How to rejig this kitchen

[renovate120]

Is anyone any good at designing kitchens? We're not at the stage of going to a company - we're just deciding whether to offer on a house or not. The kitchen is the sticking point we can't agree on. We need WAY more worktop space, and a bigger/extendable dining table. I don't mind so much if the table has to go in the one marked "dining room" (though that room could have other uses if not) BUT if it was in there then I think I'd prefer an adjoining door/archway. But then this takes away valuable wall/worktop space.

Aside from getting rid of any full height cupboards and splitting them to regain a bit of worktop, what else can we do to really maximise the working space?

I can't even picture it being especially useful to knock through both rooms into one as kitchen worktops would end up too spread out to be efficient.

In case it matters, the worktop space is important as we have more appliances than them that would be out all the time (e.g. microwave, large 4 slice toaster, large breadbin, kettle, coffee maker and was hoping to get an instant pot after the move) plus we cook and bake a lot and just generally need plenty space for chopping, serving up, etc.

Any help gratefully received!

Adding the photos...

And the floor plan...

We have knocked through in 2 houses owned. Non weight bearing wall, costed about 2k including moving radiators, bit of rewiring, plaster.
Kitchen wise, I have a breakfast bar. Useful as you can sit/stand at it and it's deep so plenty of room for bowls etc when cooking and dishing up.

Do you need the external door? It looks from the floor plan like there is one in the dining room too?

I would knock through.
We got rid of our breakfast bar for an island with cupboards on both sides. It gave is masses more storage space.

hmm, giving a bump a I am interested...

@SpiderinaWingMirror

We have knocked through in 2 houses owned. Non weight bearing wall, costed about 2k including moving radiators, bit of rewiring, plaster. Kitchen wise, I have a breakfast bar. Useful as you can sit/stand at it and it's deep so plenty of room for bowls etc when cooking and dishing up.

Could you give me an idea of the whole layout?

*us

I would put a big island unit in there.

@Ikeameatballs

Do you need the external door? It looks from the floor plan like there is one in the dining room too?

I suppose not! One or the other would probably do, though I feel like it would be better to have one in a (tiled or similar) kitchen than the dining room.

Any layout suggestions with that in mind?

@CatherinedeBourgh

I would put a big island unit in there.

In place of the table? Or a completely different layout?

I’d knock through. Create one external door, bifold in dining area.

U shaped kitchen in current kitchen end with island.

Here's my crap depiction of current layout/worktop space. If anyone could draw me a new kitchen, I'd be very grateful! 😂 (Not that it's mine yet)

(White gaps are worktop space)

Yes, in place of the table.

But then I hate eating in the kitchen, so that’s not a hard one for me.

Can you give an idea of dimensions?

I'd knock through to the dining room and create a small separate utility room in the rear right hand corner of what's currently the dining room. I don't like washing machines in kitchens and especially where there's any open plan element. You can stack a washer and dryer and put a sink in.

This?

@CatherinedeBourgh

Yes, in place of the table.

But then I hate eating in the kitchen, so that’s not a hard one for me.

Good point, I've never actually had a dining table in a kitchen before so don't know if I'd like it or not. In our current (temporary) home, it's a (short) trek from kitchen through hall, through living room (living room/dining room combined) and I don't appreciate carrying everything back and forth, opening and closing doors to keep the heat in, etc. Last house, the tiny galley kitchen was joined to the dining room via an archway, so they were separate rooms but very close/easy access. What is it you don't like about it?

@CatherinedeBourgh

Can you give an idea of dimensions?

According to the estate agent, the kitchen is 3.7x3.6m and the dining room 3.6x3.9.

@WeAreTheHeroes

I'd knock through to the dining room and create a small separate utility room in the rear right hand corner of what's currently the dining room. I don't like washing machines in kitchens and especially where there's any open plan element. You can stack a washer and dryer and put a sink in.

Another good idea! I didn't think we'd be able to factor in a utility but it is one thing on my "wishlist" that we'd be compromising on in this house. I'm sick of hearing the washing machine all through the house.

@Ikeameatballs

This?

Thank you! I think taking out that door might be a game changer. We hadn't considered that.

@ikeameatballs has a good plan that is v similar to what I'd do.

also, if you possibly can, get the washing machine & dryer out of the kitchen. put them in a utility cupboard in the hall or upstairs or anywhere else. especially when you've opened the rooms up for a big space, you don't want the noise & mess of the laundry in the kitchen.

and you can put your microwave into a unit - either under the worksurface or built into a tall unit. that saves a good chunk of work surface space.

I think you’d be able to get a washer-dryer in your space under the stairs? Might even get both in there?

I don’t like the feeling of all the mess from the cooking being right there where I can see it, but I also don’t like having to make the kitchen spotless before eating and then dirtying it again when I clear the table.

Much prefer having a separate room to eat in, but yes,one with direct access!

Units are 60 cm deep, so with 3.7 m if you had units on both sides (1:20m) then 1 m on either side of the island (3.20m) that only leaves 50 cmfor an island unit which is tight… you could have a shallow worktop on one side (good enough for putting appliances on).

I find the island worktop ten times more useful than the other worktops (I do have a small sink on it).

[quote parietal]@ikeameatballs has a good plan that is v similar to what I'd do.

also, if you possibly can, get the washing machine & dryer out of the kitchen. put them in a utility cupboard in the hall or upstairs or anywhere else. especially when you've opened the rooms up for a big space, you don't want the noise & mess of the laundry in the kitchen.

and you can put your microwave into a unit - either under the worksurface or built into a tall unit. that saves a good chunk of work surface space.[/quote]
There's nowhere else the washing machine and dryer could conceivably go except maybe the garage, but it's not joined to the house and I wouldn't like going out in the cold/wet/dark to get the washing which is often done late at night after work. I think we would have to factor in a utility within this space like a pp suggested.