A generous open-plan kitchen has become the focal point of an ambitious self-designed home in the north-east of England.Making a dining room-cum-kitchen the social centre for parties and gatherings, Sarah Hall claimed that her self-designed home was a success, but cost more time and stress than made out by TV programmes. Hailing the importance of the kitchen- her favourite room - she told icNewcastle.co.uk Its ideal for parties. We recently had a party for my mums birthday and nobody left the kitchen.Opting for sophisticated appliances, the kitchen contains a built-in wine cooler, while the room opens out onto a sun room that is flooded with light from three sides. Claiming that the project involved ample research, Ms Hall explained that the plot of land invested in had planning permission for a smaller house, but that the later discovery that a church had existed on the site meant a bigger home design could be elaborated.The effort needed for a self-designed home was claimed to be more taxing than is made out by self-build TV programmes such as Grand Designs.