Hello Steph, I would reduce the size of the stairs and add the extra space gained to the kitchen area. Add some glass doors between the hall and kitchen so that you can see right through when walking through the front door. Similarly use glass internal doors between the living room and the rear seating area. This allows some formality to the living room to be retained. Remove the chimney breast. at the rear. Downstairs showers are rarely used so that front bathroom could be modified to incorporate a small utility room and cloakroom. Washers and dryers can be stacked. My children shared and were happy with that until they were 10 and 8 so allow for that. There seems to be a lot more washing when they are young so a bedroom could be used for drying for a few years. I had one client with teenagers who lived in their bedrooms before work started. she commened after the house was opened up that they were now happy to be downstairs and enjoy the company although whilst still on their laptops.

Jonathan, funny you say this as my first sketches were for sink where hob is and a floor to ceiling window looking out to garden! for the exact reason that sink there is 'traditional' so I totally get what your saying. the reason we changed from that plan was at that point the hob was on the island, when we changed that idea I then wasn't sure about both hob and sink along the run of cabinets, both facing a wall, wondered if we would feel we'd made the kitchen boring and antisocial as would always be facing the away from the room? and lack of pantry we were quite pleased with the extra cupboards it brings. the understair we will be taken out so the garage conversion bathroom will be the only we on ground floor, the bath is a must I'm afraid as we are really missing it and don't want to cramp the upstairs bathroom by putting one in as that's the high use shower. I've always assumed air con would be expensive and ugly? we are going for electric velux sky lights so will be easy to open. thanks for your input, always so helpful to get other perspectives.

I think as long as the wc boxing is the same height as the hall height tiles it will all blend and look quite clean. found this pic on pinterest, I know it’s full height tiles and all same tiles but might help visualise how the boxing will look next to shower there’s a free 3d design app i used when doing my bathroom called visoft smart, you can put in all different boxings and different sections of tiles etc, would highly recommend if you’re handy with design programmes, if not let me know and if i get time this evening or over the weekend i’ll do a quick mock-up of your shower/toilet area for you

Hi there, it would be good to see the layout of the next floor - as the comment above says, you bathroom is probably above the kitchen so all pipes and waste is running through that wall. If you were able to, i would knock down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and leave the location of the kitchen where it is, but make it bigger and possibly incorporate an island as well. Let me know if you would like to chat further about options available, and designs of the spaces. Kate - Xenas Interiors