When concept planning a project like this I start with tracing over the plan and marking each of the more expensive elements to move - like structural walls/columns and drainage. This helps as you start with a much clearer plan. Then consider views, sunlight, movement patterns, sizes and configurations of fixtures and fittings, etc... Draw bubbles/blocks over the top of the clear plan for the different activities you'd like to accommodate - you can also cut these out of bits of paper so you can move them about and play with them until you get a configuration that you like. Hope this helps. We offer home design consultation workshops, when we visit homeowners in their homes and explore options, however, you are outside the areas we cover. You will get a much better layout if you get some professional advice and if you want this to be your forever home then it's worth getting it right. There's nothing to be lost by giving a few of your local architects a call for a chat.

Thank you so so much for your comments! - this has been driving me crazy so getting feedback is invaluable. The estate agents think there is a ceiling value in our area of London that we have to be careful of. As such the budget depends on what we would get. Turning it from a two bed flat (1 single room, 1 double) into a two double bed with nice kitchen diner room = £25k. Turning it into a three bed flat with 2 single rooms and 1 double = £25k (apparently same value as a large two bed). Turning it into a three bed with 2 doubles and 1 single (so an extension) = £60k Option 1 is doing what a neighbor has done (copied layout from what I found online is below) means just moving the kitchen and putting in doors to outside and to the living room - but as you only get a small double and two singles, the estate agents didn't think it would be worth the money. Plus, we don't want a small double bedroom as we have a very big beautiful bed and other furniture Option 2 is similar but making it a large two bed - see below. This would cost even more so seems again unlikely we would get a return on our money Or there is the extension ideas... the first creates an akwward shaped kitchen diner, and a bathroom with no window. The second creates an awkward shaped bedroom with its own courtyard and potentially blocks the light for the master bedroom. The 3rd is not idea is deal as it wouldn't be a very big space to live in, and we wouldn't use the living room as a bedroom but others might... Long story short - im not convinced of any options :(

Hi One Plan...I know, and I agree that it seems strange but here’s the thought process. I’m 52, recently single and so it might well be my long term home and what’s important right now and what I can afford. I could extend the mortgage to do a full side return but that would make my monthly payments strangling as I also need to think about how long I’m going to keep working. What’s important is having entertainment space - which I can’t create currently so this was my next. Thought ( or move to something already suited to me but with stamp duty etc that works out just as expensive unless I move much further out and I’ve pretty much ruled that out. It’s a amazing flat loads of storage ( basement) and huge garden and prime location so I’m trying to make it perfect for me ( not necessarily resale atm).

Is there a reason for a second bedroom? I ask as given your budget and the current increasing costs of materials might put a full extension out of budget. Given that,  I also note that your current combined kitchen lounge area is larger than the bedroom, so it may be more within budget to think about the layout of these 2 rooms. I see that the current bedroom has an attractive outside aspect. If the kitchen is reconfigured you might be able to achieve this from this room with double doors located next to the gate. If it is possible to knock through between kitchen and lounge you could achieve an open plan or almost open plan in this area with the outside aspect. Some food for thought.........