Thanks Minnie those are really helpful comments. The family bathroom walls are from the original house walls. The architect suggested the cubby hole for the toilet as he thinks moving the walls would be too big a job. But I agree that I'd prefer it enlarged properly, that bath is actually 1.4m long, the smallest we could find which would fit the new limited space. We have a builder coming round tomorrow so I will ask him about moving the wall. The utility room is 2.2m wide. 60cm for units each side with 1m gap. We are planning on leaving the units out of one side for now for buggy storage, but I would like to put more storage in there when that's out of the way as we are losing our garage which stored all the junk up to now. So maybe we should enlarge it to 2.4m? The only reason I didn't go for the sofa facing the bifolds and garden was that it meant blocking in the play room slightly, but perhaps it could work with a corner sofa, or like you said a smaller sofa. that would also solve the glare issue. A coffee table a foot stool would be great I think. We haven't put too much thought into to the island as this wasn't necessary for planning, but I definitely want some foot stools. We did talk about maybe having it come out from the side of the wall instead of an island. We have that now and quite like it. But the plan is to have the dishwasher etc under there, plus leg space for stools. Yes that's the Fridge Freezer. I just plonked it there as I'm not sure where else it could go really. I guess next to the windowless neighbours wall where the hob is currently.

Firstly I think you may find the help of a Concept Planner really useful as the space has to 'work' for you. Secondly, without the all the dimensions marked accurately on the plan, it's not possible to have anything other than an educated 'idea'. The door in to the room isn't marked and you need the dimensions of the fire recesses etc, just all dimensions really. The room when you draw it out appears a lot more square than you have it, after all, it's only 1.4 meters longer than it is wide. So, planning it out properly is really important. Having said that..................I'm not overly keen on either plan. I think you would be best with the kitchen / diner towards the wider open plan area nearest the windows, and the kids zone - play / relax / storage area nearest the fireplace in the more odd shape. Odd shapes are better for storage and I think the fireplace looks better in the loungey area than in the kitchen. Zoning is essential, thus on this plan, you can see from the kitchen everything that's going on. The kids are on the bottom of the plan, with a lounge / play and all important storage area. Then, cooking and eating at the top. The use of the small island and the return will help keep the kids away from the cooking. So, dimensions, entry door etc needed for a final tweak!

Hi Andrew, Here is a quick sketch I came up with. You said that the north bay window doesn't provide a lot of light so that end could become a bedroom. but that does create a very cramped living area and a bathroom which is basically just off the kitchen. But if you have high enough ceilings you might be able to create a clever split height layout for a small, fully enclosed second bedroom (this should work for a 3m ceiling). These split level/low height spaces are becoming popular in the ‘Tiny house movement. By changing the bathroom around a low ceiling could be created over the toilet and bath, and then a bed could be added in the space above this and a wardrobe on the bedroom side. The bed would be reached with a ladder or built-in steps with storage under it. The area over the sink would be normal height with some storage space above. This creates a fully usable bedroom without using as much floor space but it is only really suitable as a guest or kid’s bedroom. It is definitely fair to say it's an even 2 bedroom flat. And because of the expense of the extra walls, floor and custom furniture, it’s usually undertaken by someone planning to live in the space themselves. So this may not be suitable for your case, I just thought it was an interesting and unusual idea. Please let me know what you think? And I wish you all the best with your project!! Phill

Since you are looking at making fairly wholesale changes is there an argument to move the stairs? Is there an argument to move the parking so that the current kitchen has a better outlook? Would the budget stretch to a small extension behind the current kitchen so that the current room can be split to have a new utility at the front by the back door?