Stay with a side entry. I would relocate it down to where existing windows are. That way you're entering between kitchen and meals. Could add a short wall to define it at say 1200-1500 mm long. I'd probably also a wall to kitchen side as well but any designer would need to have a look at the job before being 100% on blocking off kitchen. Make a defined pathway to front door as well. This floor plan actually looks familiar, probably late 60's - 70's era...

i would invest in long term comfort and convenience and also raise the top shelf to create space for three levels of hanging space on one side, tall adjustable shelves or drawers with only enough space above the top shelf for suitcases and/or boxes of seasonal storage .. you need to design the space to suite the size and shape of what you need to store and a handyperson or carpenter could build in some of the diy wardrobe components like Multistore to help manage the space better or consider having a wardrobe company custom make the whole space to make life easier

Oh thank you oklouise. Our issue with the “lounge” area is how long the room is... with the tv on the longest wall, and the chairs on the opposite wall we feel so far away from the tv. Dilemma

Brilliant thankyou oklouise. I have had success with cuttings before but was hoping to leave the tree in this garden, and I am not sure I can straighten the trunk without moving it further out of the garden bed, or having lower branches too close to the pool fence. I was thinking my only option if I want it in that location is to have a leaning base and attempt to prune to make the top look straighter. I haven't been able to find info as to whether you can have an angled lower trunk and get the top to straighten up, but I like your suggestion of using keywords "pruning to encourage lower branches", I'll give that a try.