bollie440, I spent literally years drawing up my plans for a new home, which is still underway and also incorporated wheelchair access where possible including a stepless shower. This included lots of research and googling and I am relatively happy with the home as it will turn out but when it comes to a reno, it's so different, just a little more here and a little less there could give you another room or extra storage. With everything you have planned, I would invest in the help of a designer/decorator who will make sure you get the best out of your design and style. It will cost you to hire someone but mistakes or not taking advantage of things you might not otherwise think of, would be worse and most of all dissapointing. How many times do youy hear someone say: "I wish I'd have known I could do that or thought of that"!!!.

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Like your choice of grey. Is the house well insulated? If not, you said you didn't want to sheet the ceiling rafters but it would help with cooling inside if that is an issue. I did a similar house in Mt Tambourine, replaced the first metre of timber decking that had been weather affected and then clad the underside in corrugated iron to let the water runoff but keep the ground floor verandah dry. You will have to get an engineer to check out the load bearing before you replace decking with tiles. Then the tiles will need more cleaning than a timber deck. Don't paint your brick, do all your improvements and then take stock. Painting means creating work for yourself or employing a painter. Every time I render I put an oxide in the cement, its fiddly but the results are worth it, never have to touch it again. Try to make a feature of your Front Door as it is a nondescript at the moment. Two nice pots with plants or hanging baskets either side, paint the door in a contrast colour to make it stand out. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

Appreciated am coming in late to this conversation, but generally the ideas are there, but I'd be playing with it a bit more.......there are 2 big ones for me here. Firstly missing the opportunity with the master suite. The whole thing should arguably be flipped so the bedroom space is to the rear/outlook to the pool and the bathroom/robe amenity internalised. If you're going that far with extension works arguably a bit of structure/engineering implemented to support the upper level is worth the investment to get the layout working. Design decisions should always be driven from the experience of the space. and 2. Not that convinced about the flow from entry to main living through an internalised dining space. Its like the kitchen/living/dining relationship is similarly not functionally balanced,. It's like the dining should be aligned with the kitchen space and living then separated....How exactly is that living space intended to be furnished?? At this design stage furniture should always be on the plan. You have to design from the inside out, make it work functionally and then deal with the walls/windows/doors etc last What's you're budget? Has your design given you projected costings on this? You want to make sure you don't need up with a conservative design solution that ends up costing you more than you wanted, and you then spend the money anyway but miss the opportunity for a much better resolved, higher value option than makes sense spatially for the way the house will be used and experienced. Best of luck PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com