EXAMPLE #1: L-shape, Table & Chairs, Remove Bench for Fridge and More Counter * Your Back Door: where they have large ceiling to floor window. * 1st Counter Along Window Wall: counter top with sink under window, and upper cabinets over counter on either side of the window. * Turn to Right Side and Create 2nd counter: put your full stove where this picture has a cook top. * Removed closed wall so your kitchen is open to the hall. * With this expanded "wider" space that combines with the hall, you can put a round table with four chairs. (Almost where they have their "counter island". * In your diagram, to the left of the door is your bench. If you have a table & chairs in the "wider" space, could you remove the bench? * On the wall where the bench was: a. put a fridge, b. build a counter with cupboards overhead. ********************************************************************************************************************* Example #2: U-shaped Kitchen In this photograph, beginning from the left-side corner: * Back door. * Fridge (theirs is built-in / too expensive for me / just put a fridge with freezer). * 1st Counter: Your sink under window. * Right turn: 2nd Counter: Stove (they have stove-top and built-in own below). * Since a full fridge & freezer is beside the door, you can use a longer counter to the right of the stove. * (Ignore their sink in this picture.) * 3rd Counter with cupboards below and above. * Remove bench. Along the "removed bench" wall: a. buy an "island" on wheels with chairs; b. when you are alone you can use this table-top for large cooking projects; c. use the island and chairs for eating; d. use a chair to change your shoes coming/going into the backyard. ******************************************************************************************************************** EXAMPLE 3: L - SHAPE * Remove lift-top freezer. * Keep sink under window. Have counter on both sides of the sink. * Counter on the right. * On this second counter, put stove (they have a stove-top and built-in oven). * Remove the wall so the kitchen and hallway are combined. * Move the fridge against the Bedroom #1 wall (on the kitchen side). * On the bench wall. Make the bench smaller so it will fit under a kitchen table. Use the table top for food preparation. When you have company, pull the table away from the bench so you can sit on the bench and use the table. With a small bench, you can put a table on this wall. Build the bench in a U-shape. Put baskets or wood boxes underneath to keep your boots and shoes. This table costs $99 at Ikea. When it is folded in, it can be used as a counter-top. So you don't obstruct the back door from opening, you can push this table over the bench. When you have company, you can pull-out the table's sides to make a larger table top. www.ikea.com Table Name: BJURSTA Table Description: Extendable table, birch veneer Size: 19 5/8" wide x 27 1/2" deep (when table is folded) x 35 3/8" height x 35 3/8 " (when table is unfolded). ******************************************************************************************************************** EXAMPLE #4 If you remove: * the lift-top freezer, and * the wall between the kitchen and hallway. * Will you have room to build a counter from where the freezer was into the space that was the hallway? * Move the fridge to the wall against the 1st Bedroom * In this photograph, there are many "fancy extra" to ignore (i.e. built-in ovens). I think your stove would be on the counter where this picture shows just a built-in range top. Hope something from these suggestions is a help to you! - K

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unless you already have a plumber, electrician and builder with a dedicated team of carpenters, cabinets makers, tilers, concretors, waterproofers, painters and every one else i've forgotten six months isn't enough time to do more than repair any leaks and maybe remove all the decorative trimming, patch, repaint (ignore floor covering) and add some new light fittings and curtains (removing the raised floor and rearranging walls needs far more time) but, if you were to spend the next six months planning and researching the fine details like, kitchen cabinets, tiles, taps, appliances etc etc and find a builder ready to take over such a big job when there's more time to do the work you will achieve a much better result ..removing walls and floors has the potential to uncover major problems that can't be hurried and i wouldn't consider doing everything at once with a such a tight deadline but my suggestion include a new kitchen and family room with a separate lounge study but, as your plans are difficult to read, my plan doesn't include dimensions but does show where the old walls and raised floor need to be removed but anyone accepting this job will need to make their own assessment of the structural restrictions of the living areas let alone the changes you want to bath and laundry but once achieved this new floorplan should make a much more comfortable home

understanding all your restrictions would help suggest other options but the original staircase uses too much space and if you add scaled sized furniture to the original plans you'll see that the meals area is mostly taken up with walkways to the stairs and back door and there's very little space left for a dining table..the stairs have to fit both the floors of the house and it's not possible to reduce staircase space upstairs without also changing downstairs