Samantha B I just completed my kitchen Reno in Perth. My pantry was also bricked up like yours. Literally doubled the space by getting rid of it but we found out after that the pantry was structural & we had to put an extra support beam in the roof instead ($800) so be careful of that! We completely moved the plumbing, gas & electrics & it only cost a few hundred! So don't be afraid to do that as long as u know decent priced tradies! We ended up doing nearly everything ourselves & went with a masters flat packed kitchen & sourced our own stone benchtops dirt cheap ($2500 installed for a 2m bench & a 1.5m island each with one waterfall edge.). Heres before & after pics.

Hi Martea, I agree with Dohraime, an open bookcase would help create an entrance way and provide some storage that appears to be much needed from the floor plans. You asked about dimensions, I would personally make sure that the minimum clear space between the staircase and end of the book shelf is a minimum of 1200mm, but at the absolute minimum, 1000mm (1 metre) clear space is needed; thus it should be between 1200mm and 1500mm in length and the height should preferably match the head of your windows so approximately 2100mm. Depending upon the dimensions of your existing 3-seater sofa, I agree that you could back this onto the open bookcase. However, to ensure the best look, the sofa should end when the bookshelf does. As you can see from the diagram I have included, you could fit 2 arm-chairs and a coffee table in, however care will need to be taken to enure you have enough space to walk comfortably around the pieces of furniture. Try to search for a narrow coffee table. Given that you have replaced the curtains with shutters, you could place the television and console in front. This is not ideal in regards to lighting, but the space is constrained. I would also include a large rug (as depicted) for the living space so as to clearly define it. It could be approximately 3 x 1.8 m. This rug could be something bright and colourful given the muted colour scheme you have so far used. A bold pattern would also work. In regards to the dining area, it is possible to also fit a buffet in the space, and would again provide more storage. Something I noticed, and I am not sure it is within your budget, but the dividing wall around the staircase at the entrance is very dark and interrupts the clean lines you are going for. I would suggest if possible to remove it and replace with a glass balustrade. This would open up the space more and help to bring more light into this space. I hope this has been of help. If you want further advice or information please do not hesitate to contact me at admin@gracedesign.com.au and we can go from there.

The first thing we noticed was the beautiful light created by the back window and the blue curtains either side of it. What a fantastic room!

The plan looks a nightmare - bedrooms facing the street, a tiny internal bathroom with no window to the outside (is that legal?) and a "lounge" that looks like it was meant to be a third bedroom. If the internal walls are stud and don't support the roof you're in with a chance, but I'd say to do a proper job the cheap option is NOT going to work. I'd put two bedrooms where the current family room and lounge are and extend the bathroom into the boot room to give window access, or scrap the current bathroom altogether and use some of the space in what is now the kitchen for a new one. Keeping the WC separate is a good move. If you make the street side the social side of the house you can open it right out and create a big front porch that's a social spill-over from the kitchen/dining area, creating indoor-outdoor flow. Planting (two or three shade trees and some stands of tall perennials rather than a "green fence" hedge) keeps your front garden private yet inviting and stops your front porch becoming a stage set for the street. Good luck! I think you'll turn this very ordinary house into a much nicer place to live!