• Dining Area: Consider placing the dining table vertically, which may allow more diners to enjoy the window view while eating. This arrangement could also improve flow, making it easier for someone to step outside without having to squeeze past others.

• Cinema / Guest Room: I wasn’t sure if a cinema room is a priority for you, but as an alternative, it might be practical to designate this space as a guest bedroom particularly useful if a family member ever experiences limited mobility and cannot access the upper floor like if they sustain leg injury.

• Hidden Office Concept: The top-right outer room could serve as a hidden office,accessible from the sitting area via a concealed door (e.g. disguised as part of a bookshelf). This setup would help maintain privacy and separation from a children's study area ideal if you occasionally need a quiet space for meetings while working from home.

• Courtyard WC & Dog Wash: You might consider relocating the existing WC to the left, allowing the space to be repurposed. For the dog wash station, I’d recommend incorporating a half-bath with a bathtub and shower, making it easy to rinse off immediately after gym sessions or outdoor activities.

If you'd like help refining the layout further or exploring these ideas in more detail, feel free to reach out I'd be happy to assist.

In my opinion the designer has very slightly missed your brief because if you want to be connected to the garden she has put too many barriers between you and the outside space.
I prefer to have the kitchen on the left and would forgo the pantry. I would replace windows and instead add doors to the garden from the kitchen and dining areas. I would connect the kitchen dining with the largest reception space to ensure it gets fully used.

I also think that the gym location should move to one of the workshops off the courtyard. Overall this could be a bigger more visible space and because of the existing WC could include a shower or sauna.

I agree with Devyra that the space currently allocated as gym could be better connected to the house. But it’s possible its floor level is different and it’s not possible in which case how about a garden room with storage for garden cushions? or a space for the kids? Or a garden gin bar?

I would move the Bootroom so that the dogs have better access to the back garden.

I would move the WC so that you have a better guest WC which could even be a full bathroom which in turn would mean that the snug could be a downstairs bedroom should your parents need it or if you ever break your leg and can’t get upstairs for a couple of months.

i actually like the layout. i would however remove the banquette and have doors to the garden there. Extend the kitchen units and turn the island 90 degrees. The kitchen is big enough to include larder units. Assuming it fits have an L shaped banquette where the 2 armchairs are. Incorporate the larder into the boot room and have space for your dog/s to sleep.

This layout is really quite similar to how my brothers was, he actully extended his (?!) and his kitchen includes seating. His old kitchen is now a tv room. The tv room now rarely gets used unless the whole family is there and the formal living room only gets used at christmas. I guess my point is avoid soft seating in the kitchen to have a reason to use the other rooms!

i think having the kitchen on the left makes the kitchen undersized for the property

I agree with Minnie that the available space has room for plenty of storage and a separate pantry is not necessary.

But I also think that the left side of the room suits the kitchen and will accomodate just as much cabinetry as planned on the right side.

I also think you may want to consider moving the laundry upstairs