Hi Mel, You have the right idea to place kitchen on south wall. I wouldn't mind laundry over there too if possible. The more north wall for living and sun light the better. I believe a generous pantry can be waltzed in with modified bathroom layout and kitchen having a similar layout to what is shown here. If you wish to supply clearer dimensions I'm happy to play! Also lets try to avoiding the internal toilet we can look straight at as we entry home and walk down the hall. Windows to kitchen even with fence view is excellent for cross vent, light and can have outlook to hanging herb baskets. The good old garage at the rear using miles of land for drive! The latest craze for installing by-fold doors is great but they do not allow for small inlet of fresh air such as is required in cold weather. A few windows will providing air movement and cross ventilation much safer than having to leave a door open. New models of sliders are preferable (if you can clean tracks easily) as the doors are out of the way and not a walking into hazard. Good luck. Margot

Unfortunately there is no simple answer for the best dining table for your home as so much depends on your household, lifestyle, and dimensions of the available space. You need to think about who uses it, and how you entertain. If you have messy toddlers get something that is easy to keep clean, and is fairly robust. If you like to host large number of people for dinner maybe a table that can be extended. What is the size of your household? Do you usually eat at the breakfast bar? For materials and colours I would be looking at what you already have in your kitchen and family room as a starting point. Don't introduce new colours or new materials to the dining area that aren't already in the kitchen or family room. Your bar stools look good and work well with your kitchen. If you are happy with your bar stools I would use them as a starting point to see if you can source complementary dining chairs. Once you have sourced your dining chairs find a table that works with the chairs. Make sure that the dining chairs that you select are the right height for the table, and if you get dining chairs with arms (called carver chairs) that the arms fit under the table. The tops of tables are a fairly consistant height, but the clearance under the table depends on the materials, structure and the position of the table legs. The number of chairs that you can fit around a table will depend on the position of the table legs and the width of the dining chairs. Measure your available space carefully before looking at tables to ensure that you have adequate circulation space around the dining setting to access the external door. Make sure that there is enough room to get past a chair when somebody is sitting at it. Without knowing your household, or lifestyle, or the dimensions of the room I think a six person or possibly an eight person circular table would work well in the space, but this may not meet your needs (or fit). Best of luck with finding the best dining table, Dr Retro

Hi, your chandelier is fabulous, these chairs from coco republic would look great, even a wishbone chair , go for large artwork on wall to add a stylish modern look, you could change the frames on your current art to a narrow black frame to give them a completely new contemporary look and really highlight them.

I would get rid of furniture with thin steel legs. In a room with a large expanse of hard flooring, those little legs end up looking like a canteen more than a dining room. You need something with a bit of presence to take the attention away from the big tiles. They are not a feature tile so they need to recede into the background and let the furniture shine. You see how the upholstered chairs and thicker legs on this table make what is really a very austere space come to life. Get yourself a nice pendant and in that room I would actually build some open shelving across the back wall with a contrast wall colour behind it. You can then install some discreet LED downlights in the nooks for a stunning effect at night. With the heater staying where it is you definately need something large, high and eye catching to draw the eye there and to the table setting rather than to the heater.