Yes, this is very much a 'how long is a piece of string' question! And the answer is probably very much a 'you get what you pay for' answer! We have just built a house and paid in the vicinity 0f $1800/m2 - the builder we used has 3 lots of 'specs' for houses - basically the lower budget, the middle, and the higher end. For our given floor plan they could quote on each of the specs and we went with the middle one. This involve things like the quality of the fittings/appliances etc. eg. with the low spec we would have got a basic kitchen with formica benchtops, the middle spec included soft-close drawers and hinges with stone benchtops etc and it was the same for all the fittings throughout the house - toilets/vanities/laundry fit out/quality of carpet/type of concrete for drive etc. A word of warning - we had a friend who was very happy because he built a house for just over $1000/m2 - but you could tell! It looked all fine when it was brand new but after a few months you could tell the poor quality of some fittings. And the carpets were already looking worn! so - you get what you pay for.

Painted floor tiles will great for a short time, but as soon as you start cleaning them you will have problems. While there are tile paints available they are generally used for vertical tiles surfaces and not floor tiles which are subject to high mechanical abrasion (with grit and shoes). As soon as the paint starts wearing and paint lifting (especially in traffic areas) they will look like the cheap and nasty fix that they are, and it won't fool the buyers. Possibly an assortment of large matching floor rugs will visually link the spaces and hide most of the tiles. You could use edged carpet to make rugs, but the important thing is consistency throughout. If you are on a budget you may be able to sell them after the property is sold. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

It depends on the outlook, the privacy required, the orientation, and how much heat it gets from the sun in summer. I would suggest living with it for a year to understand exactly what you need. As the windows are non-openable I would suggest avoiding anything that requires maintenance such as timber battens, or anything that provides suitable nesting potential for birds, as the droppings from nests can make an awful mess. If money was no option I would consider adjustable metal louvres, perhaps mounted vertically, that could be opened and closed depending on the time of year. Resear ch Vergola. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.

I love using sisal rugs and I have one in my family room that I have found very good for a busy family. I have spilt Coca Cola on it before and it is easily removed by dabbing with water and dabbing until the coke is gone. It is a more corse fibre so it is not soft but I love it. This is the sisal rug in my family room that I have had for years and I still love it. I think it is a timeless material and also helps to create a more relaxed casual look. I say go for it. Hope this helps- as you can tell I am a sisal lover!!!!