A sliding door is just a big window, and if correctly built in (check if the glass is the correct sized for the door if a bit old) with the correct sized lintels this should not be a big problem as the loads would be transferred to the sides, allowing the door to slide easily. Silicon spray (being a Yachtie were we use this stuff everywhere), we now use silicone spray on all our windows in our 1930 home and the windows glide across with one finger before they used to tilt when trying to open them. I would place the door head up to line up with the others and one thing you might consider is placing a window seat, (rebate the bottom channels into the window seat) and have the window seat in and out, place a cushion over the entire seat, should be fantastic and if the deck is built, than no balustrade is required. If it is a stacker slider, i would do the seat for the entire length. So instead of looking a bit funny they will think it was supposed to be like that. We should all think outside the square more often. RAM

I've been playing around with a pantry location. Originally, I was going to move the pantry into the laundry with some custom shelving and cut the laundry space in half. Now, Im thinking of cutting into the study area and building a wall there, and converting the new space into a long and narrow walk in pantry. Either that or build half a wall and put built in shelving in the study. Building the extra wall will reduce the need to cover in the door way that is currently in place and instead utilising it. Thoughts? p.s. this isnt too scale.

Appreciate the thoughts and this may be a solid option elsewhere in the country but in my circumstances I don't plan to be moving from this property any time before the kids are 18. It is located in Sydney's inner west, and in a specific high school catchment I plan to take advantage of when the kids are older. Stamp duty to buy the property was close to $100k and if moving out even in ten years to a larger property; that averages $10k a year spent on stamp duty. I know 115m2 internal is tight, as is the fixed layout due to existing bedroom walls, ceiling heights, wet areas, and the like - but there has to be a way to make this work... I have read that 4 bedroom apartments should be 102m2 or bigger. I am willing to make compromises where possible but I really want to create that extra separate room "Multi-purpose room" which can double as a study/work area/kids play area/media room/ad-hoc sleeping accommodation". Paul Di Stefano: I don't think these changes essentially equate to 'rearranging a sock drawer' - this is my PPOR so I am not too concerned what other buyers want or resale value if I plan to hold the property for 10-20 years +... (any trends we design for now may well be outdated by then anyway). Many buyers highly value indoor-outdoor integration. By moving the kitchen to centre, it opens up the rear and creates indoor living->outdoor living link. If I get IKEA flatpack kitchen and DIY as much as possible - have a friend reroute the water/drainage/+his licenced electrical friend...hopefully this work would cost sub-$20k. Adding the sliding door to rear is $2.5k. Ensuite, bathroom and laundry I believe I can fitout for $10-15k all up- let's say 15k (again, tiling, raise flooring, showers/fixtures/flat pack laudnry cabinetry install all done in-house without tradies). The only thing I really need professionals for is to move the gas line in kitchen, BIR installs, stone benchtop, and maybe a few adhoc wall demo/construction/doorway moving - lets call that 10k. All up ballpark that is 47.5k? Sirius- If I go with your style plan then I lose the potential 4th bed space and have no where for relatives to stay, babysitter, nanny; etc :( Maybe it is a possibility that the main living space be used for lounge room and kitchen, we can always put dining table in the Multi-purpose room, then when that room is needed for sleeping accommodation, the dining table be moved to the side and kids can eat dinner on island bench bar; lounge or outside table... ? those doors to each side of the fireplace as you suggest - this space is very cramped outside (2.45m width) and potentially would be used to store trailer or garden shed, there is an old terrace built on zero-boundary there and they have a DA to go 2 storeys; which will shadow the whole area. This is why I planned to make the rear south corner a raised deck and try to channel house activity leading out the existing glass french door to that deck, or the rear sliding door. See photo-(my house is on the left, terrace zero boundary on right, and front on is a wooden dividing fence which on the opposite side is the driveway/1 car park and front street.

The characteristics of the Queenslander house makes it the most iconic domestic building type constructed as well as being one of the signature's of Australian architecture. The sub-tropical residential architecture of Brisbane is acknowledged as the most original and distinctive of all the Australia cities. Owning an old Queenslander is a challenging task to meet our modern living requirements. Old houses have to be dealt with a sensitive & intelligent skill to adapt to today’s living. Our client owns a 1920’s Queenslander on a hill at Brisbane’s bayside. The land size is a standard double lot at 810sq.m, facing West. The original house was one level house with two bedrooms, one bathroom, T-shape living room and kitchen. The lower section of the house was semi enclosed for laundry and storage. Around 1930 the previous owner enlarged the house foot print by enclosing the south side verandah and building a new full length north side verandah. This alteration had created an odd room in the middle of the house which also acted as the passage to the north side new verandah. The house was tired, rundown and overall foot print of the house is not sufficient for the couple for living and home office. Our client decided to reconfigure the interior layout, and to open up the back of the house. How did we restore the original house facade? (*Note that it was important for the client to restore & correctly detail the front facade as the house is in a character streetscape recognised by the council) *Restoration of the front facade involved the removal of all casement windows and awnings for complete stripping and painting & reinstating. *Ugly plastic drainpipes and guttering were replaced with new charcoal colorbond gutters and pipes. Attention to detail involved the relocation of down pipes to be set back from the front facade to ensure the clean look of the entrance. *Verandah bat wing doors were installed at the top of the stair to emphasise the entrance and provide security. *Removal of 1970’s external window screens to unveil all windows to their original beauty of the house *Replacement of the rusted TL-5 square rib old profile roof with the new S-Rib corrugated roof *Repaint the entire house in a clean cut monotone colour scheme. FRONT FACADE: BEFORE AFTER: BACK FACADE: BEFORE DURING CONSTRUCTION framework of the addition section AFTER SIDE FACADE BEFORE DURING CONSTRUCTION The framework of the addition section at the far end of this photo AFTER How did we plan the addition at the back yard seamless joining the original section -Why we created the seamless new open plan extension? The existing old house had no connection or view to the large back garden. The sea breezes were blocked with fixed glazing & one single door led to a low roofed deck. -Why we did not raise the house to double storey on the original foot print? The site is on a double sloping low hill which would have required extensive excavation, retaining walls & drainage. Compromised excavated outside zones leading from the side elevations would have created poorly naturally lit rooms along with inefficient air flow. This house does not require air conditioning. The double storey would have required repeat height new internal and back deck staircases. -Why we did not clear and bulldoze the back yard for new landscaping? After a 50 year old feature tree fell over, the back yard was planted with native indigenous SE Queensland trees 10 years ago. This has now formed a back drop of native greenery which is now being enhanced with further planting to create the best coastal eco-system. A double front colorbond shed was recycled & is now repositioned in a happy neighbours backyard. We will share the interior part in next post. Keep watching. www.8designlab.com.au