Here is the floor plan - we removed the spiral staircase and corner gas heater when we moved in to open up the family space more. We also switched around the dining and living. We use the bottom area entirely as a living room - we've installed a nice feature log fire in there. The top part is entirely family room, kitchen and dining as its open - but the area through the kitchen is the pathway between the two rooms. Hope that gives you a better overview of the space. Thanks!

is there space in the wall between the family and living to create a doorway and/or is there under the stairs? to push the frige wall oven etc into that space and make the kitchen wider..btw the numbers on the plan aren't clear enough to read please advise measurements of all rooms

Yes that wall between the living and family room is under stairs - there is scope to open a doorway there. In terms of measurements - the top family room is 4.0 x 5.2m, our dining room (marked living on the plan) is 3.4 x 4.1m, the bottom living room is 4.0 x 5.6m and the bottom living room (marked dining) is 3.6 x 3.6m. I hope that helps!

my suggestion is to confirm that a door can be installed under the stairs..if this is possible next time you need/want to upgrade the kitchen consider the attached floorplan...the dotted lines show where walls would be replaced with an overhead beam

Something like this, you would have to speak to a builder re any
possible opening up of walls , for any load bearing info. cheers.

Hi Rita,

You have so much space in living, dining and family areas that I would seriously think about reducing those areas and move the kitchen. After you spend time and money on a rework, what you are left with is a small kitchen in a thoroughfare. Consult with an interior designer and look at a bigger picture.

Doesn't necessarily have to be new, just has to be moved and where can only be decided by being on site.

Agree - we may need some professional advice on which walls can be moved, where we can create openings etc. I love to cook and we use our kitchen heavily. You are right, we do have a lot of living space, so a reduction in that area is not out of the question. The kitchen layout is definitely not well thought out - there must be a better way of reconfiguring the entire space. Ideally we'd also love a walk in pantry, a lot more bench space and a much bigger, more practical kitchen that doesn't act as a thoroughfare. Thanks for all of your comments so far!

Sounds like moving your kitchen and creating the more open space is just what is needed, we have a chef in our family so it's very important. Please look at moving the kitchen along the wall etc, speak with a local builder re opening up walls good luck

Hello Rita,

I agree with the others that moving the kitchen would be the best idea. However if you didn't want to go to that extent, could you remove the wall behind the fridge into the family room at least, and extend the kitchen bench along the back wall? You could have a bench that comes out into the room and drops down and serves as a table, a bit like this:

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