Hi there again I am not sure where you live but why don't you put a ceiling hung log burner in between the dining room and living room. This will add a focal point, heat the entire downstairs of the house really efficiently and break up the open plan space into zones. Personally speaking I would defo keep the living room separate, having done a lot of research on this when we did up our derelict house I found that most families loved open plan kitchen/ dining and family room space but everyone wanted a separate living space to escape to. Also would be worth bearing in mind that open plan allows you to do only one thing, so if you wanted to listen to music whilst you cooked but your partner wanted to watch tv this wouldn't be possible in open plan. Having a separate living space allows you do different things/ activities etc without encroaching on those you live with (hope this makes sense am not being very articulate!!)

Thank you for details. In general, location of areas is chosen fine, especially if you want to keep dining and kitchen separately. Although I will have couple of suggestions for you. I would consider more space for your dining/kitchen area. Make it wider and add at least 1m-1,5 m. You have double doors to the garden but you don't leave enough room to walk around table. It can be a nightmare to move chairs if you need to pass, even simply for the reason to open or close windows with curtains or blinds. Looking at lounge areas: two large sofas will look bulky, especially in the area, which you plan to keep neat and clean. It means it should be as functional (when you need it to be) as to be out of your way when you live your life. From here, I will recommend to choose corner sofa for your sitting room and a large footstool. It will allow you to have open look on interior and area will look larger, welcoming and you will have more seats for family hours.If you like armchairs, then have a look at next layout Second area doesn't need large sofa. A set of chairs will look much better and will be more functional. Therefore, you don't need any special dividers between two areas because they will look as two separate complete areas and you will not miss such fact :) If you wonder to place doors or special separation to kitchen + dining area, there are many esthetic options https://alenacdesign.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/room-dividers-and-other-solutions/ I hope it will help you :) Don't hesitate to ask more. Good luck! Alena

Hi Sarah, You can modify an existing extension, but in your case, as you said, you might need to replace the spanning beam - unless the structural engineer finds a way to extend this, but you will have a column inside the space, which might not be preferable. Full length bifolds, again depends on the structural design. You could probably have them, but not necessarily. There's plenty of design tricks with glazing to ensure it looks great and brings the right purpose. I wouldnt necessarily block the second entrance if I could. Relocating the toilet will be a game changer in my opinion, as it will open up the space even more and allow you to have a living area with dining as well. Also if you are hiring an architect, check with them the option to not extend the current side return, and modify the glazing & layout only, i think there's some potential there too. You can do plenty of awesome things with your space, the key is to have the right people on board. Hope this helps. Cristina.

Hi Coopz, I feel your frustration. There are so many options and so many directions this could go. It is completely natural you are struggling with a layout. We as trained architectural designers often struggle with the layouts. It is not your job to come up with a solution. It is a task of your hired professional. Focus on identifying your pain points. Make a list of what works and what doesn't. Think about how you use the space and where it is serving you well and where it is not. This should not be a copy and paste job but a good tailored design that satisfy needs of your family for now and considers your needs in the future. You will need to hire professional to solve these problems. Hiring an architectural designer with specialist skills may sound like and extravagance, but we have the vital knowledge and information required to assess the space you live in and maximise the potential of your home. With the right person, you will get out a lot more than you pay for in fees. They will add tones of value and they will also help you to allocate budget correctly. Don't under estimate the importance of this process. You cannot afford not to do this. I hope that helps. Best Wishes Suzanne & Joseph