there is no perfect dimensions for an island. Try to organce space subdividing into smaller cabinets of 60x60 cms which is the max space for a structural division and works for seating area as well

Do they have to be paint buckets? I would think they would not be good for gardening? Maybe others will know more about that. But in the U.S. you can get 5 gallon buckets from some local businesses like bakeries, food store chains, places like those that regularly use items they get in the buckets. For instance a bakery usually gets stuff in 5 gallon buckets and often has to throw them into a dumpster as they can only save so many. Some businesses now sell them for a small fee, maybe 1 dollar U.S. each and some just give them away. I think the cost of shipping them to India would be more than the cost of buying them. You could try setting up a fund on Kiva.org and possibly get enough donations to purchase food grade buckets instead of using ones from paint. Good luck with this project and please update us as to your progress.

Hi Kiran, Before you place any furniture here, you should rethink the existing layout. I would eliminate the 3 internal walls around the puja room, and convert the areas of the living, puja, dining and kitchen, into a singular larger space. This is simply for better air circulation and overall aesthetics of the flat - to make it feel larger. You will now have an open kitchen - which can be shut by either a glass sliding folding partition, or with a half wall with a breakfast bar. You can use furniture smartly to create privacy for individual areas. You can also change the locations of the doors to the bedrooms, by not having them from the dining space, but from the passage outside the bathrooms; so that a larger table right in the centre with a dining credenza by one of the walls, thereby making the dining space a bit enclosed and not accessible from 3 sides. To answer your main question, you can have the television on the common wall between the living and bathroom (5'x8'); an L-shaped sofa can be placed along the same wall as the entrance door. Hope this helps! G

Thanks for both of your responses CUBSpaces team and Shweta from Shades studio. It really gives a clarity about possible consequences. I am now doubt free about changing whole things in Bathroom as it will be interconnected. However will appreciate your opinion on few things: 1. Kitchen wall tiles: I have those from countertop height to roof(almost area of 6X15 feet) which are good and not hollow. I changed countertop 5 years back without any damage to these tiles. It might cost me another 10-15 K, but I feel the whole process and quantity of wasting old good tiles makes me little sad. 2. kitchen countertop: Made new around 5 years back. I don't expect to get it all intact. But large pieces can be cut and can be used as top for other freestanding structures like dishwasher, front load washer, heighten base cabinets, etc. 3. Plywood: I don't mind giving enough labour charges for old sheets recycle. I am planning to use doors, loose sheets(like kept on bed frame of settee frame.) or parts of big frames like settee. I am keen on reducing waste than to save money. You can see various DIY ideas by western people, who remove or sand laminates and re-paint furniture, or carefully remove hollow tiles and re-attach them. Some are also re-painting ceramic tiles. I am just asking myself: Are we creating more and more waste by use and throw approach every 10-15 years, just because we can afford it?