elzermank Thanks for your help :) Unfortunately we cant change the plumbing which runs through that pass through area (half wall) - so the door pretty much has to stay there .... otherwise we'd love that idea - the more storage the better I say! :) It's definitely a cramped room - funny for how much use it gets ..... Yes the dining room comes off the kitchen - it has the exact same window in it as well so does get some light through - the surrounding gardens do block a bit however. The floor is Stone I quite like it but Hubby wants it to be wooden to flow with the rest of the house - at this stage just the bedrooms will be carpet, the bathroom tiled and everything else Bamboo Floorboards. Thanks so much though :)

Our previous kitchen reno was done with Freedom. Really happy with the results, quality and appearance. Plus they install it for you, we moved house 10 years after doing the kitchen and it was still in top condition. In our current house we have installed a Bunnings kitchen. Thermo wrapped shaker style doors and drawers and reconstituted stone bench tops. Looks nice, but we have already replaced 1 set of door hinges after only 12 months; and we purchased the more expensive hinges. So I'm not sure how well it will last compared to the Freedom kitchen. I think it all depends on your budget as to what you choose, when researching flat packs though I did come across information that said ikea cabinets are a different height to most other cabinets, which means if you want to replace doors at a later stage you can only use ikea ones. Also thought I read that ikea cabinets don't have a back on them; which is probably ok if your walls are straight. One other piece of advise, Bunnings flat packs are not easy to install, and their instructions are woeful. If you go with Bunnings I would efinatly use one of their recommended installers. We did our own installation, it was a nightmare, ended up with a cabinet maker coming to level it all out.

I understand the beam being installed when you did your earlier extension as that was an external wall, that's why I have suggested keeping part of the wall next to the island which was also an external wall, to support this, I will check this in the drawing to ensure it lines up for you. By opening up this wall as much as possible you are allowing more light back into the house The cost of running plumbing across I think is negative/comparable to moving the plumbing for the re positioned laundry and kitchen and removing any load bearing walls. Storage in the new kitchen is a big 2900 x 900 island of drawers for easy access, I have added a wall oven but that could become a 600 pantry with drawers in the lower part with a shelf above for small appliances. The wall with the TV could be a wall of narrow built in storage to be used in any way you need. This floor plan gives better flow between kitchen/family.dining/alfresco and better for unloading the car with the driveway running down beside the kitchen and verandah

Whilst I do some of the things listed, probably at least 10, my number one thing apart from putting everything that can go away put away, it is that everything has to be totally decluttered and perfectly finished off with flowers or a flowering plant so my kitchen might look brand new and unused, I just so love that "staged" look!!