Yes, I agree with Beautiful Abode. One metre (between the back of the seat and the wall or passageway) is required for someone to be seated whilst another can get behind them to access the next seat along. Proportionally, 1.2m x 2.4m is a good proportion for a dining table for 10, which means the person's place at the head of the table will not encroach on the placing of the two diners on either side. Also 1.2 is more generous for serving to the centre of the table. There is no hard and fast rule to dining table dimensions. However, if you table is 1.0m or 1.1m wide, you will need to allow for a little more than 600mm per person in its length. Best way to test the ideal table size for you is to get some table mats and place them on a table as far apart as you feel most comfortable, then ascertain the table size by drawing a line around them.

for a comfortable walking space the island should be about 1200mm - 1500mm away from the long side to the other counters and at least 900mm -1200mm from the end to any other counter or wall then the island could be 600mm deep and 900mm long to fit your cooktop BUT the cooktop on such a small island would not be very safe to use (unless you live alone and have no visitors) and there should be much better options....post a plan of the whole room with measurements and a list of everything you need to fit in the whole room

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. I assumed my layout would be similar to that of other Californian Bungalows of the same period. It is helpful to learn my layout is reasonably uncommon and I am probably looking for inspiration in the wrong places. It sounds like Dr Retro House Calls and JRED are correct in steering me towards an interior designer. I hadn’t considered that option as I thought I would need a large budget for furniture and décor if going down that path. I’ll give Bigreader’s suggestion a go first and use scaled cut-outs of furniture to play around with furniture placement. If I still need guidance after that, I will look into interior design services. I initially shared your thoughts – Melt in ACT - and was thinking about turning the laundry space into a large bathroom and then moving the laundry to the small bathroom. Ultimately it was going to be too expensive… and seeing as I have young boys who get every item of clothing they wear dirty within 5 minutes of putting it on, it will be a bit of a luxury to have a big laundry. It's an idea I might revisit in the future though. Oklouise, I love all your ideas and suggestions and am really grateful for the time you’ve taken to respond. The floorplan you’ve put together is super helpful. I was bummed about the lack of space for an entry set down area and would have never thought about moving the bedroom door. I will definitely look into that. Good memory siriuskey- I did previously post about this house and I received a couple of good suggestions (including advice from you) around maximising kitchen bench space with a kitchen island and adding a storage wall near the small living spaces. I felt the advice sought in this post is sufficiently different to justify asking a new question about whether there are resources I may not be aware of and if people have ideas about the floor plan as a whole, including spaces I had not previously asked about. I’ve got lots of new ideas and really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their advice. This is a great forum/ community!

Turning an attic into a room can add worth to your property value and additional space for the members of your household. Many old houses were built with slanting roofs and still have more space and available height that makes the attic easier to convert and not so expensive to pull off. There are many things to consider before undertaking the job. Building codes can make permits impossible to obtain if certain structural and safety requirements are not met. Roof design, structural integrity, and support, accessibility, light sources, clearance, comfort, and safety are matters of the utmost importance. All of these things need to be considered before your conversion begins. Converting your attic into an extra room needs planning. Step 1 Enter the penthouse to assess its condition and suitability for conversion. If the attic has post, but no floors, take a slab of wooden planks with you so you can roam around and take some pictures and make some measurements of the Step 2 Take a photo of the rafters you see on the sides of the roof. If your joists are heavy rafters without the addition of brackets attaching them to the floor joists, you probably have an attic that is good for conversion. The brackets indicate a truss frame which may involve raising the expensive roof to allow for the attic conversion. Step 3 Measure the free space in your attic with your tape measure. Attic space has to bet be 10.5 ft at the ridgeline, at least 50% of the completed space must be 7.5 ft in height or more. Step 4 Measure your joists. If the joists are 2x4 or 2x6, they will need to be reinforced to carry the load of floors and furniture. Photos should also be taken here for reference. Step 5 Measure the size and examine the condition of the existing windows. Windows has to be properly insulated and at least 10% of the total floor area. Your measurements need to have a skylight to meet this standard. Step 6 Measure your existing attic access area. Many building codes require a permanent and secure staircase leading to an attic living space. Stairs should be at least 3 feet wide and 13 feet high and rise at an angle of 30 to 35 degrees. Step 7 Hire a Property Service Professional or structural engineer to check your home's foundation and supporting walls to determine if they can handle the added weight of an attic conversion. Step 8 Advertisement Plan a fire exit strategy. A fire escape leading to the roof is a must, as well as safe access via the attic stairs. Step 9 Hire electricians, plumbers, and heating and air conditioning specialists to advise you on what needs to be done to update wiring, provide plumbing, and equip your space for heating and cooling, insulation, and ventilation. Step 10 Contact your local building authority to obtain a building permit and arrange for periodic inspections to make sure your work is in compliance with codes. Step 11 Draw a floor plan to show a hired contractor or to follow yourself if you decide to continue on your own.