Sorry, which side is north?

North facing is across the top where the the blue couch is so the kitchen wall side is East. What do you think?

In fact there are many great storage solutions nowadays - in Italy most of the houses are quite small, so all the available space is properly used.

thanks Jbantick. I didn't look at it that way! I can see what you mean about the outdoor space. With that design though,I'm concerned about there not being enough light with the window splash back (as the splash back sits lower than a normal window and has cabinetry above which affects the incoming light.

It's quite complicated looking at the plan BUT if the ceilings are high enough you can consider clerestory windows to let in light and still retain a wall for cupboards a la Frank Lloyd Wright style .

What is on the north end of your lounge area? (you may get enough light from that for the kitchen combined with the window splashback)

Also where in the world are you? The further south you are (e.g. Melbourne) the more important North facing windows are to get sun into the house during winter.

Is there a second level above that might limit the light well's effectiveness for option 1?

Having toilet so close to cooking and eating area isn't good. Could you create an airlock by installing a glass door across the entrance of passage to toilet door? Or alter layout ... ?

Can't see any issue with window light be it at the 'usual' head height or lower down. It'll shine in through onto bench top which is good for working. It'll also allow light into the remaining room. An alternative is as chrisua3kz has mentioned. Depends on what is surrounding the site also. Skylights generally give more light than windows but could create unwanted sun and heat during summer........

Andrewschem thanks for your response. At the end of the north facing lounge are stacker doors about 3.5 m in width which will let in a lot of light but the open plan lounge and dining area is almost 7 metres in length so I'm thinking I will also need some skylights in that area?? What do you think? As I don't think that would be sufficient with the window splash back for design 2. I'm in Melbourne. There's no 2nd story. For design 1, where the first light well is (bathroom) the neighboring house comes along that boundary for 2 metres into the light well, leaving the light well with really only 50 cm of unobstructed light from above. (difficult to explain) but I'm wondering whether this blocking effect of the neighboring house will largely effect the light coming into the bedroom window which is on that wall where the light well begins (opposite the shower).

I don't want a boxed in feeling. A house designer said that a window splash back alone will obviously emit light but not like a good size window. The light well areas are only a metre in width so not large enough for anything too much- perhaps a couple of chair and also need a spot for the utility boxes etc.

Thanks chrisua3kz The ceiling is currently sitting on 2400 and am looking at possibly raising it to 2700 and don't know if that's high enough for clerestory windows as the last thing I want is windows as such coming in a metre from the boundary and making a bulkhead which will make the space look lower and smaller?

In terms of cost, will Design 1 be much more than Design 2 as more work involved in bringing the wall to the boundary then creating the 2 light well areas? Would this be marginally more in cost or substantially more?

If you do not get the early morning sun (house too close to the fence and next door neighbour) then Design 1 will be great. But I would add a skylight too. The windows on the east - if they do not let in much light take a look at the photo below. Lots of light and I think it looks classy.

If, however, you get the early morning sun on the wall, then Design 2 is ideal. The height of the windows won't make any difference.

Running with your second floor plan (and ignore the glass sliding doors in this image) but would you consider changing your 3m narrow splash to a full sized fixed window on half the side and the remaining side create as the cooking area with cupboards, oven etc.?

You mentioned you have stacker doors in the direction of the lounge, but in terms of space, from these doors, it's living area no windows at a room length of around 7m, followed by 4m kitchen room length including a 3m narrow glass splash to provide natural light for the kitchen area (cupboards noted above)? From your drawings there seems to be no windows on the opposite wall, is that right? I feel you will need to bring additional natural light into the kitchen area possibly bigger than the 3m glass panels if only 0.6m tall (or similar) especially with cupboards on top.

Kew Home Renovation · More Info

If you're not keen on swapping out the narrow splash here's another example with your second floor plan (and also ignore glass sliding doors in this image) but possibly a tall window or fixed glass panel before your kitchen bench starts - even if <1m wide. Or greater than 1m if you're OK to encroach on your 3m glass splash and make it shorter.

Cooper House · More Info

If the island bench is not a "must" you could create similar to this image and have a L-shape bench so it encloses the kitchen a bit more. This will help create the next room of your house ie. Kitchen - and you'll gain a few more cupboards if you're really wanting additional. Then have the big fixed window adjoining the L-shape next to the seating bench. You could still have your narrow glass splash with cupboards above, possibly just shorter (only referencing the L-shape and large door in this image - imagine fixed glass full-size wall panel in lieu of door next to the seats. Ignore the remainder of the kitchen).

HP Residence · More Info

Is this an existing dwelling or new home build? For either of your options, are you impacting your roof-line as your first floor plan suggests you're widening the kitchen by 1m? The first plan I'm guessing will cost more; light wells and extra bricks vs straight wall.

As mentioned by the other posts, there's plenty of storage options. You still have a decent amount of room for cupboards including a full-sized pantry next to your fridge space. I also agree with jbantick's of balancing space indoors and out (not knowing surroundings).

Like Jacqueline's ideas of a bigger window. I am not a fan of light wells as maintenance is tricky. Also concerned the west walkway at the breakfast bar and down past the toilet may be dark by afternoon without a skylight unless you are getting light from the south too.

My bathroom and powder room have no windows and the skylights are fantastic. Moonlight on a clear night can show the way too.

Obviously if the view out the windows isn't great this will influence your decision. Good luck and remember every plan has its compromises

Jacqueline Anne thanks so much for your ideas. Yes, that's right there aren't any windows on the opposite wall and so with the 7m lounge/dining (stackers) and 4 M betres kitchen (window splash back) I would need a skylight in that spot that you suggested. Your first image is a great idea! Your second idea is great as well!! It isn't a new build. It's a narrow Victorian terrace and the back of it is being renovated - What is essentially going is the Eastern wall to bring it to the boundary and the idea was to kept existing flat roof but I realise the my first design will impact on the work that needs to b done on the roof. Do you think I would need a couple of skylights in the lounge/dining as well even though the stackers are at the end of that space?

mordster No worries at all. This site is great for ideas and I find it really helpful too for information. Depending on what you decide to do for the kitchen - in terms of positioning your window and natural lighting - yes, I'd suggest a skylight. I'm not sure if this is how your layout currently is, however just to get the "feel", lighting through the roof on the right-hand side, similar to this image. The sun will rise in the morning on the Eastern side, so hopefully you'll have natural light through big glass windows to fill the back area of the house, possibly in the space between the living area and kitchen. Then as the sun moves to the front during the day, by the afternoon, it'll be on your window-less side wall. You won't always have your stacker door curtains/shades drawn open every day, so natural light coming from elsewhere (other than actual ceiling lights etc.) will make the room feel more relaxing I think and less box-ey.

I'm more of a visual person, so I look for images to think out ideas - hence all the images I keep adding to the posts.

Eglinton Street · More Info

Good luck with the renovation, sounds like a great project!