Hi Xenia,

I can't quite read the dimension on the drawings, but would suggest that the island bench would be best with the long sides parallel with cooktop. Just ensure you have a minimum 1100mm distance between the benchtops and island on side & ends, for comfortable circulation. That will determine the length of your island. As to the width/depth of it, I would keep the face closest to the living room in line with the walls (as you've shown) and it depends whether you want to have a breakfast bar & stools on the living room side, or have that as more "furniture"-like display, bookcases etc. The finishes you choose for the island could help to incorporate it more into living space, if you want. Good luck with your new home!

do you want a table in the kitchen to sit at or for extra counter and storage, how many chairs or stools do you need, will you have a dining table elsewhere???...all have an affect on heights required and space left over to walk around BTW can i suggest the door to the home theatre would allow better furniture placement for rooms on both sides if it was on the alfresco side and there shouldn't be a window directly behind the cooktop

love the low window as splashback with view of greenery...window boxes with herbs can be useful and beautiful..I've drawn a rough plan to show the available space for island/table in the existing kitchen as well as suggesting an old fashioned breakfast bar that offers as much counter as a full sized table, knee room for four stools and an extra 120cm under counter for cabinet or drawers..good luck with your new home

it's never a pain to help you think about details while there's time for easy modifications (so please check placement of all doorways for easy access and furniture on both sides!) My kitchens always have the same material for splashbacks and benchtops, the top of the splashback always meets the underside of wall cabinets and window frames and the top of the splashback is continuous around the whole room...firstly because i like the spacious look of a continuous colour/material and, because it's one less colour/material to decide!! Tiles are never a kitchen option for me but laminate splashbacks in a close matching colour to the counter if the difference in price is a consideration

Good idea of oklouise's to relocate door to theatre room. I also like her revised kitchen plan; however, it looks like there will be additional cost in joinery and benchtop. Also are the water and waste connections for DW in original plan already in place? If so, I don't see how the DW can be relocated at this stage. I was wondering if you already have a table in mind for the kitchen or if you were planning to buy one. I ask because any added cost to kitchen design change could be partially offset by no need to purchase another table. I think tiles between bench and window above cooktop would be good.

Xenia, just to be clear, is the builder saying there doesn't need to be a non-combustible material covering the gap between the stone benchtop and the window?? Is that wall made of brick or some other non-combustible material, or is merely plasterboard? If it's plain ole' plasterboard, it is most certainly combustible and can ignite in say, a fat fire. Maybe I'm missing something. Would you please look closely at your plans and clarify? I very much like your table/butcher's block. The one in photo looks like it's higher than a table, so I'm guessing it is at a perfect height for you to work? Yes, that's a lovely, restful colour of glass, and no, I don't think it is overkill. You want to be happy in your own kitchen. Just a thought, but you could choose material with that colour of blue for any chairs or stools you have at the butcher block table. Ties it together.

Ahhh, concrete wall. Thank you, Xenia. Best wishes with the build.