduce it here, we've written a series of blogs, hints and tips around this subject, and one of the links is below - it sounds like you are already well down the line, so you'll just refer to the relevant bits. Suffice to say that if you have the time, you can do this yourself. I've always found it best (both as a home owner and as a professional) to engage directly with a number of local contractors and to meet them on site to make sure they really understand the requirement before they price the work (things like access, skip locations and so on they will need to know); I would not trust this to an on-line process. There is no substitute for personal contact where you not only have the opportunity to explain any issues directly, you will also get a feel for the contractor with which you can work best. Part of this selection process is in listening to each contractor's thoughts which are often useful. I hope this link works and that it helps (you'll find subsequent links which lead you to other aspects of project work that you may find of interest) ... click here

Thank you that's an excellent guide. I have signed up for your newsletter. When you purchase power tools do you trust Amazons reviews or do you use a power tools review site like thespruce or toolinspector.com to decide?

Many years ago I had a job where I saw plenty of reports. These particular observations were not standard comments on every report (some comments for example about drains used to be as they can’t inspect). My understanding is homebuyers is quite limited and is really only an extended look over a house. Basic valuation is a very quick look round to establish the price. Structural report involves pulling back carpet, maybe drilling in walls and a lot more involved. Not every seller will be happy for your surveyor to do these things to their home. By you choosing the homebuyers report makes me think you wanted more detailed information about the property condition. This is likely to be your most expensive purchase. If the surveyor has recommended strongly a structural engineer inspects the property I personally wouldn’t ignore this. Yes you could have surveyor go round and all be fine potentially wasting their fee or it could identify a problem potentially saving you thousands. In either case it would give you peace of mind about what you are actually buying.