Thanks Chookchook2 I've been experimenting recently with sourdough but this month I've been slack with house guests so not much baking done by moi, however the freezer stash took a fair thumping as apparently my lemon curd slathered on my toast is pretty good fodder, who knew!!!

Hi charlie_com: would love to see more as your house plans develop. We bought a house in The Gap last year. So hi, neighbour! We are currently working on plans for short term and long term renovations. I came across your post when searching for advice about whether it would be a big issue if laundry doesn't have direct external access. I agree with others who have mentioned the condenser dryer: our laundry is currently not internal and concealed, but we bought one soon after we moved in (a Bosch heat pump/condenser dryer) and are really happy with the investment as it reduces moisture in the laundry area and is much more energy efficient. I must admit to using it a lot now, because of the energy efficiency, and it being so much easier to stay on top of the laundry. The Styling Edge's photo of concealed laundry set up reminded me of a house where I first saw this set up being sold in Ashgrove several years ago. It was very nicely renovated, and part of the fairly open plan living, dining and kitchen zone, leading to the back deck and then back yard. I remember thinking it would be handy to have a laundry that was so close to living areas and bedrooms and not be separated from the main living. The house had no trouble selling, so it certainly didn't seem to be a deal breaker for buyers. I think it could be more problematic if there was a long, windy route through or around the house, to get to a clothes line. And by the way, I did check out your other posts to see if there was more progress on your house, and spotted the mention of not having a rug for 10 years due to inability to decide, and had a bit of a chuckle: that sounds so much like me.

We will be building in about 12 months and a butler's pantry is an absolute must. Bear in mind though that we have bought 100 acres and my aim is self sufficiency. We will have our own beef, pork, chicken, duck and of course eggs and veges. Butler's pantry for me will be a food prep area for preservation and storage and to have probably at least 2 large freezers. Now I could arguably just use the kitchen but I want a door way to articulate outside to the garden and I still want a space (kitchen) to do normal cooking and living. I know this is a little different from a suburban situation buI I have to mention that my very suburban sister has a small butler's pantry and I love it. The toaster and the coffee machine are out of sight but hugely accessible. She can have that messy and nobody knows out cares! At the end of the day I obviously love a good pantry but there are also some innovative cupboard ideas that certainly seem worth looking at!

Personally I love angles & splays, BUT they have to have purpose and be functional. Without seeing more surrounding context hard to comment but i can't help wondering why this all being so squeezed in one area, but then almost wasted/under-utilised space in-between the island and the table - it's like the pantry's boxing/internalising the kitchen which is not ideal.....either way I'd make sure that it flows and is functional and not awkward anywhere