Hi Ellie - exciting project! Will have a think but here are my immediate thoughts. Being in the middle of something similar, with a left-right width of 5.5m, I was cautioned about putting my Island AND table in parallel, running north-south, on account of not having enough space. It so happens that it’s going to fit (just!), but this makes me think that you could struggle putting a table between the island and the patio doors. For clearances round tables and kitchens, I’ve found the Thirty-One Design Rules on Starcraft Custom Builders’ website to be a very helpful guide (in inches, but whatever). I’d also think carefully about the traffic pathways through the room. The bottom wall is current a thoroughfare between the kitchen door and bottom of the stairs, so I’d put less frequently used things there. The fridge and pantry cupboard is good. You have the main working wall in the right place, but now you have to think about how to get people from the kitchen door to the back door or the patio without getting under the cook’s feet... Are you committed to the patio doors? An alternative would be to put an L-shaped kitchen in, by continuing the long run along the outside wall some way to accommodate the sink and bins, maybe something else. You could then drop this back down into the room to make a U-shape, OR just get a really great table as the centrepiece of the space. It’s then clearer to others where to go, they’ll stay out of the work space. AND, to redress the glazing deficit, put a giant window above the worktop on the external wall. I’ve seen an example on Houzz where this was actually a bi-fold window so the kitchen countertop acted like a bar in summer! Oh, and a reading nook at the bottom of the stairs in that bay window...? Just something to think about... good luck!

I agree yet disagree about the "living in the house first".. If you already know you want to open up areas, do it! Bigger structural changes are messy. And 'Policies delayed are policies denied'. Especially with kids, jobs, etc. Plus you want to paint and do floors, it feels a lot more satisfying knowing it can stay that way for years to come. But do make a proper layout, planning is one of if not the most important part of a build/makeover. Sidenote: I'm so very very glad we did the bigger part of the structural work (removing walls, insulation the entire home, new wiring, new plumbing, moving doorways, taking out a chimney breast, changing windows, bathroom from scratch, etc) before moving in. This would not have been realistic afterwards (home is 72 m2 plus scullery). Still far from finished, just about everything that needs to be done are finishes/paintjobs/smaller projects.

I like the second plan better but not sure the nook thing would be worth it just to get light into a utility room (if that was the intended use). Back door useful though. Architect - I was expecting mine to give me great ideas that I hadn't thought of myself. This wasn't my experience and others I have spoken with have said similar. Maybe I have watched too many TV makeovers and my expectations were too high. For me the architect was useful for telling me what I couldn't and couldn't do and what would add significant cost. I'm happy with my final design but I pretty much designed it myself (and changed it halfway though construction!). Maybe I would have had a different experience with a better architect. You live and learn.

Hello Sabina, Maybe the conservatory could be converted into a utility shower and the kitchen could be placed next to the stairwell. Of course, this depends on whether the plumbing can be relocated.