i think your friends advice is excellent. The postion of the current doors really compromises the layout. Doors in the middle of walls make a room very difficult for furniture placement. You might not even need double doors from the kitchen. I would keep the glazed style though, but update it as it lets a lot of light in. The only negative I can see is losing some wall space in the kitchen for cabinets.

I wonder if you change your current double doors to a single, nearest the window, you would be able to centre a three seater sofa opposite the fireplace and a two seater opposite the door, tv to the right of the fireplace?

KatLucy - this is the best layout, out of at least 25 suggestions I have had - from friends, furniture shops etc. Thank you

It definitely sounds like you’ve thought this through really well, and honestly I think your friend’s suggestion has a lot of merit — especially if you're aiming for a more sociable, modern layout that flows nicely between spaces.

That long narrow lounge can be tricky with the current layout, and from your photos, it does look like opening it up to the kitchen/family space could make the whole area feel much more inviting and usable. Being able to zone the space into a cosy square for the TV and fireplace and then have a garden-facing seating area would definitely elevate how the room functions especially with all that lovely light coming through the rear doors.

The only real consideration is whether you’ll miss having that direct hallway access, and to be honest, if you're planning to stay long term, it’s more about how you live in the house day-to-day than future resale. Lots of newer builds these days are moving toward that kind of layout you come in, hang up your coat, and then pass through a social space rather than a traditional “formal lounge entrance.”

If it gives you the layout that works best for your lifestyle, I’d say it’s a worthwhile move.

That seems very sound advice - thank you.

Based on katlucy's idea 😀

Unpopular opinion coming- I'd split the long room; one end as downstairs bedroom and other for noisy sociable stuff like music practice, movie watching, sport matches... Your lively new open extension will be very sociable but a separate area might save relationships.

I'd also have the utility entrance from the hall, assuming it is mostly laundry from upstairs, storage for cleaning products / machines, and add a 'drop zone' for bags / coats / shoes in that hallway. That way your kitchen can take up the right hand wall. If your kitchen designer is clever, they could incorporate a bin unit in the kitchen that can be accessed in the utility room to save ever dragging bins or recycling through the social area.

I agree with tab darcy, that the utility, wc and corridor to the side entrance could be enhanced. Can you let us know what you have planned to put into the rooms off the hallway?

Possibly a pantry near the kitchen, and moving the wc to the corridor and the wc to a utility with a central cloaks cupboard next to the wc on the outside wall

There is only my husband and I and so we have lots of options for private space. We will use one of the bedrooms as a dressing room and another as a study/snug with sofa bed for guests. We were thinking of using the utility room for a washing machine, sink, storage and do messy things we do not want to use the kitchen for i.e. cleaning boots. Also to have coat hooks for outdoor coats and a place for boots outdoor shoes. The WC is the guest wc. The cupboard for coats. I agree it would be a good idea to be able to enter the utility room through the hall rather than just the outside and the secret door from the kitchen but it would mean another door in the hall way. I will ask the architect about it. What do you think about the idea of not having doors into the lounge and kitchen/dining room and just openings - or does that look like I ran out of money and couldn't afford them! Thank you all for your contributions

No doors is a great idea. A well framed opening showing a view of another room is always inviting. I'm a minimal doors person. Sometimes you need them but if you don't I think openings especially in the sociable parts of the house look better.

I like the idea but husband not too keen . He is worried about the noise/smells. I think he is overly concerned as we are used to flat living

Pocket doors are such a great idea!
DM us, we’d love to share some thoughts and ideas with you.

Have you considered a ‘secret’ door from hall into utility? One that is flush with the wall so it is not obvious but allows access?

Based on experience two access to the living room are unnecessary as there will be many person/child/pets will commute accross the room or many distraction due to multiple access door by physchology this room will make you less relaxed than one access room. Close off the door lead to kitchen to prevent smell is more functional. Even without the second door it still close to access kitchen and you can get space for proper dining table

Thank you for your comment. I am only thinking about moving the door and making the entry to the living room through the kitchen. I will close other (existing door) to enable me to put the sofa at that end and facilitate a better layout. I am having difficulty finding a good layout with the door where it is. The new door would be a pocket door which could be closed to keep out kitchen smells and I will also get a powerful extractor fan.

Thank you.