Agree with covering one of the sinks with a chopping board or something. You get more bench space when you need it, but still have a double sink when you need it. I'd put a trolley at the end of the bench top. Then think what appliances you really, really need. Also sort through how many pans, dishes you have etc. maybe you can put some in storage until you have it down to your essentials? One more thing, lovely space and furnishings, but it feels a little cramped. Small thing, but spread the stools out a bit more. A slightly larger table so the chairs don't feel so shoulder to shoulder? Or chairs that are less solid? I think it is a lovely space!

The amended plan isn't too bad. These are my non-professional thoughts: - do you need a mud room? Does it need to be on view to everyone who visits the house? - the main bedroom WIR and bathroom looks like it needs work. The WIR is huge. The bathroom is also big, but the toilet is positioned near one of the two sinks instead of being in a separate room for visual and acoustic privacy (not to mention certain ... scents). Since you have a bath in the main bathroom, I would at least get rid of the bath to give the toilet its own "room" in the ensuite. But, I think the whole area could be re-done to much more efficiently use the space. - the hallway is LONG and dull and only offers glimpses of part of the kitchen. If it can't be changed, consider adding some wall niches for art, sky lights and other features to give it some interest. - I'm not sure why a three bedroom house requires two living rooms and a study. If the study is meant to be a fourth bedroom, then it should have a regular hinged door and a BIR. - the wall between the main bathroom and the living area will need to be soundproofed to the maximum extent possible. At the very least, I would swap the position of the toilet and the wet room in the main bathroom so that guests don't have to worry about what sound is filtering into the living room. - the kitchen is pretty huge. I can't quite tell what appliances have been placed where on the plans, but consider ease of movement between the fridge, stove and sink and whether the current locations will be practical. The space beside the pantry also appears to be pretty useless. I'd consider just expanding the pantry or reducing the size of the pantry and including a built-in desk / bookshelves / charging station beside the pantry.\ Good luck!

you are super-patient!!! :) :) thank you :) I'm so sorry but I do actually have a couple MORE thoughts!! argh! there are just so many different options.... and this is a bit of an all consuming puzzle to try to solve. here they are: 1) study could become main bathroom - leaving new Bed 4 as per plan since it is bigger & a better size for guests. in this option, some area could be stolen from the study to boost ensuite size - even if it just made the ensuite 1 full metre. Ideally not requiring study window to change. 2) WC could potentially be separate either within this space OR at the back of the old kitchen (allowing for the remaining, longish hall wall to be shorter again) oklouise you may think some of these ideas are not very workable & I'd be so glad for your feedback & comment (and anyone else's comments as well), it's really so incredibly helpful - unbelievably helpful - to have everyone's input. i'd love recommendations on which ideas & options might work best for that balance between function & budget

with a lot of helpers crowding around to help i suggest that the new kitchen needs to be zoned for tasks and be open plan without a separate pantry...this rough idea has a central island about 2m x 3m surrounding the column and walkways approx 1.5 m between counters, subject to available space with the column the island has mostly underbench drawers for pantry food storage, crockery and cutlery and the counter is for food preparation, serving, sorting and distributing clean and dirty cookware and bags of groceries etc and has a small extra sink but no more than a couple of stools to keep the workers moving!!..Subject to suitable access the central space under the big island (would be about 60cms wide, 90cm tall and almost 3m long!) would be ideal to store folding tables and chairs and "christmas" supplie in wheeled storage crates or pull out kitchen island trolley..There's a full size fridge and freezer as well as an underbench drawer fridge next to the tea, coffee & toast area,with cup glasses and breakfast supplies in the overhead cabinets..twin dishwashers with double sinks, hot cold water dispensers, pull out garbage bins and a modern insinkerator or compost disposal in the sink area..the cooktop and food prep area is on both sides of the corner with big appliances underneath, and serving plates and casserole dishes etc overhead..The base cabinets should be deeper than normal for more generous counters and giant cooking equipment and appliances stored underneath and to have shallow splashback shelves for herbs,oils, sauces etc and there's a stacked wall oven and microwave and a stacked wall oven with warming drawer and vertical shelves above the ovens to stand up trays, racks, cake and pizza trays and drawers below the ovens for saucepans and baking dishes...decorative finishes and fine details need to be determined by the resident cook for personal taste and everyday comfort