Hi Mike and Emma Hope you are slowly but surely getting there... may I make some comments/suggestions that you may or not take on board, but hopefully it may at least give you some ideas/options... Going through a new build ourselves at the moment, and for what it's worth, here's what I personally think: A. Work with what you've got: - additional plumbing work, gas work etc may not be necessary and (particularly gas) can be costly when you're trying to work around existing walls, floors, etc, and as much as possible utilise the existing connections... after whatever you can save here and there, you can spend on nicer cabinetery, gadgets, finishes, etc :) B. Avoid unnecessry structural work: - removing the kitchen/living wall is a must (more space, light, etc) but removing the laundry wall is an unncessary added cost (may even require costly additional strutural support) - putting up a plastered wall on the other hand is inexpensive, allows you to redefine different zones and relocate doors/openings where required (*note: avoid hinged doors in small spaces as you have to allow for wasted space to open door - suggest cavity sliding doors, easy to incorporate in a new wall) C. Don't sacrifice functionality and natural light for design - love full height floor to ceiling cabinets, very much on trend... but they also tend to bring the walls in, which you want to avoid in an already small space... they will also block out more natural ligtht from the only window to the living and breakfast bench (meals area)... not to mention seated guests would be staring at a cabinet tower and fridge - on the other hand a walk in pantry (not that much of a walk in a small space) is also very much on trend, provides more storage and... as entertaining guests in open plan livings tends to happen more in the kitchen... it provides a good hiding place for unsightly items, including frigges... (an underbench bar fridge in the kitchen can easily keep those beers cold... though do consider that means sacrificing some cabinet space) - constantly wiping off the floors from dripping wet dishes across the kictchen from the sink to the dishwaser on the other side bench would personally drive me mad after a while... the dishwasher can easily be connected to the existing sink water and waste points through the cabinerty... any half decent plumber should be able to do that... ON THAT NOTE... or should I say those notes... I know I got a bit carried away :) ... if it were me, here's an idea of what I would try to achieve ...

I'm hoping if you just measure the floor wall to wall it is the same as other end of room ie 3800mm. (I added the 3 measurements in your drawing and get 3610mm too but architraves may vary it so floor measurement is good. Just hoping you have the same width to make the space comfortable and workable. Wow you do have a large home! So for dining I think a beautiful rectangle table to suit the proportions of the room. A round one needs to be at least 1500mm diameter for six chairs and wouldn't fill the space much. That would leave 1100 ish around the table each side which is okay but may look better with say 21-2500 x 1000 rectangle which seats 8 to 10 and leaves 1400mm room around each side or less if offset for buffet unit against wall. It would probably still leave room for a couple of occasional chairs & small table for casual seating near the kitchen. One thing I harped on to my hubbie about during our reno was the "luxury of space" and you don't need to fill it up...he get's it now. What are you doing with the ceiling beams? Painting them out would help modernise the space too I think. I'm not sure about the bricks yet but would love to see a picture of the empty room. Are you doing without a kitchen during this process?

Hi Rebecca, There are never any set "rules" about what is right & wrong it comes to design and detail, however "balance" is always a good thing. Generally the shaker style is referencing the traditional/bygone eras which is fine, but why you more likely see this style of cabinetry coupled with handles than coupled with the shadow line finger pull which is a contemporary detail. Unless the proportion of the cupboards is carefully managed and balanced you're probably correct with your instinct (that you must always trust!) that it will be a busier rather than sleeker look, which may in fact defeat the purpose of the no-handles thing that you're shooting for. Whatever you do I advise on being consistent and confident with your decisions, in that there should be good reason for doing something in a particular way. The risk you have doing what you're proposing is trying to be two different things.....it's kind of either go retro and embrace it, or go contemporary/sleek and be confident with that.. Hope that helps...Good luck! Cheers PD

your dilemma is not quite clear...is this a building with attached buildings on both sides without any option for extra windows...what are the walls and floors made out of and what is the internal size of the kitchen, downstairs bathroom, sunroom and the entry foyer? is it possible to add another roof window above the bathroom to improve ventilation?