What would you do with this ground floor (not extending)

[drinkwithanumbrellainit]

Hi

We recently moved to a house with this layout on the ground floor. It is lovely, but has quite an old style dining/ living and separate kitchen layout. We don't want to extend. We would ideally like the living room to be a separate room. To go from kitchen to dining room now, you have to use the corridor which feels daft.

We thought about putting an archway between the kitchen and the dining room, but given the placement of the kitchen door not sure that would work. I wondered about just separating off the dining room so we have 3 rooms, but DH is worried that will make it feel boxy and like there is less space. So would you:

1. Leave as is?
2. Knock an archway (or possibly serving hatch) between the kitchen and dining room and if so what would you do about doors? Then add a stud wall to separate the living room and knock a door back through.
3. Separate into 3 rooms, again with a stud wall and extra door into the living room?
4. Some amazing other option we've missed, that doesn't involve massive moving of walls/ upheaval/ destroying any of the nice rooms we have already (don't want to lose the kitchen which is really nice, or the bathroom ideally)?

Properly stumped on this and it is getting in the way of us doing any decorating so would really appreciate any thoughts!

Unless you need to keep the study as a study, I'd move the toilet into the study and turn it into a big wc/utility room, wall up between the lounge and dining room, and open up the dining room to the kitchen.

Thanks again everyone. So many answers! Definitely don't want fully open plan, we moved from a fully open plan layout and wanted more separation. The last option is great but not for a few years - the study is a downstairs guest room that we need. Leaning towards living with it or going for the 3 individual rooms. Heating is a great point, the big living diner is already getting cold so might be good to divide.

Stepawayfromthebiscuittin do you have a picture? I'm intrigued as a longer term option.

Block up kitchen door / take wall out between dining and kitchen making an open plan sitting eating social space and out a wall up between dining and lounge to make a separate lounge/ snug for cosy evenings !

Honestly, the most I would do is put a door between the kitchen and dining room. I think the layout looks fine as it is!

@TotallyUninspired

Honestly, the most I would do is put a door between the kitchen and dining room. I think the layout looks fine as it is!

I totally agree. It saves a long walk from kitchen to dining. You could also put a glass double door between dining and living room to give privacy/ noise reduction but also maintain the feeling of light and space.

You're probably best doing the minor work (doorway) then living with it for a while

Best thing to do is replace the island with a table and use the current dining room as part of the living room. Or relay a worktop overhanging on two sides to the island to create a seating area on it so you have a seating option in both and keep the more formal dining room next door.
If you add walls in, knock through etc you won’t be able to have doors to the garden from the living room and it’s lovely to have the dual aspect.