Hi you two, you've been so very helpful. I've ordered a few GP & J samples so I can't wait to get them! You've been great with advise so much so I recommended Houzz on Facebook, not your names specifically incase you didn't want that but you've certainly helped me. Don't think I'll go for an aqua wallpaper I think it might be a bit much as I'd like to paper all the walls up to pic rail, then paint above, but I love the herons - unusual, modern yet in keeping. Sometimes I wish we didn't have a period property as there is a lot of work to do. We moved in in March and it's an uphill struggle but I know it will be worth it in the end! I'm currently covered in wallpaper & paint specks.

Am assuming you don't use the garage to park a car in, but still need garage space for storing bikes and stuff - so keep the front half of the garage as bike/storage space and then incorporate the back of the garage into the house and knock through from the kitchen. move the toilet into the middle of the house and also create a utility room there. That leaves the whole of the back of the house for kitchen/dining and leaves the Family Room as a snug/family room and the Lounge as proper front room (one of these rooms could also be a kids playroom, depending on ages of kids and how much separation they need). Glass doors can be added to the Family Room to separate it more but still be visible and let light into it.

Hi Billy, Little known secret . You can open your own Howdens account. Every Howdens is independently run so it really depends on the management. They all except different "proofs" for being a trader and some none at all. I went with a friend a few years ago and the management eventually said they would open him a trade account without any proof. He wanted to buy some doors that they were seemingly desperate to get rid of, so much so, they had them sitting outside. If you don't get anywhere with one branch try another, but be warned they have a very strange pricing strategy.

A couple of thoughts on the design that may help you replan...... There seems to be very little counter space between your hob and sink, once you set dirty dishes on one side and clean on the other, where will you prep? Perhaps you could put the hob in your island? Or move it or the sink to the other wall? It’s worth considering a change from your wall oven to fitting one (or two) under the counter one. You’ll get back the worktop space, and thus could easily move your fridge next to the pantry. We opted for two full size Neff slide and hide door ovens under our counters , one regular oven, one steam oven, with our hob directly above them and it’s one of the best decisions I made. I have the ergonomic and space benefits of a range cooker, but superior capacity and functionality for my needs. An induction hob not only looks sleeker, but effectively gains you work space too. You can stick a cookbook / chopping board/ etc directly next to your pot while cooking and it will be fine. Karen from One Plan is terrific and will draw you a proper well thought out plan. Alternatively a virtual planning appointment with Ikea will also result in a plan, and unlike Howdens, an actual price, too. Both companies work in standard cm dimensions....a 40cm wide cabinet is a 40cm cabinet is a 40cm cabinet. (One difference is depth and height.... Ikea units are a little bit deeper, and a little bit taller, so they have a little bit more capacity). Hope that helps.