Old post but thought I'd update. We have finally moved into our forever home and on occasions, obviously in winter, we still have crying window (sob). We have the wet windows on the south side of the home which is the shady side so not unexpected but also on the north side where we still get lovely warm winter sunlight streaming in and I still do have all my windows slightly cracked open and it does help. Incidentally I have glass bricks in our bathroom on the south side and there is no condensation on this window at all. Our home has insulation in both the exterior and interior walls and we have double insulation in our roof, so factor 7 unlike the usual factor 3.5 not that it probably has any bearing on the moisture issue. We have a 1.8mtr wide veranda surrounding the entire home so the windows are some what protected from the elements but when the temperature gets fairly low and can be almost zero in winter, it seems impossible to prevent this crying window sindrome but I can live with the fact it is fairly easy and quick to remove with a Karcher window vac now, brilliant little machine at $99 and it only takes a few minutes. We have an exhaust fan in both bathrooms that is vented outside so the moist air does not go into the roof space and in fact even my rangehood ducting is vented outside too!! We even had condensation in the roof cavity as well to the point of having a rainforest up there but since fitting another whirlie into the roof making it three in total now, it appears to have almost entirely eradicated that problem. I can say catagorically now that crying windows are a very difficult problem to eradicate in very cold climates where obviously the inside of the home being heated at night is going to create the perfect conditions for the condensation to settle with the inside being far wamer than the outside and there in lies the problem which canot be changed. I have blinds and curtains that I close ever day before dark but it makes no difference. As I have aluminium windows and doors throughout, so no timber anywhere, it isn't such an issue for damage but annoying none the less but life goes on and I do so love my beautiful new home!!

We love our bar and so do our neighbours with many Friday night fizzies. It opens up to our entertaining area, and doubles as a kids area during the day. For parties and impromptu gatherings we push the lounge back against the wall and open the folding doors and when its getting late the doors get closed and it is quite sound proof so the music can be cranked. It suits our busy lifestyle with most of our entertaining done at home and it is seperate but still part off the house.

our custom sized retrofitted security doors averaged about $1000 each including installation to suit single hinged doors and about $500 included with a standard sized sliding glass door...ours were custom made by a local supplier to the same standard as the named brands..they're key locked and we're very happy with being able to leave the solid doors open overnight and when absent and they look so much better than any other security doors BUT for less obvious doors (laundry, internal door to garage etc) we've discovered an alternative very modest price door that we're also very happy with (bit fiddly to install but black or white Bastion for $169 from Bunnings)

Definitely embrace the loft. Here's a small example we did for a kids bedroom above their robes. The girls love it to read and generally just chill up there. remember to add lighting and light switches (2way is good so you can turn it off without having to get up there) also power points for charging. Kids find a way to make it their space so be flexible. Likewise the remaining floor space let the kids work out how they'd like to use the space. Cool movable bean bag type and stool seating so they can easily move it themselves if they want to move everything out of the way to play or dance/ perform (perfect their tiktok) with regards to the space definitely paint out the ceiling beams and lighten the space up. install a wall of storage to chuck all the toys and think about storage at kid level...low and accessible. You could consider chalk walls or other surfaces to pin or magnetically pin up stuff. If it's definitely a space for the kids think like a kid and have fun. There's ways to be be sophisticated as well that will keep it from looking like a childcare centre. Have a look at funky office fit outs like Google and the like. they have fun breakout spaces that still have a level of practicality. think about ways to blend kid meets breakout space. good luck!