I havent actually measured out as we arent in the house yet but roughly 1.5m wide x 2m long. Thankyou so much :)

Is the window in the kitchen down to the floor? Firstly resolve the layout - then think about how to dress it up - that sure is a strange one! - How far are you willing to go with it? Would you rip the whole thing out and re-jig the layout? Cosmetic upgrades won't do much. Possibly you could consider a galley set-up with a walk-in pantry where the existing kitchen is by changing the main through/flow to go through where the fridge is currently. It all does depend upon the window however for that to work - maybe post some further images/detail. The nine wall could be load bearing but you may infact be better to change the other side...will wait further comment until further info :) PD

congratulations on your beautiful new house, I've just recently worked on another split level house similar to yours. Keeping the Powder room and working the kitchen back across from it, moving the steps with it. Your family room could be closed off as a Media or living room while using using the bigger space for kitchen/dining/living cheers

before thinking about the kitchen what are your long term plans for the whole house?

as Paul suggested one option would be a galley kitchen with cabinets along the window wall but that means walking through the kitchen workspace would be the only access to the laundry and family room and I don't think there is enough space for an island without moving the toilet/laundry...another option could be to move the kitchen into the existing dining area and combine the old kitchen and family room or add a new master suite and laundry next to the family room but living in the house may suggest alternatives that are not yet obvious

The position of the laundry allows for a laundry chute from the split level bedroom 1, And just for interest and from experience I have found that to take up and reuse Slate is quite easy cheers

Wow!!! So blown away these are all fantastic ideas! This house is going to be our home for the next few years dependent on the sydney market so we want to make it as nice as possible without going too over the top with full layout rejigs. It also needs new laundry and bathroom plus a desperate need for an outside makeover!

I absolutely love the idea of opening up the kitchen into a scullery @ramcub & @pauldistefanodesign I think this would really modernize it and improve the layout so much. The window opposite is a small window so I think if we go down this route will open it up a bit more as it has a nice outlook onto the garden and down the hill.

Also awesome idea @siriuskey on the laundry chute!! Will definitely be adding that in if we can. Thanks so much for everyone's suggestions has really opened up my inspiration on what can be done with this odd space!!

Thankyou so much again everyone for your amazing suggestions!! So very much appreciated!

Hi ramcub, that's a clever idea, but have you checked the measurements between the 600 island to cooktop and island to windows, this is the only access to the family room, cheers

Thanks Siriuskey and yes, it is tight, hence the comment about the laundry dimension, but I think it's worth it considering the payoff, particularly because you have dedicated circulation outside the kitchen work area. Would either need to make a decision not to have stools at the island or else design stool storage below the island so that when not in use, they don't impede circulation. Sam, this would also mean careful choice of stools so that they can fully slide under the island.

Since Sam couldn't provide the exact dimension of the laundry, if it is 2000 as suggested, the layout won't work as drawn and would rely on the island bench becoming peninsular to the laundry or on shrinking the laundry to accommodate the required circulation. It may even be worth considering shrinking the laundry to benefit the space regardless.

Dimensions I worked to were as follows:

- 850 island bench to window

- 700 island bench depth

- 850 island bench to cooktop

The Scullery is not huge and only works with 450 deep cabinets rather than the standard 600 but I don't think that's a huge compromise. Would need to be careful with selection of fittings if putting a sink in there. If considering a Scullery dishwasher, it'd need to go at the Laundry end below a 600 return along the laundry wall.

