siriusky thank you for the photos that looks beautiful (your exposed brick is stunning, sadly ours is a really ugly colour so we will be covering it up!). I am a big fan of 70s features - the high ceilings, raked beams etc and was looking specifically for one that needed renovating! I have 2 kids but I also work from home so need a study and I think a 4th bedroom upstairs would add value to the house. Can a bedroom have no windows? Because downstairs there are no windows in that little section and I dont think there is the possibility of creating one (built on a sloping block and it is built into the hill). That will be my study in the interim or long term if we decide not to change the layout upstairs. I really love the idea of the doors out to the balcony from the main bedroom too, will definitely investigate the cost to do that with the builder! definitely plan to open everything up upstairs as it is quite dark, opening it up will make a big difference. Tweeza thank you I really love that plan, and think the laundry and pantry like that would work very well! Jess I LOVE that first plan and all that lovely storage, if only we could find some way to incorporate a laundry. Hubby suggested a cupboard style laundry (washing machine behind doors) but I am just not a big fan of those! would probably have to sacrifice my lovely pantry for a laundry :) Thank you so much for everyone taking the time to help me I really appreciate it. Will post some photos after settlement and will be back for lots more advice!

You need to be careful of obstructing your walkways, if the buffet is not too high maybe you could position your buffet against either the 4.51m wall or 3.19m wall and mount your TV above the buffet - it would double up as a TV unit and then you can position your lounge/s in front of it like you have in your options. Is the fridge too large to fit into the fridge space in the kitchen? Depending on the size/position of your sofas and your powerpoint positions the fridge could perhaps sit in the corner of the 1.51m wall and be camouflaged with a large pot plant next to it to hide it a little from view (I know this positions the fridge a fair way from the kitchen but maybe you could get a cheap smaller fridge to fit into the kitchen cavity so essentials are close at hand). A round dining table in the corner to the right of the entry would visually look less cluttered plus give you a bit more space to walk around it, a 1.1m or 1.2m diameter round table should adequately seat 6.

an island in the kitchen would challenge the available walk through to the family room and the precise space available in the alcove depends on wall thickness so my suggestion has a new location for fridge, wall oven and tall storage, similar location for stove, sink and dishwasher and the alcove used as pantry space with a free standing table rather than an island to test how it feels before committing to a fixed island and a new kitchen and widening the dining room door should not need a DA but always best to ask the building inspector at your local Council

As you appear to use the back living as the dining, I would have a break in that side of kitchen for ease of access. I would close up the current exit opposite the bathroom. I would move fridge across the room and move pantry next to it. Remove the current pantry walls and right angle the cabinets, on both sides, instead of angled. Move oven to near the cooktop. Maybe underbench oven. Microwave and appliances along those benches with overhead cupboards. The angled walls that close off the front living may be load bearing. So you would need to get that checked out before thinking of knocking them down for stools to be placed there. You also have so many appliances on the benches. You need somewhere to put those when not in use. If you open the walls, then you will lose that storage area.