Looks like you have set yourself a challenge. What are your goals with opening up the space? Are you limited with moving plumbing etc. by slab? Have you considered stove with under bench oven in central island bench with overhead range hood. Leave sink/fridge layout as is. Can you then fit narrow cupboards for dishes etc. along the wall of the meals area where aircon is. Having some measurements for window location/size would be helpful. Hopefully this will bump your post and some designers will chip in their ideas...

Hi Sarah, hope you enjoyed your travels last night, that's something we have spent our lives doing plus living in different countries. Do look into the attic room/s they are lovely and the Velux skylights very unobtrusive, look great and if positioned correctly take care of venting any hot air, as I mentioned ours were pivoting ones and could be locked open in several positions. I much prefer these to dormer windows, you don't really notice them. The stairs were built off site and lifted into position and installed, built in. At the time we did ours a very good friend a builder did the same but just completely opened the whole ceiling space right out towards the gutters into a large bedroom play study area for his daughters, also using Velux windows. Glass ceilings, like Velux windows have been around for years, believe me I know, we're both getting older. Velux windows can be used as glass ceilings in opening and non opening configurations. I would love to see you keep the outdoor loo as well and updating the old shed into a new connecting space to the house, perhaps a glass breezeway. I will have another look at your plan again over the weekend. I love your front iron gate as well, auto sliding driveway gates work really well and would really fit with your carport. My brother in law put in a tall timber sliding gate at his last home, lovely cheers

Hi HU-206141322 depending on the brand and extraction rate then yes the Undermount (concealed) rangehoods are really good. We install a lot of this type because customers like the look as well as their efficiency and with those models with remote fan motors mounted in the roof, they are also quieter. These have larger Fans and large 200mm diameter fules and have huge extraction rates of 1140 cubic meters of air an hour or more. Brands with this high efficiency that you may like to consider are Falmec Milano with 1140 m3/h or higher 2010 m3/h, Schweigen Silent Undermount with isodrive 1600m3/h and Sirius offboard undermounts with 1200m3/h. I hope this is helpful, regards Malcolm

I had similar thoughts as robandlyn -- how will any alterations work in with the rest of the house . But unlike most comments , I actually think some of the features are worth keeping -- the yellowish stone has a certain style ; and even if its only kept for decoration , I like the wood stove . As a really cheap first step ( basically , if you don't like it , you have almost convinced yourself to replace , so you'll only lose $200 ) I'd restain those midbrown doors in a Japanese black -- basically a black white and light gold sort of vibe . I think that will emphasis what I consider the positives , but if you hate those features , then a rebuild is called for haha ! If you do like that change though , then see what else you like and don't like -- personally , I'd fit a bit wider and more modern 'bar top' / servery ( the lower bench seems okay , I'd get rid of that whole rounded end upper piece , maybe go charcoal or even a charcoal marble , sticking with the black/white idea ) . And update the microwave etc , and new bar stools is a perfect chance to bring in something modern but also add some colour -- maybe black tubing frame and maybe orange or red padded seats .