Have a look at Kate WS kitchen/utility makeover. Personally I’d put a table where she has and create your reading area in the sun room

It wouldn’t be cheap…

https://www.madaboutthehouse.com/my-house-reveal/

Hi, what is the sun room used for? Could this not be your reading area ie does this not already have doors looking over the garden?

Re the light aspect, is it built over the utility or is that a single extension? Ie can you put a roof light in at all to being light in?

Alternative is to move the utility to the back adjacent to the sun room then open up the wall between the two so your kitchen is down at the bottom end. With bifolds opening up. But..

How about just having a fully glazed door on the utility room to allow more light in? I too feel the sun room would be the perfect place for a reading area, unless you are using it for something else? My kitchen is long and thin so one end is the kitchen and the other end is a sideboard (need the storage!) and a cosy armchair.

These are all great suggestions, thank you! I see a general trend that the sun room would be better for reading..which I kind of agree with, although I fear the dining table may feel a bit lost in a dark corner..I have had a play on a kitchen design app and using the sun room as the dining seemed to flow more (see pic), but I am definitely going to try the other way too, now that you have all suggested it :)

In terms of the light- it is a single story extension so I could put a vaulted ceiling with a sky light. I also like the idea of having a glazed door on the utility room :)

Putting the utility at the back and moving the kitchen to the end is actually a very good option- this way I could have it opening up the the garden! Would it not lose the sense of open plan though and feel like there is a sun/reading room and then a long narrow kitchen?

Back to the kitchen design app!

Is the current kitchen a single storey or do you mean just the utility room? If you could put a rooflight on the kitchen roof then that would feel so much brighter for you.

And is the main issue that the kitchen is dark or that you don't see the garden from it?

It looks nice on the design you have just mocked up.

A reading nook in that corner then by the utility wall could work if the views that you want are there. Was there a reason you didn't prefer that corner?

Dining wise - I always think it's nice not having the too much sun glaring when eating anyway so I don't mind a darker dining area. Ha ha.

We used to have a big dining table but found we mostly ate from the island! Only two of us though but in our previous house we have seating both sides and guests would always prefer it 🤣

So I'm asking if you need the dining table to be where it is ie do you use it a lot?

• it's difficult then with the flow as yes, probably moving the utility to the back where the dining table is would be a bit odd.

The only other alternative I can see is to build out the dining area to create a better wider shaped space and move the kitchen and dining area forward and the utility to the rear with bifolds across the back for the garden.

If that is really your ideal home then it may be worth getting some prices and seeing if it's possible before spending out on roof lanterns and moving the kitchen etc 😁

Thank you for such a detailed response, I really do appreciate it!

I think my main concern is the lack of light (having bi fold looking to the garden would be the dream but I just don't have the budget, unfortunately), but you make a good point about eating on a sunny day..

The utility and kitchen are single story, with a pitched roof, so the idea of a vaulted ceiling could also make it feel better, as the current ceiling is quite low.

I think the main reason for the reading nook to be at the rear is to really have a sense of a larger kitchen dining space, rather than a long think kitchen diner with a seating area at the side. I guess I want it to feel as open and as modern as possible :)

Thanks again, great thought provoking questions and advice!