I have an open plan home too but mine looks a bit larger. I would open the space instead of trying to make rooms using the furniture. If there is no other wall, you could put your couch where the tv is and place the TV on a smaller table on an angle where your gas connection is. I would also lighten and brighten the furnishings with chair covers, cushions and maybe even a stretchy lighter couch cover (good too as you can wash so keep fabric on couch clean). I would add some drama and frame the windows with ceiling to floor side drapes leaving the rest for natural light. You can easily do yourself with some cheap cotton fabric and some curtain hardware (as they are not functional, you just need to hang and drape on sides). Id turn your dining table the other way and get some nice stuff happening on your fence outside to draw the eye to the out doors. You could grow creepers, ivy or hang some trailing plants in a row from the fence. There are some great pots that hook onto the top of fences for this so no drilling required. You could also combine fake trails with real until the real ones grow for instant green. Amazon have cheap fake trailing ivy etc. Or, Put some ficus or other trees in pots along the fence. Id repeat some green indoors too ie a pot here and there in corners as you have so much light. Id also get a washable rug to cosy up the tiles and make it look less stark ie one you can throw in the washing machine! I just bought a soft one from target for $25! Alternatively, buy an outdoor plastic one as they can be hosed. I use one of those too and as I have pets, tits great. They have some cool designs too. Chair covers will update your dining chairs and are cheap on sale at places like spotlight and kmart. Lastly, Id look on gumtree for some cool lamps or a hanging light for your dining area. You can be modern but always balance with some natural elements like wood so maybe a wood based lamp or a couple of wooden ornaments. :)

you are super-patient!!! :) :) thank you :) I'm so sorry but I do actually have a couple MORE thoughts!! argh! there are just so many different options.... and this is a bit of an all consuming puzzle to try to solve. here they are: 1) study could become main bathroom - leaving new Bed 4 as per plan since it is bigger & a better size for guests. in this option, some area could be stolen from the study to boost ensuite size - even if it just made the ensuite 1 full metre. Ideally not requiring study window to change. 2) WC could potentially be separate either within this space OR at the back of the old kitchen (allowing for the remaining, longish hall wall to be shorter again) oklouise you may think some of these ideas are not very workable & I'd be so glad for your feedback & comment (and anyone else's comments as well), it's really so incredibly helpful - unbelievably helpful - to have everyone's input. i'd love recommendations on which ideas & options might work best for that balance between function & budget

I've been playing around with a pantry location. Originally, I was going to move the pantry into the laundry with some custom shelving and cut the laundry space in half. Now, Im thinking of cutting into the study area and building a wall there, and converting the new space into a long and narrow walk in pantry. Either that or build half a wall and put built in shelving in the study. Building the extra wall will reduce the need to cover in the door way that is currently in place and instead utilising it. Thoughts? p.s. this isnt too scale.

Thank you @oklouise for your detailed response and proposing a plan! Just a couple of responses and questions regarding what you've mentioned: - Agreed that we need a proper plan in place before doing any big kitchen renos. I've been doing research all day and have better understanding of how complex the process can be. I think a complete DYI kitchen will be out of the question for us, so we will shop around for builders and a cabinet makers to get a better feel of the costs involved - Agree with leaving the 70cm wall, at least on the side where the fridge is. Spoke to my partner and we will amend our plans - You mentioned that you like the stove location but think the kitchen is too shallow to have the stove and kitchen there. Can I ask why? I've seen a couple of examples where stove & island is 1 meter apart, which seemed to work. - We unfortunately won't be able to have the dining table in front of the stove, as we won't have enough space to accommodate quite a large couch & TV in the remaining living space :( I'm still gravitating towards having an island, as I prefer some separation between kitchen & living space Cheers, Xenia