Kitchen layout

[TiddleTaddleTat]

Please can someone help me improve our kitchen layout!

We've recently bought the house and are renovating it (mostly ourselves) on a v. tight budget. We had to get it rewired and new boiler and due to needing to move in soon afterwards we made some hasty decisions in order to have the kitchen functional for us to move in.

At the moment most of the walls are half plastered/old tiles. There's a hole in the wall where the old extractor used to be (need to install new one before it gets cold!)

I've ordered the paint to get the bare plaster walls done (have already done a mist coat) then we'll tile ourselves. But if there's any way the layout can be improved, we need to know before we start decorating!

Ps/ we have considered knocking down the wall into the diner but because the living room and dining room are already open plan we decided to just remove the door between kitchen and diner and keep the (partiallly supporting) wall as it provides privacy and storage. The kitchen is tiny.

Carcasses are sound, but old B&Q with vinyl wrapped doors and crappy laminate surface. Left hand side cupboard run has two base cupboards and four wall cupboards.

Pic attached .

Also, good point about the bin under the sink. It is annoying. Anyway, I should be working but am unreasonably invested in your kitchen now. Good luck with it all.

Ooh that narrow iKEA bookcase is excellent, thank you for your help!!
I have found some chunky steel rails and hooks being sold on FB for a fiver too.
Will try and find a handyman - door could be complicated as it's UPVC and the frame seems to be recessed into the surrounding plaster, but I'll get a man in to check it out.
Appreciate the help - I will report back what works! (And maybe pics if I'm feeling brave...)

Ok!
So I've done some planning and some shopping. So far we've put an Ikea Bekvam kitchen trolley between the sink and the cooker (£40). This has made a surprisingly big difference to how well the kitchen works!

We got rid of the bin next to the sink and bought a small 3 compartment recycling bin which has a rectangular profile and sits neatly next to the other side of the cooker (£40). It's not too deep so doesn't affect the opening of the door.

Have also installed a cheap Ikea plastic cupboard door bin for under the sink (£3).

These things have made such a positive difference already. We've decided to do the work to the kitchen in two phases - sort the wall with the hole (for an extractor) first as we have paint and the extractor ready to put on ourselves. Then we'll install a bunch of kitchen rails with hooks and buckets on (also Ikea - see a theme?!)

Our other project is removing the wall cupboards as they eat into space and I knock my head on open wall cupboard doors constantly.

We'll install reclaimed scaffolding shelves (husband has learnt to do this himself for low cost) and possibly the wall Ikea units that open upwards.

Lastly if I have cash spare it'll be getting a kitchen fitter to replace the worktop either with another , but less hideous, laminate or possibly something like this shop.morlanduk.com/panel-products/laminated-birch-panel/unicolour/morland-blue-011-2440x1220x30mm-birch-plywood-satin-single-sided

Or solid wood , which would be my favourite but I know it's high maintenance.

I'll remove vinyl from the doors and paint the ones we're keeping (not many!)

Lastly a pro tiler to finish off the wall.

Hoping I can do all that for £1200-1500 all in.

Little update.
I've skimmed the wall behind cooker, painted all walls and window an off white. Added a colourful blind. The butcher block trolley and recycling bin are still working well.

Starting to think about updating the cabinets and worktop. Probably a false economy just to do the cabinet doors as the carcasses are ancient.

Prefer wood and have had a cabinet maker come to quote but no costings provided yet. Spoke to another 'joinery' kitchen company today who said their prices start at £12k for a small kitchen and they use chipboard carcasses

Now on the hunt for ideas for solid wood carcasses and worktop, probably reused/reclaimed. Budget realistically at £2k ish or we'll be waiting 2-3 years.

Facebook marketplace for used kitchens. While some people are hoping to get good money / an unrealistic sum for their old kitchen, most - like me - are just hoping to stop it going to landfill and save the cost of a skip.
They go quickly, I had money in my hand within 2 days of listing it.

If you know anyone with a big van who can help you collect at short notice, it helps

Saw this kitchen image on tv. How impractical is a 'sink skirt'? I quite like the rustic look...