Think I've got to a good position with our plans (original/current layout here) - thanks everyone for your input and help so far. @chrisbmx116 - your suggestion about some sliding/double doors very much helped trigger the idea of bricking up the existing door out to the back yard, giving more room for worktop/cupboards in the kitchen (and thus not needing to extend further than the chimney breast). Oh! The plan is to have some kind of double/french/sliding doors between living room and dining room - not just an opening.
Still waiting on solicitors (been two months - chain free sale) to do their thing before we can properly get cracking though.
Think I've got to a good position with our plans (original/current layout here) - thanks everyone for your input and help so far.
@chrisbmx116 - your suggestion about some sliding/double doors very much helped trigger the idea of bricking up the existing door out to the back yard, giving more room for worktop/cupboards in the kitchen (and thus not needing to extend further than the chimney breast). Oh! The plan is to have some kind of double/french/sliding doors between living room and dining room - not just an opening.
Still waiting on solicitors (been two months - chain free sale) to do their thing before we can properly get cracking though.