I would make the conservatory an integral part of the house - an orangery for instance - this can be connected to your kitchen by knocking that wall down between the two. I would also consider knocking through to the lounge so this becomes an open plan living area. You could have glass pocket doors that let the light in but also enable you to close off when you want some privacy - as the children get older it is important to consider the fact that they will need their own space and you won't want to listen to their music! When considering open plan it's good to think long term - the use of pocket doors enables you to use the space more effectively depending on the situation. The dining room could then become a playroom / cinema room / study area as your children get older. In terms of a fireplace, you could think about a wood burner that doesn't necessarily have a fireplace surround which is quite contemporary and would suit an open plan living area. Hope that help! Louise

Hi Sarah. What a fabulous house you will have! Exciting. Your house has to represent you and I think if you have looked at what you need and you need the utility and pantry I would go ahead with those. I have recently completed a project with a hidden door to the pantry and it is a fabulous feature to have. This does take space from the kitchen itself so it is definitely important to look at exactly what is needed in the visible kitchen area and make sure nothing will need to be sacrificed. How how much space you have is really important so would great to take a look at the actual plans. As a concept planner, we do lots of investigation before designing - looking at your requirements, what works in your room, how you use the space. Looking at multiple options all in 3D so you can truly see how the space will look and feel. Having something like this done for your project will help you no end. Allowing you see the different options for the pantry/laundry area and how much each options gets you in terms of what fits in and the maneuverability of the space. It will also allow you to see If the bathroom is your main and only bathroom then I love the size and use of the space but I too think the wardrobe (bedroom layouts) can be made a little more usable for you. Do you have some plans you can up load with dimensions? All the best, Gina

Just looking quickly, here’s what I think: Definitely a no for the microwave position. It’s too high and a hazard for lifting out hot bowls with such things as soup. Why aren’t you having the oven in a tall unit the same as you currently have? Have a single oven and an integrated microwave over it. Is the corner unit a 900 x 900L? If those are straight corner bases you‘ll need to drop on your knees to access the corner which is a nightmare whereas a 900L gives you the opportunity to open each door individually or together allowing full access to the corner. A 3 drawer pack is better than a 4 IMO as you get 2 deep pan drawers which are better for saucepans (but I’d place the oven there). Also a 800 mm drawer pack is a fabulous size with superb storage if you can swap something around to accommodate this size. Over the other side I would have 2 tall units. One for the integrated fridge/freezer and then a larder unit alongside it doing away with the base unit. Looking at the image you have space to put them on the same wall as the door.

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