Hi Mike and Emma Hope you are slowly but surely getting there... may I make some comments/suggestions that you may or not take on board, but hopefully it may at least give you some ideas/options... Going through a new build ourselves at the moment, and for what it's worth, here's what I personally think: A. Work with what you've got: - additional plumbing work, gas work etc may not be necessary and (particularly gas) can be costly when you're trying to work around existing walls, floors, etc, and as much as possible utilise the existing connections... after whatever you can save here and there, you can spend on nicer cabinetery, gadgets, finishes, etc :) B. Avoid unnecessry structural work: - removing the kitchen/living wall is a must (more space, light, etc) but removing the laundry wall is an unncessary added cost (may even require costly additional strutural support) - putting up a plastered wall on the other hand is inexpensive, allows you to redefine different zones and relocate doors/openings where required (*note: avoid hinged doors in small spaces as you have to allow for wasted space to open door - suggest cavity sliding doors, easy to incorporate in a new wall) C. Don't sacrifice functionality and natural light for design - love full height floor to ceiling cabinets, very much on trend... but they also tend to bring the walls in, which you want to avoid in an already small space... they will also block out more natural ligtht from the only window to the living and breakfast bench (meals area)... not to mention seated guests would be staring at a cabinet tower and fridge - on the other hand a walk in pantry (not that much of a walk in a small space) is also very much on trend, provides more storage and... as entertaining guests in open plan livings tends to happen more in the kitchen... it provides a good hiding place for unsightly items, including frigges... (an underbench bar fridge in the kitchen can easily keep those beers cold... though do consider that means sacrificing some cabinet space) - constantly wiping off the floors from dripping wet dishes across the kictchen from the sink to the dishwaser on the other side bench would personally drive me mad after a while... the dishwasher can easily be connected to the existing sink water and waste points through the cabinerty... any half decent plumber should be able to do that... ON THAT NOTE... or should I say those notes... I know I got a bit carried away :) ... if it were me, here's an idea of what I would try to achieve ...

chookchook2 - we have linoleum in our kitchen. 10 years on, still looks great, easy to clean, forgiving underfoot and dropped items don't always break :) Love it so much, we will be using it throughout our new beach house (except bathrooms). Try searching Forbo Marmoleum - the colours alone are eye candy, and you may find a link to a state rep.

Consider the sightline from outside the laundry room. With the second option if both doors are left option do you see the toilet from a living area? There is not enough information on the plan to see what room is adjacent to the laundry. If you do decide to go with option 2 ensure that you use a single switched exhaust fan/light unit in the ceiling, so that when somebody visits the loo and turns on the light then the exhaust fan turns on while the light is on. One of my clients had a similar internal room for a powder room and I designed an internal high light window to the powder room that borrowed some natural light from the adjacent bathroom. A small window with a sill at 1800mm above the floor level on the wall behind the toilet cistern would "borrow" some natural light from the laundry and still provide adequate privacy for option 2. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

A suggestion. Since you have windows in the study with views, I would utilise those views. I would block up the small arch that is from lounge to study. Open up the large arch, and make a walkway. Put fridge in blocked up arch. Continue kitchen benchtop and cupboards around the entire study area on solid walls. On the window parts continue an open counter. You could have stools here to look at your views, and this could be used for working on a laptop with a wifi connection to a printer camouflaged in cupboards. Or just use it as a wonderful place to sit and directly take in your views. I would also reconfigure your lounge so you are facing the study area when seated. Photos attached for visual explanation.