Sandra B/LegendaryFlame/MBDesign/Girlguides: thank you for the fence endorsement. It's been oiled again since that photo, so matches more closely to front pillars. I agree that we need to paint the side room a darker colour. I think based on all these comments I'll do the protruding front panel the dark grey of the roof (MBDesign, fyi, roof is brand new) and the side room the mid range grey that the the protruding front panel is now. Remainder of house remains the white grey. CP - I know what you mean with the fence being too imposing. If I had my time again I'd make the height lower. But great idea to plant something on the street side of the fence to soften it. I'll look into that. It feels like spring is almost in the air in Sydney - so time for the nursery's :) Sandra B: I'm not sure what you mean with the bit near the front door. Do you mean painting around the window above the entry? (per photo attached above)? Thanks again everyone: certainly made my thinking clearer having this input. Just need to decide on that panel between upstairs and downstairs window now.

the most important points you mentioned in your original post is that this is your first reno and not your forever house so my plans are based on keeping the spaces as flexible as possible without spending too much on major structural alterations and very expensive custom sized cabinetry..my suggestion combines the original family room, kitchen and study into an open plan L shaped kitchen family dining area, with the option to close off the original dining area to create a separate study and keep the original living area as a quieter room...the best way to see if the spaces will function for the purpose you intend is to add scale sized furniture into the spaces with walkways through the rooms...altering the existing kitchen would not be my first choice for function, appearance and value for money when you have more suitable spaces available but there's a lot more house that may need attention and you must check all dimensions and prepare a more accurate plan as the Real Estate Agents' plans are out of proportion and don't include the details for the kitchen and entry...check the length of every wall and the size and position of every window and door and i'd be happy to draw up a more accurate plan that will help HOUZZERS offer more specific suggestions

Hi Kel - all projects have different scope, extent of rectification of original home, extent of new works, level of finishes, access...list goes on. That said most of our inner-city projects (alterations and additions) cost from $600-800k upwards)

We have been building our house for over two years now. The supply chain downturn has made it a nightmare. We are camping on the mezzanine floor of our warehouse so it isn't costing us to wait, but if I had rented a property while building we would be in trouble now. I purchased most of our plumbing supplies early in the build so at least those items have not gone up in price, but many others have. We ordered and paid for a cantilever pool awning in February this year, and it was sent in three lots. The last delivery was two weeks ago. I suspect the company was having a hard time getting it out of China, so not their fault. We had quotes for fly screens/security screens that totalled over $25,000. We had to forgo the security screens in favour of fly screens for most of the house. We had a quote for a large aluminium mesh panel to place on the front left corner of the house which was over $25,000 also. The fencing company got an order wrong and we ended up with the wrong colour louvre panels on the front driveway sliding gates, plus the wrong colour for a fence. We have managed to turn it into a positive by keeping the wrong coloured louvre blades, and they will now be put up vertically on the front corner of the house, instead of the aluminium mesh. They are six metres long, but the house is two stories, so all good. We had to keep the gate panels the same, so the wrong colour will have to be exchanged for the right colour. People are still building houses here, and some of them are going up very fast, so I don't understand why ours has taken so long. We have purchased most of the goods locally, but I suppose the suppliers are having trouble getting them from overseas. I am at the point where I am losing interest in this house, which is a shame because it will be a beautiful house when finished.