Can u post more of the floor plan. 900mm is about as far as arm can reach to comfortably clean benchtop so your island will be tricky at that large size. Are you trying to get as much session as you can?

Thanks Kate. Yes, that was one of my concerns too, that the square island is too big - I'm also wondering if benchtop slabs come in that size, I much prefer a rectangular island. I will post more of the floor plan, thanks.

Does the sink need to stay in that position? If not, I would change the position of dining seating. Utilise the entire back wall for all your kitchen requirements. Have a 600mm deep island for food prep and drawers. Drawers could be just half end of island, the rest for casual stool seating. Have a separate 900mm deep island with sink. (600mm cupboards, 300mm overhang). This is a standard island size. Install a see through bookcase between kitchen and family that incorporates structural post. Have a smaller pantry on back wall. No silly corners. There appears to be wasted space to the left of “sitting area” notation, on your plans. Use the “sitting area”, as the dining table and chair area.

my suggestions has more space for the dining area, multiple sitting areas and space for tall shallow storage, a set down space, generous island. alcove for appliances, wall hung MW, wide space between island and sink for several cooks working together without being a thoroughfare and the opening between kitchen and family and location of island allows for views outward for those seated at the island and strongly advise that external doors are opened the opposite direction to allow for easier walkways

I think you should aim for a coffee/toast station as dreamer suggests. Using your original plans I’d move the fridge to the left and ditch that small cupboard. Then a pantry cupboard directly next to the fridge, move the cooktop to the right. Then in either plan use where the pantry was originally for a stretch of bench space for coffee/toast.

Inspiration relating to my hand drawn sketch.

Slight variations to oklouise plan

The raised bar hides the sink mess and allows shelves under for dropping

1300 is a better spacing for sink to island. In the corner of kitchen the bench is 900 deep but could build in storage nooks on other side of wall or other creative use.

my suggested sink counter (700) and island depths and distance between sink and island is based on the need to retain support columns from original walls

Yes the island location needs to meet the post. I used 900 for back bench to get the drop zone as a raised counter behind sink with shelving underneath. The upstand hides the sink mess. The wall behind stove will reduce bench to 800 and this could be built out further to reduce the bench back to 600 to make it raise to reach the far corner

Kate...is this what you mean? based on the original room being 3300 wide plus wall thickness

Yes thanks

Thanks everyone for your comments. I havent't had a change to look at them yet, but really appreciate your time on this. Looking forward to having a look once the kids go to bed!

You mention this is a holiday house so it needs to cater for possible multiple family members to use the space at the same time. This is a basic idea separating work spaces and removing wasted corner spaces. Using two separate 2600 x 900 islands plus a cooking zone, these Islands line up with the existing beams and would have 1600 between them being 900 ( 600 deep cabinets with 300 situp on the left with the same on the right with 600 cabinet with a part wall behind the sink plus a possible 300 sit up on the family room side

An AI generated visual which doesn't show correct spacing of 1600 between Islands and 1200 between them and cooking zone, plus a small sink next to fridge for water aand draining pots. But will give you a better idea.

Wow! I am blown away by everyone's great ideas! Thank you all again. I will take these all back to my in-laws. A question for you though Siriuskey - what AI did you use to get that AI image. It is so much better than anything I have ever tried to produce in chatgpt or copilot - I only ever get really random stuff.

Hi Suzy,
You have mentioned the two support posts, which I have circled in purple. But what about the pier 230x 230 , circled in orange, which is also shown in your plans? In my rough sketch I included that pier in the see through book case. This would have to be verified before you get too excited on any plans with that short wall and pier being removed. I would think the pier support is crucial to retain.

Aah yes, thank you, You are right, that needs to stay, in fact the entire wall needs to stay due to the way the ceiling and wall work and feature panelling work on the other side :(

Keeping the wall and the pier, then open shelves to visually separate space from kitchen area. This still allow for pantry, but with no corner cabinets. Change to fridge position. Keeping a full appliance and coffee/tea station along the far wall.

Oh I love this! Not 100% sold on the separate breakfast bar area - wish I could squeeze that into the main kitchen. I love the see through bookcase feature in photo you put up before.

You have all inspired me to relook at the design, taking in some of your ideas. I also realise I didn't give you all the information. I think the two support posts can move in either direction (towards or away from back bench). I do need to confirm this. I have drawn up an idea of what we could change. Please see photo. I have some additional info in there too. And yes someone commented they imagine lots of people being a holiday house. The table used to be in the nook at the bottom, but we have outgrown that. Thanks again!

The table at that length will make it tight. An extension table may work better. Or as we have 2 smaller tables that you can bring together when needed. The window nook - are the windows to the floor? If yes 2 chairs and coffee table. If not a bench seat.

Like this

Thanks Kate. The windows are being redone, with the preference of in-laws for this to be to the floor, but I love the idea of a bench seat. Also, regarding the table size, are you thinking we could have a table that is shorter but extends when necessary? The dimensions definitely look better with it smaller.

My suggested layout works with both "existing Beams with wall over" and felt that it would be possible to move the existing two support posts along or add another. Would it be possible/cost effective to replace the current beams with steel beams so support posts would not be needed which would be so much better to allow the whole floor space to be opened up to allow for the families to spread out/fit. This could possibly include the "230 x 230 Pier", so many props. What period is the house.,

The proposed Nook windows are 2143 ? how far off the floor will they be, In my floorplan I suggested a Day Bed but also thought a Breakfast/Coffee Bar with a view.

AI is great and it looks like you have used the same ones that I have, but they need to be lead by the hand detail to detail which can be frustrating and time consuming .

I personally think that opening up the Dining Kitchen Family is needed for family comfort and views. Would there be any chance of seeing the current layout plus actual dimensions of the rooms.

Thanks Siriuskey. I do love the layout of your suggestion. There are quite a few constraints that we could probably get over but that might be too expensive, but I will raise these as options as it would make a massive difference. As always, our budget is tight. I have attached a picture of the original floor plan - its a bit hard to read - from the 1980s I think. The part of the floorplan I have highlighted in pink has a flat wood panelled ceiling. This rises to a vaulted ceiling either side. The sides of this section going up towards to the vaulted ceiling are also wood panelled, with the exception of the wall/pier on the outside of the kitchen on the right. That is brick all the way up. Gosh, that is hard to describe. Is that clear as mud?

Just a note, we often have 7 adults and 7 children (age 5-17) here at the same time. And two dogs! We are also trying to sort out the lack of bedrooms situation.

Thanks for this, all good, it appears to be of a similar period to my house, brick and timber which we love. how many bedrooms and any other living spaces, Aspect, which way is North, what views are from the verandah side. Your family is quite large to accommodate and then adding future partners.

Def 2 tables. We often sit kids at one. But also use it to play cards etc. in kitchen corner have the lower corner cupboard accessed from the lounge. You will need decent pantry for 14. We have 2. One for renters and one for family which we can lock.

This new layout, keeps the part wall between the kitchen and living with a 900 wide bench extending from it plus 30cm situp no shelving above this bench. A sink in this space and the cooktop behind the brick wall. The back wall has the fridge with more benchtop and wall shelves/cabinets which could house the coffee station. The large 2600 x 1200 island with back to back cabinets and sitting for two at the end (60cm per stool is a rule) My Island is 2700 x 1200 .

This allows for a large table next to the kitchen for others to sit at. Without dimensions it's artistic licence but it should all fit. The Bay window to be used as per parents inlaw needs.

Lovely words Suzy. Can’t wait to these ideas progress to draft.