You have a few options here to make some big improvements. 1. You could remove the wall that has the doorway in it. You may need to relocate your stove and range hood or you could have a range hood that you can see "in the round". You would lose those upper cupboards though. or 2. You could remove the other wall to the side of the doorway. This would then mean that your kitchen would open up to the living area but you would lose some full height cupboard space along that side. I also noticed that your TV is located in that corner. Do you need it there or can you relocate it to free up that wall? or 3. Perhaps you could flip your kitchen so that the breakfast bar is near the dining table rather than at the other end. The stove and range hood could then go at the end where the current breakfast bar is as well as upper storage cupboards. Having the kitchen open onto the dining area could be very nice if that's what you are after. It depends on the rest of the living area, too, whether you would like to open it up totally as well. There is a lot to play with here and it can be a lot of fun. I wish you the best of luck with your renovations.

When you render the bricks I would consider leaving some of them exposed here and there - that reminds me of old Tuscan buildings! I would include some large terracotta pots with olive trees or lemon trees, also as others have suggested some brightly coloured geraniums in hanging baskets against the wall or in terra cotta pots. Here are a couple of shots of my back deck (which isn't looking its absolute best) but to give you an idea of the large pots and colour. You have a beautiful spot to work with good luck! Sue

brick wall so no option for cavity sliders gas heaters are already in that middle wall as marked, old heaters i think i need to service them as not sure when its serviced last also has two split aircons on both rooms on the far end no weather seals on entry doors, i can feel cold air is coming under some doors, where can i get the seals or is there someone who can come nd check all doors/windows and seal them tin flat room with not much space in between. I think there is insulation in the middle if not its very hard to do anything without opening up the roof sheets. We have double roller blinds on one side. No curtains on patio door(kitchen).

The second look like they are designed for stairwells so I'd be a bit wary about using them up higher as the light might be a bit "spotlight" and not diffuse enough. I think both styles work with your house design