Shelving vs a pantry "system" addresses accessing the contents in your pantry. However, the storage containers used to hold your food may or may not maximise the best usage of the space in your pantry. This last aspect deserves careful consideration if you are designing a pantry space. I moved house a few months ago and am still tweaking my pantry, which consists of shelves (deeper on the bottom half and narrower at the top half). One of the best investments I've made over the years are Tupperware Modular Mates storage containers. The containers can be labelled, contents seen and are stackable. I can stack them to maximise the full height of shelves and sometimes have stacks in front of other stacks for items used less often. I also have many open plastic containers for food packets, bottled items, very large spice containers, etc. These containers prevent packages, which don't stack easily, from falling everywhere and can be easily pulled out to access the item of interest. I bought some tall containers at Howard's Storage World and some large Sistema containers at Target and Woolworths (during their 1/2 price sales). Sistema containers are stackable, too. Smaller spice containers (stackable Tupperware Modular Mates again) have been placed on a round wooden carousel in one corner of the pantry.

Hi! I agree with anniau. Your Living & Dining have heaps of space to furnish. I've designed smaller areas than yours and it was furnished perfectly. It really comes down to the the size of the furnitures you have to be in proportion with the areas minding the general traffic within the areas. Also I would suggest that your opening to the bed hallway relocated to your kid's retreat so you have the opportunity to extend your kitchen and watch the kids while you're in the kitchen :) I would place the fridge to the opposite side as well so it can be easily accessed from your entertaining areas easily. Just my 2 cents. :) I've attached a furnishing sample I did and a marked up plan of your house.

my suggestion has access to the walk in pantry (and laundry) through the kitchen with an optional sliding glass door...the "extra pantry" on the right uses the space INSIDE the dividing wall for tall, shallow cabinets with multiple adjustable shelves, deep enough for most cans, bottles, glasses, sauces, oils, cups etc etc The walk in pantry could have counters, under bench drawers and wall storage.. re-arranging the kitchen allows space for microwave, mixer etc - be kind to each other in your very first home

Hi there, Big piece of paper time! Write down the dims of the space and list the things you would like it to do: charge devises, put down for hand bag, store of mail, basket ball fixtures, invitations, bills, home management, display of collection of tortious shells....what ever!! Then list all the ideas that seem interesting, marry up the two lists and see what comes out of it! Personally I think a long blank wall is excellent for couch or other furniture to go on and to sit to look out to the garden (not with your back to outlook like so often is planned) Some put down bench, desk arrangement, some cupboards for devises charging and handbags, some shelving for a few book and current pictures etc. Some of each type of space that you need for those items and things on the list. Very important to keep it ladder friendly for manhole too. I love the look of your circle of chairs there and wonder if you want more seating in the room? I love the ideas above that have been posted: very lovely and some quite quirky! Good Luck, stay focused on what you want the area to do! Cheers Margot