No... for us bedrooms are for sleeping in not playing in, and we all like to snuggle up together. We have two beds all pushed together and we are all in together. Maybe when my 2 kids are older they will share a room, but they will no doubt want to share a double bed. Perhaps they would just like a little nook in a shared room when they reach their teens. We all enjoy the intimacy of shared space. We like to be right on top of each other... we currently have separate kitchen, but everyone crowds in there while we cook. Play areas are in the living room, as well as craft stuff, desks, computer desks, books, toys, We have a typical 3 bed brick house and it does not fit how we live. We mostly only live in half the house. The 2 other bedrooms are just used for storage. Realistically we probably only need a 3 room house. One large sleeping area, one larger living area with zones for our different activities, and open plan kitchen. And a bathroom/laundry. I'd probably even spring for a communal walk in robe off the bathroom/laundry.

back to Ikea for some wall hung bookshelves ALGOT style has a strap attached on the wall allowing for multiple configurations of shelves and can be removed if/when needs change and/or a tall bookcase on the wall behind the cat..Billy has a 40cm or 80cm wide x 2m tall bookshelf (with or without glass doors) that are only 30cms deep..good luck to your children with their studies, they're lucky to have a parent so interested in their comfort

I think the decision rests with whether you NEED a butlers pantry! No point in putting one in just because the room is there. But as one post suggested you could loose the current pantry, thus enlarging the family room, and then you maybe have need for a large pantry. I am a little dubious about a 'butlers pantry' idea in general - a storage pantry is most useful but having appliances etc in another room just means more walking from room to room during meal preparation. I think deciding to include a butlers pantry would require a great deal of thought on exactly how you would use the space. A cleanup space - yes that could be handy; where dishes and pots could be stashed during a meal, saving the kitchen proper for serving up. Still means a lot of walking! I think the kitchen work triangle is still a useful concept! And those big island benches with a sink - so your guests can sit and chat while you cook, and watch the dishes piling up under their noses? Ugh! Not for me! They look lovely when clean and EMPTY, but as a usable sociable area, not practical. (Sorry for the rant; has nothing to do with your question or your kitchen, but this is a bugbear of mine!)

I've seen a few sliders painted with blackboard paint - they're so fun and mobile, if there's a hall door somewhere it might be an option as they muffle sound rather than seal it out. KRAKEN WHALE FIGHT! If it's childlike dreams you want to be added to the house, maybe do a kiddy-height connecting door between the kids' rooms or a little message chute they can send back and forth, pigeon holes to send letters to each other or some crazy options like your hidden door in a more public area like the front entertaining space. There are so many ways to add whimsy that can be fixed up and removed later on if yall need. If the kids are smol: Kids only door or Door in a door There's an amazing episode of Grand Designs with a couple of superfun ideas Scooby Doo House that made me realise hidden doors and revolving shelves are better for playrooms than bedrooms.