I have one sink ( from Ikea) that is 80x60cm that I use for washing and rinsing and it is wonderful. When I am not using it, i have a board ( IKEA) that fits on and makes more bench space. If you don't want to replace windows...(I wouldn't...very expensive) there is nothing you can do about the bench height unless you are very short so I suggest you let that frustration go. Maybe the area behind the bench could be a herb garden in some way if you give up trying to open that lower window. I actually think this kitchen looks good...if you just wanted a mild change, replace bottom cupboards with drawers, change all doorknobs and colour some sections of cupboard doors like an artwork. Get rid of the large dishwasher and install new sink.

Ikea has very user friendly online planners where you can design your own cabinets and price all the parts..(NB also look at the non kitchen storage for suitable cabinetry..BILLY bookshelves with doors make great kitchen storage) big savings with DIY labour but the storage wall in your photo looks like you or a carpenter would need to custom make the wall OR you would need to use cabinets that don't reach the ceiling although we have some IKEA bookshelves that we plan to build in with a surrounding frame and line the gaps with wall lining which we expect to be a fraction of the cost of custom made

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.

i'm sorry to say that i don't believe that there is a stress free renovation but with careful planning there could be a successful renovation and if there's no asbestos to remove demolition can be exhausting, dirty, good fun but, even when everything works perfectly, you can potentially be without a kitchen and laundry for several weeks or longer ... it's not especially difficult to sub contract a kitchen renovation there's just so much to organise and with the current health crisis i'm told that there're a big demand for home renovations and we can expect super long delays for any cabinetry or trades work ...eg you will need an electrician and plumber to disconnect and reconnect services several times and if one of them doesn't arrive when needed everything else has to wait.. but, anything you can do to save time and labour could make big savings and even if a kitchen company does all the work you will still have to choose all the appliances, taps, sink, tiles, counters, doors, styles, paint, lightfittings, floorcovering etc and make sure that everything is ready on site when needed and you could be living in a mess, cooking on a barbq and washing clothes elsewhere regardless of who does the demolition so why not ask the kitchen companies for an itemised lists of charges including costs for any appliances, taps and sink so you know the potential savings and their timetable