I spent ages figuring out the lay out of our kitchen and am really happy with the result (four months in). We put the sink on the back wall, under a window and love looking out. Make sure there is a bin drawer next to the sink. Ours goes bin, sink, dishwasher, drawers, stove, drawers, oven stack. I think the passages in your kitchen area are a bit narrow. We have 1300mm between the benchtop edges. People can then pass each other easily and it doesn't matter if the drawers or dishwasher is open. The island then has drawers holding the plates and cutlery. You can unload the dishwasher straight into the opposite drawers which the kids love. You have two lots of corner cupboards in the pantry and might be better off with one straight line as I don't believe you gain much more and it will feel more spacious. Consider leaving a space on the kitchen side of the island so you can sit too. I hate standing while entertaining and everyone else is sitting at the island! Hope that helps.

In my early twenties I designed kitchens for my mother and two aunts (Uncle built them and they worked), but when it came to designing my own - had to fit a constrained space and no possibility of extension - I chewed my lips for ages - like Nicole, I drew and measured ad infinitum, and used graph book walls, views etc. I did one extra thing - which I think worked - I listed all that I wanted to store, and tried to analyse how I liked working in the kitchen. Some things I had to settle for because of space (such as a smaller dishwasher) but most of it has worked. We have a corner pantry, which I (and the cat, husband a bit larger) can walk into, but have not put small appliances in there - they sit in a large drawer beneath the main working bench, which also works well. It all looks good to me Nicole and thinking carefully about needs and how things work in advance usually results in something you'll be happy with. Good luck!

yes it gets dirty and it can always be redone. induction can be cheaper for running costs.

Hi Louise . Thanks heaps for your reply . We plan to enlarge the ensuite in the bedroom and the lounge may be a study or an entrance/mudroom. We don't plan to keep it as a lounge area and may enclose by building walls or using a room divider such as room slats- it depends on costs. We also plan to do landscaping (garden is behind family/bedroom 4/laundry) including timber decking to the alfresco (which is to the left of the family room). If it’s helpful I can take pics of the garden and alfresco tomorrow? Local climate is hot and humid in summer and cool and rainy in winter-I am based in Perth, Australia. There will also be cosmetic changes such as new paint/door handles/skirting , LED lighting and also new flooring (timber in the kitchen and lounge), new air con. The family/ bedroom 4/laundry face North. I have attached a more in depth floor plan with dimensions , is that sufficient? Otherwise I can measure the walls. When I say extend to the left I mean add an extension outside the existing walls. Carport is part of original building. Have added a pic of the front of the house. Thank you, appreciate the time you’ve taken to ask these questions!