Ok so after all the feedback I made some changes. After looking at it, I would like to make entry point from garage on the garage wall, so you still enter into pantry, but you dont have to walk through pantry to gain access to the house. I would also like to flip bathroom and bed 3 so bathroom is centred between rooms. Also not convinced I should have entry to lounge from kitchen, should I have kept it entering from the entry. My only issues now is, do you notice how the bathroom steps in? This is because the ensuite is a bit bigger. Will it look ok once built or do I take that 30cm from my ensuite/main room to level it up? If so do I take 15cm from ensuite and 15cm from main bedroom? Also I really wanted the compartment bathroom that oklouise suggested. But its not big enough. Any ideas? My current bathroom is 3100 x 2600.

Hi Erin-hem, It maybe too late for changes if you have seen your kitchen designer but I would like to through you a couple of ideas for consideration. In my opinion, the sink area is always the messiest area of the kitchen. Why don't you put that on your new extended outside wall and even include a window for extra light if possible. Put the dishwasher on the left end of that pop out too so it doesn't create an unusable corner on the right side. Then build a 1200mm long wall, 600mm deep into the dining space so you can have a return unit from beside the dishwasher that connects with the island bench. This changes it from a true island bench but gives you the untidy part of the kitchen hidden but not closed off. The wall doesn't need to be full height but needs to be higher than the bench. It can be a joinery item rather than a builders item to match the joinery finishes. Behind the 1200 long wall/screen can be all your tea, coffee etc and your appliances on the bench so usable all the time but not seen from the dining and living area. It also hides the sink from view from the living area. Below bench level in this 1200 section you could actually have drawers for cutlery and crockery that go two way so you can load them from the dishwasher and take them out from the dining room side to lay the table. No need for a pantry with such a long back bench which could have loads of drawers as suggested by someone else. Keep the fridge nearest the stairs so everyone can access it and not come right into the kitchen. If you are a real foodie and love cooking for friends and family, put the hobb on the now free island side. If not, leave it where it is and the 'island bench' is now just a layout and work area and sit at bench. If you have the space, make the gap between the stairs and the bench ample. Say 1300mm wide at least. Cheers, Christine.

Thank you a lot @msnmrkitchens and @differentways, they're two very valid options and I like them both for different reasons and both come with a "but". I did say this was a dilemma! I'd rather keep the size of the front window as it is or slightly shorter so that coming upstairs the first thing that catches the eye is the view and the kitchen is a frame, rather than the beautiful kitchen with nice background. So keeping the window means less storage which will have to go on the bedroom wall instead of the study nook. But I like the fridge closer to the island bench The other plan ticks all the boxes but makes more sense if the sliding door is replaced with a window, at the same time probably looks odd if the sliding door stays. I also agree that changing the door would compromise the balance of the space. Is it doable in your opinion to have the cook top under the window if we have an induction cook top? My sister keeps pushing this layout with the fridge in the 1mt wall and sink in the island bench, but I was under the impression the cook top under the window is a "no no".

always about compromise and if the laundry window is reinstated in the original location that restricts options for tall storage so i've included a skinny sink next to the window, a stacked washer and dryer and left the rest of the space open to use for overhead cabinets and/or shelves, tall space under wall cabinets for broom, ironing board, vacuum, baskets etc and hooks on the window wall for work clothes and dog leads...any custom built cabinets would be cramped and very expensive so use the open floor space for storage without doors...the location of the back door opening and doorways from hallway and front entry would also make it too cramped for the narrow cabinet that you wanted unless you make the laundry and powder room too small for the cavity sliding doors so, with so much extra kitchen cabinets for pantry storage (eg between fridge and stove or island drawers?) why not use the central cabinet for your mini office and keep the original wall between entry and living would save demolition and could allow a location for your sideboard.. striped wall sections show dog gates without doors and under a sofa table would make a great nook for the dog beds