Once again, thanks everyone for your thoughts. The idea of a skylight is definitely on the cards - the glass doors are something that we just like on all the other doors, with the toilet just being the question. Also, a skylight might be a bit beyond our DIY (sky-tube maybe less so?) and trade work down here takes time (I'm not just in Snowy Mountains rural, but then down a country road 25km, plus another 2km of uphill dirt driveway, and the trades don't always show willing) - things we can't do ourselves take time and frustration. What Maguire Architects says about heat loss is important to us though (thus the double-glazing, storage heaters, etc.), so I've particularly taken that on-board. As for IKEA (jajlynn, Belinda)... jajlynn, that kitchen looks fantastic. I love those overhead lights - they really suit the style. Brisbane IKEA did delivery to Sunshine Coast, but the cost was pretty exorbitant, and they wanted to charge that each time more of the ordered stock came in. It got so frustrating having an incomplete kitchen, waiting for stock, we eventually brow-beat them into sending the stuff from a Sydney store (something they were very unwilling to do, even transfers between stores). They sent whole cupboards by Australia Post, slathered in standard stamps - it was weird. But it got done, and it got put together. Before and afters below Belinda, I'll be honest with you: as much as the IKEA kitchen is better than the Mitre10 kitchen, instruction-wise, you're gonna swear. You're gonna have to paint over the blue when you're done. ;) Just remember, when you're swearing, and probably at each other (assuming there's an other here - otherwise, at yourself and everything else), but it's just a kitchen - you'll get it done, it'll look great, you'll be justly proud and you'll want to do your next one (maybe not straight away though ;) ). That's why we're doing stuff here straight away in the new house - it gave us confidence to do it or learn trying. Now if you'll all excuse me I've got to get back to swearing at pantry wall cabinets, at my partner, at Mitre10, at the government, at that thing over there whatever it is, and at cursed fate that placed these suddenly-discovered slightly-wonky walls between me and happiness. ;)

Don't Apollo Blinds do every kind? Cleaning blinds is a horrible task. They sell some crazy looking brushes for that task but i have not tried one.

To Martin.....whilst on the subject of "askew toilet suites" ...I bought a very old cottage on a very empty corner block...and it had a very exposed outhouse..quaint but a bit embarassing as was the enormous Hills Hoist both visible from the main street. Everyone could see your undies for miles and knew when the owner was in the outhouse...More amazing when a desperate visitor came and knocked on the outhouse door ! That was the 1980s. There was a sewered loo just inside the back door in what was a mud room or an ante room to the back entrance to the house...., not very private either... forget to secure the 'falling-off' back door with the supplied length of twine ...and one could be seen enthroned! A couple of make-do fibro walls had gone up around the "suite"....in all a very curious situation. I did not have the immediate funds to rectify the problem and with no carpentry experience...so a rod and a weighted- hem curtain was the best I could do for a while and keep the back door secured for the time being. I This was a very dismal situation. All I could do was make fun of it so it wouldn't get me down. I went to town with my artistic talents and paints...a mural appeared on the back wall of the loo room....Not meant to be a masterpiece by any stretch and "in sync" with the kids' cartoons here and there throughout the house It remained like this for a few years and half laundry trough doubled as a toilet room basin...the 'pipes' from the WM had to come through the wall. By the time this PIC was taken the "cartooned" partitions had been replaced with timber clad walls...couldn't do away with my "in desperation" artwork. I'd replaced the battered brass cistern...much to my Siamese cats' dismay as they would sit on top, push the knob to flush..which made a racket that seemed to delight them......So I can empathise and commiserate with anyone afflicted with a loo askew.

Hi AndrewJason, I love cavity sliders. they are there when you want them but not visible when you need the space open. Having said that they cost more, take a bit of wreckage to set up and in you WA case you will be wrecking brick walls to put them in which might be a stretch of mess too far. BUT you will need to weigh up if they are worth it in the end. I do not think the build will be too bulky in the kitchen/dining because it will be superbly practical on both sides and it maybe just a matter of what you are used to. Not sure about "Average Joe...…" we are all good at somethings, mine is plans, function, practicality, solar. Yours might be brain surgery, empathy for unwell folks, kinda or you make the best seafood lasagne in the world... we are all needed to make for a great world: and it really is that!!! Good luck with your splendid home: I think it is beautiful. And PS if you do make the best seafood anything I better have your address....!!!!!!! MK