Thanks for responding. We're in Auckland, New Zealand and close to the sea. Outdoor living is quite important but it does get chilly in winter so it's a balance. There are three adults and two young children in the household (one of the adults is an Au Pair who likes to spend time in her own room in the evenings). The kids will watch their cartoons generally in the morning and a bit before dinner. Then in the evening my husband and I will relax and watch TV. Right now the kids' toys are in the family room downstairs. We are foodies and like cooking. Generally when guests come over we all hang out in our small kitchen at the moment. The dining table we use for every meal time. We also like the idea of being able to get to the deck from the kitchen, rather than having to carry food in summer through the lounge/dining. The entry way is that big in order to reduce on the structural work but also in order to ensure that the door to the staircase is not in the lounge.

Amazing how much of a difference lighter furnishings can make in opening your space up!

AMBIA-LINE Plate holders make indoor-outdoor flow a breeze. Kitchen accessories by Blum making daily tasks practical pleasure.

Hi Daryl, it sounds like you've got a lot of work cut out for you, but congratulations on buying your forever home! Regarding the kitchen, have a look at Blum's ideas for practical kitchens. There you'll find different layout ideas, storage solutions and inspirational ideas which will help with making use of the space available to you, without having to expand over the deck. Good luck with your renovations!