Show me your kitchen diner lounges!

[Freshair1]

Please!! I've developed a sore thumb from endlessly swiping! I've posted before with a floorplan and am seriously stuck on what to do with my ground floor. Two pics uploaded to show main area. There's a lounge round the corner. People have said to bash the wall down but I really don't want a huge 6m by 7m empty open plan box.

I have pretty much the exact same layout except i'd say mine is probably a little more spacious as i have an island between the kitchen and the dining room. I would agree with @worriedatwork123 and block up the entrance to the living room area so it isnt a corridor and then this room becomes a cosy area. That is what I have and i love it and it is where we all sit to watch tv together.

And if you knocked that wall back a little it would give more room in the kitchen and you could fit in a island (we have a free standing support pole where that wall was as it was a load bearing wall )

Sorry I missed the kitchen must be right.

I don't really think it's open plan pictures you need but a decent kitchen designer. If it has to stay in that space it needs clever design.

The pantry door prevents a decent run of units and the gap isn't big enough for a proper island.

You either lose the door in or take down the wall for me..

This was mine about ten years ago, not sure it helps your situation though. Good luck deciding...

A breakfast bar is never, ever the answer to anything.

This came up in my news feed and I thought of you, @Freshair1! Similar 'before' layout problems and a lovely, airy 'after' solution. I really like the dining island idea: it's gloriously multifunctional, integrates design-wise, and I reckon you can never have too much storage.

Thanks all for the advice and ideas. I wonder if it's possible to get 3d goggles like on Your Home Made Perfect?? Should have mentioned that we are having windows put in the left side wall so get as much light as possible in. While the previous owners did a double height extension, they didn't plan for light!

I've planned a u shaped kitchen and there is a 1.5 gap between units.

This is a plan I did on DIY kitchen planner. It has 9 units. The seating bit is long enough but leaves a 1.1 passing space.

Ours is an L shaped kitchen diner…not sure if the photos of my kitchen are helpful?

I wouldn't waste space with that breakfast bar sticking out in the middle

I did that and hated it so I just chopped it off. I'm a bit dramatic like that when I hate things. It was oak. I replaced it with a kitchen table.

I do like @CrispsnDips kitchen

My friend has that glass table and sold me the oak table she had before that because I loved it

I've got this layout as also definitely didn't want to knock the wall down. But we extended the kitchen bit out as well so all in line with the rest of your extension. The door to the back reception room was already blocked but I'd definitely do that.

IMO, because you have a lovely pantry space AND a big utility, you're not going to need loads of kitchen storage.

But you will need worktop space.
Also, the comfy seating is round the corner, so having something people can sit on to keep the cook company would be nice.
You could put a breakfast bar or island in, which would do the job well.

But, personally Id have a rocking chair with plenty squishy cushions in the corner between kitchen & pantry doors, and freestanding prep table (Victorian) as an island. Sadly I don't have pictures as it only exists in my imagination! Some people would HATE that style (obviously theyre wrong though 🙄).

I've had a totally open plan in Denmark and a big kitchen diner but good lounge too in the UK-

I would never pick totally open plan again- our room in Denmark ' looked ' lovely- it had beams and funky kitchen and woodburner etc - and was lovely if it was 'just me' - and it was a pretty big area in a detached house, but as soon as 2 of us were there it was noisy if you were in the kitchen and anyone in lounge bit- you smelt dinner all evening and I never felt you could leave pots for a moment and relax as they were kind of 'there'

I don't think it's a good idea to make your house 'all kitchen' - not everyone likes living effectively in the kitchen.

You might be able to do this using the DIY kitchen design tool. You put in your room dimensions then add walls, sofas and dining tables and design your kitchen around them. I am planning a similar layout of my kitchen extension and this gave me a good idea of what it might look like.

@bloodyfootprint 🤣 why not? Much like the design the op posted most recently.

Something to keep me busy this evening!!! It's just bloody tricky. Yes in theory I know I could get a large kitchen by removing the wall BUT I don't like the cavern aspect of open plan. Eg attached. To me it feels like a hangar or events space..not a home.

Questions: is the first picture two different breakfast bars or is it a penninsula? Seen a few comments about not having a breakfast bar and need to be clear what it is.

Secondly, is the Stuart Frazer pic a good visual of what's achievable if wall knocked down? Got a wren design app booked and waiting to hear from 3 other companies.

Pics attached... The lighter kitchen is something that looks nice. If we took part of the wall down to retain some division, we could have a 4m long space from outer wall inwards so plenty for an island.