Hi Sarah, hope you enjoyed your travels last night, that's something we have spent our lives doing plus living in different countries. Do look into the attic room/s they are lovely and the Velux skylights very unobtrusive, look great and if positioned correctly take care of venting any hot air, as I mentioned ours were pivoting ones and could be locked open in several positions. I much prefer these to dormer windows, you don't really notice them. The stairs were built off site and lifted into position and installed, built in. At the time we did ours a very good friend a builder did the same but just completely opened the whole ceiling space right out towards the gutters into a large bedroom play study area for his daughters, also using Velux windows. Glass ceilings, like Velux windows have been around for years, believe me I know, we're both getting older. Velux windows can be used as glass ceilings in opening and non opening configurations. I would love to see you keep the outdoor loo as well and updating the old shed into a new connecting space to the house, perhaps a glass breezeway. I will have another look at your plan again over the weekend. I love your front iron gate as well, auto sliding driveway gates work really well and would really fit with your carport. My brother in law put in a tall timber sliding gate at his last home, lovely cheers

Hi oklouise, thank you again so much for your suggestions to help me reflect on my choices! The great thing about this whole process is that it has really helped me clarify my must haves/dealbreakers and nice to haves. Key elements that I don't want to forego are: 1) a "master suite" with large WIR + private ensuite+ direct private garden access/views. The current northern bedrooms are elevated and do not allow these elements and better suited to small kids as no external doors and can be eyeballed from the kitchen. 2)The kitchen must be the heart of the home and connected to all living spaces so the host never feels disconnected from guests & can watch kids from almost any living space.I attended a party last weekend which had the kitchen blocking the living room from the outdoor space and the host commented they regretted it after renovating. 3)The dining room must be an end destination vs a corridor so it does not become a dumping grounds for bags, mail & everything else as the nearest flat surface to the entry point. 4) All new bedrooms must also be min 3 -3.2M wide on the narrowest side for me to justify them. 5) I reviewed all my lookbooks and tear sheets pulled to date and its a clear pattern that I want my 'adult' living and dining/entertaining spaces connected to the rear garden preferably wrapping l-shape round a deck or courtyard garden. In a sense 'broken' vs open plan but still visible through glass etc. 6) I would not be prepared sacrifice the prime N/NE aspect with utility rooms. 7) I don't wish to place a verandah at the front as it will never be used except extra maintenance and can create shading in summer via other methods. 8) capacity to rent out room with private living quarters. There are many splitter blocks in my area and I don't need it to operate as legal dual occupancy. 9) single level living -no second story bedrooms etc. 10) separation of main bedrooms when renting out section of house Phew....I think thats most of the checklist criteria I have been working to. Still think tanking the street appeal/front facade style but its probably leaning toward lux byron bay beach cottage meets modern coastal with some retro elements to hint at the history of this 1950s house!

I would recommend getting your home tested. Asbestos can be found in the most unlikely places and getting it removed is costly. Whether renovating or not, it will be beneficial knowing where it is and what condition it is in. For example, if you want to do something as simple as hang pictures on a wall, you’ll know whether you can safely install hooks. Or if your asbestos fence is damaged in a storm, you can get it repaired or replaced the right way. If you start renovating and your tradie unknowingly rips into some asbestos containing material, you risk contaminating your house and the cleanup bills will be huge.

Hi Bec, sorry for taking so long to respond, I have been trying to find a way that could work for you I finally decided to do what I would if it was my house. It may seem extreme but for me it simplifies the angles, giving you a kitchen/dining/family/living The new Kitchen retains part of the old wall between the kitchen and living if needed to perform as load bearing, the island butts up to this, The rear southern wall of kitchen cabinets extends across the dining for extra storage or pantry and takes advantage of the French doors to the Alfresco. Moving the kitchen plumbing to the external southern wall should be achievable, having two plumbers in the family is a big plus I came to this idea after checking out the link you provided which is posted below which shows the whole floorplan and how it would flow and work for you and family when they visit, you can add doors between the family and dining if wanted. Again looking at the link ,your Spanline alfresco appears it may have been done in two stages, the first part has a gable roof which I would keep along with the brick wall and add white shutters above that and full height bi fold shutters across from the brick shuttered wall to the wall of the house. By removing the flat roof section but retaining the slab will help lighten the South facing bedrooms and open up the house to the lovely rear garden you mentioned https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/5981026/inviting-suggestions-update-demolish-a-spanline-style-addition