The correct dimensions for steps if I'm not wrong, as we're currently building is, maximim riser being 190mm and minimum tread is 240mm. The riser cannot be different meaning that you can decide on any hight but not exceed 190mm and however many steps you decide on, all risers must be the same, whether they are the maximum height or slightly less. Your steps are definitely illegal and quite unsafe as you say and should never have been made this way. I wouldn't raise the first step to the timber riser because if you get rain, it could flow over the step and into your home. The small step if extended right to the front of what is your second step would be the easiest and correct fix, if the height doesn't exceed 190mm from the bottom of the first step once you take up the height which looks to be only about 50mm at best plus whatever the height is of the first step which does look to be less than 190mm, perhaps 150mm but I'm guessing?? Could be that you should only have had one step ever!!.....hopefully the height from the ground up to the timber riser isn't more than 190mm and your laughing!! The riser height is a tried and tested height for a person to lift their foot from one step to the next. If you are not selling for some time or ever, then it's not about being legal but being safe and if your measurement ends up being say 210mm for example, that would still be better that 50mm and 150mm or whatever the height actually is currently. As for tread, again, once you choose a measurement at or over 240mm, every tread must also be the same. If it's wider than 240mm, it allows for a person to place their foot squarely without stubbing their toes on the riser or feeling like their heel is hanging off the step. We have gone for quite large treads on our entry steps being about 500mm wide and it also looks nice if the tread is wide on a large or wide entry like ours being a few metres wide as we have double front doors at our entry once the home is finished. I've included a close up of the steps as well as a full shot of the home with the frame already up if the photo's have uploaded properly. Your steps need to be removed and lengthened to the correct dimensions but a qualified builder is probable the way to go, as any builder can tile or reccomend a tiler once the steps are fixed. Good luck

Judy, do you know if the stepped facade on the art-deco extension is hiding a roof gable or is it purely decorative? If it is only decorative (and heritage regulations allow) I would remove those top 2 courses to make it a simpler box shape. Not essential, but in my opinion that stepped gable is not very attractive, and makes it look more like a public building than a residence. This would simplify and give it more of a modern look, but still be genuine art-deco. The house is already a combination of different eras, so adding a bit of a modern touch will not detract and is more honest when you are renovating anyhow. I would paint the driveway terra-cotta to match the tiles, garage door green to match the roof and change the cladding on the garage front wall to flat fibre-cement panel rendered and built up to a straight line parapet on the front. Paint all walls white, including the rendered panel over the garage door (IMHO this is the only colour that really works with art-deco). Remove the shutters and paint window frames and other trim the dark charcoal you already have on gutters and other trim. The middle section of the column should be that same colour as the top and bottom for its shape and proportions to read well. I would probably leave the stone paths as they are, as they seem to match the dark surround to your front porch tiles. With the front fence I would remove the wrought iron, then extend the pillars up to 2m and fit batten screens between them. To alleviate the sun-load on the western window after those shutters are gone I would instead plant a screen of high growing vegetation inside the front fence, e.g. a row of bamboo. That would give you a better outlook and still provide sun shading and street privacy.

This was my thinking about that pantry window (and there has been a lot of thinking, to my draughtie's despair!) : I guess it comes down to the fact that this is a renovation rather than a new-build, so it will always involve compromises. I chose to have the pantry on that front side rather than the back in order to get big stacking sliding doors across the whole back wall, which is north-facing - where the kitchen-dining area will open onto a deck. I have ensured that the renovation plan works with the current layout as much as possible, rather than forcing it to be something it isn't (I had a more complex design done initially, that was much more expensive, because it was trying to make the layout like you might see in a new build). Having said that, it also has to be functional and work for the lifestyle we have in this era. I think our floorplan achieves that - with the only minor point of contention now being that rather unobtrusive pantry window! I think for resale, and for the majority of people, if it came down to a choice between having a walk-in pantry with a window that isn't the same height/width as the others at the front of the house, or not having the WIP, the WIP would come out well ahead.

I love all the above ideas . I'll take a slightly different tack though -- maybe get you thinking ? I don't like the balance of the house sorry -- the garage at a lower level , but without a corresponding split level roof , I personally don't like . To me , it makes the house look 'stubby' . Depending on your budget , and need for space , I'd either add a 'higher' window in place of the garage door -- in line with the window next to it . OR I'd change the garage door to a ranch slider -- turn the garage into the master bedroom , or an office ( presumably with the laundry at the rear ) . The problem with that is that some people may mistake that for the main front entrance . I'd then add the garage to the left hand side , BUT I'd bring it forward by approx 1.5-2 metres -- the new roof could then be at the same level , but as it comes further foward , it would give the illussion of a split level roof . There's a slight advantage that you'd have a bit more space too -- maybe even extend it out the back , and then the boat can fit too ? Between the new garage and the front door , I'd then do a pagoda style veranda -- 200 x 50 beams , stained a nice medium brown , probably with clear acrylic panels above . The right hand eve , and the window sills , I'd also do in a mid brown -- personally , I think it looks a bit too grey and black at present . The front door looks nice , but again I'd do it in a nice mid-brown colour , rather than the lighter varnished look that appears to be on it now . Obviously , alter the driveway , so you can get in the new garage , and park 2 vehicles side by side , using the existing and new driveway . And then gardens as above . A bit ( lot ? ) more expensive compared to the above , but you'll have a nicer , and nicer looking house with more room , and obviously a lot higher resale IMO .