My imagination's running wild now... I'm thinking of a motorised platform for the fridge so that when you're working at the island, you hit a button and it slides forward into what becomes a fridge recess in line with the hot plate and is more readily accessible, or magically retreat into the Scullery revealing hidden secrets behind. Completely over the top.... I think it must be time for a weekend! *GRIN*

love the concept of it ramcub but it is just a bit too tight that's why the suggestion I made above in a similar house to run the cabinets across the back wall with a pantry backing onto the existing laundry and a 900 Island so that you can have stools and still have cabinets/drawers in the Island. It does mean moving the stairs further across into the living room. The family room can have sliding doors to close it off when needed. keep them coming, cheers

Agree with siriuskey - way too tight with that set-up although the idea's not bad. Minimum clearance between benches in a kitchen/galley setup should be 1150mm, and if it's a main thoroughfare give it another 400mm or so when people are working at a bench it's easy access around them - best never to draw attention to space restrictions and if anything you try and make it feel more spacious. But coming back to it all - it seems that there is larger scope to consider and likely the solution could involve a kitchen relocation depending upon a number of yet to be established factors - good luck with it Sam! Cheers PD :)

I cant quite believe this you have exactly the same shape and layout of your kitchen as ours. We had a kitchen refit a year ago and the resulting plan works beautifully. I advise you to take out the corner pantry and have a worktop flow into the corner. This will give you some additional worktop space and make your kitchen look more spacious. The latest pull out racked pantry larders will store all the items you now have in your corner pantry. Make sure you have some lighting in this corner you have created as we didn't think of this and have a dark corner there.

Marlene - how funny!! I would love to see what you did with the kitchen layout! These are all such excellent ideas and have given me lots of inspiration! Thanks so much everyone!

Hi, I’m thinking the laundry needs to move to the stairs. But it’s hard not knowing what the outlooks are for each room. I wouldn’t open the whole area up. Still need rooms for some sound control and intimacy in a house.

the laundry and powder room are 2sepearate functions and could be separated. The laundry could be an extension of kitchen.powder room access from. Hallway

A rough idea of what I have already suggested adding a WIP, separating the laundry and WC, Laundry to have laundry chute from bedroom level/ The Media/living room can be closed off as a separate space cheers

Hi ram, Yes I was aware of that but knowing how these Estate agents plans can't be followed to the dot.

I have suggested this as the best layout for the space in this family home. This can be adjusted once measurements are confirmed by either moving stairs across or changing size shape of island as there's plenty of space to do that. I don't expect the depth of the room will change much cheers

The stairs aren't a problem no mater how many there are as they will need to be moved and can also run along the wall if needed. cheers

A few questions Sam,

1, is the entry foyer on same height as lower level.

2, the wall shown between the levels is it floor to ceiling

3, is the lower section of house at ground level or does land slope away and its on stumps. ( just think about pumping )

finally where are best views out from deck or where family room is currently . Thinking about north aspect

Lots and LOTS of suggestions there! My idea is big, (and expensive), no tinkering with whats there but rethinking the use of the whole space.

I think it would be great open the whole thing up by removing the laundry from current position, removing all the dividing walls and using all the space for longer kitchen and island, running parallel with the back wall. Extend the kitchen cupboards the length of the family room to include laundry-in-a-cupboard, then put the loo under the stairs off the living room, backing into the left hand end of the kitchen. The whole space would be open, with the kitchen a tiny bit further to the right (because of loo position). Big glass along the front, paint all those beams white, no timber interior wall, Gorgeous! Big job though! How game are you?

Another thought; with all that height you could have a lowered ceiling over the kitchen to create a mezzanine retreat or office space. Oh, when I think about the stairs, you probably already have accommodation above. Forget that one!

Great thought Nancy, was along the lines a was thinking but maybe a bit of swap ends use. And theirs nothing to stop you from having a loo in the same line as cupboards, just need a cavity sliding door.

Australian's are consumed with seperate room for laundry, what a waste of space.

re shelves and cupboards although 60 is standard often things are lost in that depth while a 30 or 35 deep prevents loss of items and larger floor area resulting

Agree with suancol if you are going for 600 deep cabinets always add drawers.

This WIP pantry has 600 cabinets for bench top use Small appliances etc and storage all should have drawers and can be without doors. The laundry has a chute from the bedroom and has access to clothes line drying area. The powder room is in a great position for family and guests to access from indoors and the entertaining deck. opening to the passage makes it a bit more discreet. cheers

Love bringing stairs out to landing and rotating. Could do stairs both sides of landing if better for flow