Running with your second floor plan (and ignore the glass sliding doors in this image) but would you consider changing your 3m narrow splash to a full sized fixed window on half the side and the remaining side create as the cooking area with cupboards, oven etc.? You mentioned you have stacker doors in the direction of the lounge, but in terms of space, from these doors, it's living area no windows at a room length of around 7m, followed by 4m kitchen room length including a 3m narrow glass splash to provide natural light for the kitchen area (cupboards noted above)? From your drawings there seems to be no windows on the opposite wall, is that right? I feel you will need to bring additional natural light into the kitchen area possibly bigger than the 3m glass panels if only 0.6m tall (or similar) especially with cupboards on top. If you're not keen on swapping out the narrow splash here's another example with your second floor plan (and also ignore glass sliding doors in this image) but possibly a tall window or fixed glass panel before your kitchen bench starts - even if <1m wide. Or greater than 1m if you're OK to encroach on your 3m glass splash and make it shorter. If the island bench is not a "must" you could create similar to this image and have a L-shape bench so it encloses the kitchen a bit more. This will help create the next room of your house ie. Kitchen - and you'll gain a few more cupboards if you're really wanting additional. Then have the big fixed window adjoining the L-shape next to the seating bench. You could still have your narrow glass splash with cupboards above, possibly just shorter (only referencing the L-shape and large door in this image - imagine fixed glass full-size wall panel in lieu of door next to the seats. Ignore the remainder of the kitchen). Is this an existing dwelling or new home build? For either of your options, are you impacting your roof-line as your first floor plan suggests you're widening the kitchen by 1m? The first plan I'm guessing will cost more; light wells and extra bricks vs straight wall. As mentioned by the other posts, there's plenty of storage options. You still have a decent amount of room for cupboards including a full-sized pantry next to your fridge space. I also agree with jbantick's of balancing space indoors and out (not knowing surroundings).

Australia has nice examples of painted and rendered Art Deco homes. If it was a different kind of brick I would say keep it, but I think painting/rendering would really brighten the place. I love the windows. Although all pics here don't exactly match your style, they are all of that era. As mentioned in above comments, there are mix of landscaping styles that suit from conifer/gravel/grass to cottage rose garden to an Australian native garden. Do what reflects you and how much time you have for your garden.

Orientation is a very important consideration when trying to design a comfortable, energy efficient home. http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/orientation Getting the orientation right means placing your living areas (& a large proportion of your glazing) to the north, keeping bedrooms away from the west (& minimize glazing in this direction). You're very lucky to have a northern backyard. But you large covered alfresco will shade most of your northern windows, resulting in a colder house in winter. I'd rotate the alfresco, & build it closer to the western boundary. This will result in more northern windows receiving winter sunshine. I'd move the living area to the NE corner, to enjoy that winter sunshine. Your bedroom face east, & your garage will take the brunt of the western summer sun. This is all a good idea.

View from powder room with door open is looking through the hallway section into an office / spare bedroom built in wardrobe (if the door is open). Not too concerned with that as door to room is usually closed. I definitely think I'd prefer to save that money and use it on something else, like maybe popping in a little basin over the top of the toilet.... I think it also creates easier access to the toilet when in the main part of the house instead of so another turn... Re the measurements: 930 x 2130 for laundry external door including trim. Also, I am currently just having a look at revamping the toilet room and am in process of painting the walls antique white from a very dark purple (don't worry, going to add interest in there somewhere won't be all white haha) and now figuring out how to embrace the tiles I have with some design and colour choices with walls and window trim or resurface them.. I have a photo below if anyone has ideas but maybe this warrants another post in a different section.. (also note i had to paint on the top of the wall tiles in a line as previous painter had done a shocker of a job...) I am contemplating a toilet/basin unit to save space and putting a kind of inserted custom shelf and frame option in the window to hide it (ugly old window with old paint marks all around the outside) to put plants and some small glass vases on but still have some light coming through. (Also, can't remove the window as I can't match the bricks outside (80's mottled brick) as directly in front of entertaining area. I also can't afford to replace at this stage).