Need more information. North point? Climate zone? Family ages?

We are in Melbourne, we have two children, 4 and 18 months (girls with proposed shared bathroom) but planning for 3 children. MPR will be used for extended in-law accommodation. i have attached an earlier concept to develop only to indicate block size and north point.

It's pretty interesting.

Minor (unprofessional) comments:

- double sinks and even a double shower in an ensuite are always a luxury
- will noise from the pool annoy the occupants of bedrooms 1 and 2?
- if possible, I'd sacrifice a little space from the laundry to give the powder room a window, but plenty of powder rooms don't have windows
- will the BIR in bedrooms 3 and 4 be big enough? Perhaps they could be moved to the wall between the bedrooms and the hallway?
- how will the shared bathroom between bedrooms 2 and 3 work. Will the occupants of those rooms be happy to walk past one another showering to access the toilet?
- if possible, it would be good if this bathroom could be accessed from the alfresco/pool area so that people aren't dripping water throughout the house getting to a bathroom or other room to shower/change
- it's probably not possible, but it would be nice to have a glimpse of the alfresco area when the front door is opened, instead of just a wall and seeing the start of a very long hallway
- with stools at the island bench and the dining table so close, I'm not sure the built-in bench seating with round table in the kitchen is really necessary. That space could be used for additional kitchen storage or to create a larger ensuite
- I personally like kitchen sinks in the island benchtop so that you can enjoy the views, watch TV, etc which washing/cleaning up. But, it's a personal preference
- if you wanted to use the multi-purpose room as a home cinema, then you may want to think about the size and placement of the windows if you want a "dark room"
- a BBQ, pizza oven and fireplace would be overkill for me, but again that's a personal preference
- also, I'm guessing the climate warrants both a pool and a fireplace. Sometimes, there are things which are nice to have, but which may end up being a maintenance burden, and there are things which will actually be used on a regular basis and therefore justify the regular upkeep
- if there will be young children, it's a long walk from the main bedroom to their bedrooms. Similarly, it will be a long walk with the weekly groceries from the garage to the kitchen, but both of those seem unavoidable

Good luck!

Updated based on above comment: If the MPR is for in-laws, it might be a good idea to make the main bathroom accessible directly from that room so that they have an ensuite with more privacy.

Thanks, all the light grey walls are existing and due to budget will remain. The entry from the garage is where our current front door is and the new entry/porch is where our current open fire is (this area is our lounge / kitchen. The renovations are quite extensive so what we have now will have to do; like robes etc. Not sure how the bathroom will work or even if it will be an issue, hope not.

definite no from the misses re: home theater, although MPR could mean "my projector room"

Have you considered seeing a professional architect, as I feel you have missed some essential design basics in relation to energy efficiency and passive solar design which will create a wonderfully comfortable home and minimise energy use (that's why a north point on the plan is important and relevant). Study the website www.yourhome.gov.au - all will be revealed to your benefit. You can also purchase online all that web info in a book.
A professional architect will consider aspect, your land features, slope, views, desirable and undesirable breezes etc plus your short term and longer term family requirements. On a benefit/cost you are likely to gain from spending on wise design and planning at the very beginning.
On other aspects of your initially posted plan, I would consider these for a start:
- the large separation of the parent's from very young children's bedrooms may be undesirable
- requiring a long treck from the entrance past bedrooms and utility rooms to get to the living area makes it more like a service entrance than a pleasant welcome to your home
- the even longer treck which is also through the kitchen to get to the parent's suite
- no simple access from outdoor living and pool area to bathrooms/ toilet and laundry,
I really think you could benefit from an experienced design professional who will surprise you with some wonderful ideas. I say this because I am not a pro and like many people have had ideas I get excited about,but then an architect simply throws those out with better, wiser suggestions. Just be prepared to be open minded. Victoria is awash with architects specializing in sustainable design. Just have a discussion and pay for concept plans for a start.

http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energy-efficiency/smarter-renovations

It may be counter-intuitive but people on a limited budget and who want to get most "bang for their buck" possibly benefit most from architectural consultation, at least for initial advice. Here is a web address for a list of Victorian architects/designers from Sanctuary Magazine:
http://www.sanctuarymagazine.org.au/directorycategory/architectsdesigners/?directorystate=vic

Hmm . . . with two children and (all being well) a third, you might want to consider finangling in a larger 'teenager retreat' space. I know that time probably seems eons away now, but it be on you sooner than you think. The MPR room could serve - but perhaps a larger space to contain table tennis table/billiard table/dancing space/amateur rock group rehearsal room (think about sound proofing now!) Adolescents probably won't want to slap bang up against mum and dad's study . . . I have no idea how to do it, but it's an idea to think about! (Alternatively, you may want somewhere to hide from teenage parties . . .)

What would happen if you flipped the two new wings . . . so the living/dining area was beside the pool, the ensuite bathroom perhaps made accessible from the pool/alfresco area, bedroom 1 where the living room now is, and thus closer to the young children's rooms, but still slightly distant for privacy when they are older?

Another idea: could the MPR be made into one space, perhaps with a cupboard/BIR extending for only half the length of the current wall? This would allow a sitting room/extra space for in-laws, as well as extra space for future teenage retreat? The study space could still be a study space when the MPR is not occupied by guests . . . and Bedroom 4 could double as a study until the (new) occupant needs it.

The shared bathroom probably does need to have the toilet separated - even girls don't necessarily feel comfortable with a sister walking past their shower.

Agree with many of the comments here; the living/dining space will be very dark and cold through winter based on it's orientation. Your roof line is not shown; it may be possible to get more light/solar gain into this area through the use of clerestory windows (high up, above the roof line of the alfresco). I think you should definitely try to incorporate a second living space in a house this size, especially with children.

Sacrifice the kitchen nook for more bench space and storage, this will allow a double sink and more prep space between the sink and stove. You could then include a 'desk' in the kitchen and hidden storage for household paperwork etc. and then make the MPR/Study into the second living area (if you don't actually need to work from home). I don't think the toilet in the 'kids' bathroom is an issue, there is another toilet and bathroom that could be used if required. In our house some of the most interesting conversations occur while one sister is doing her hair and the other is on the loo!

A glass door at the end of the passage would also be good to provide access to the bathroom from the pool, and to make the long entry hall more interesting with glimpses to the outside. This may also mean you can catch cooling summer breezes (from the SE in Melbourne if I am not mistaken?) into the original part of the house.

Chennessy, on our west side we have a very large two story so we have little sun over property from 3 pm so that is why we are building to the fence line. Our roof will skillion and quite high with floor to ceiling glass on the pool side, to receive as much light as possible. we are having exposed concrete floors to the main extension with hydronic slab heating.

kitchen; we are considering running a bench all the way into the pantry on the boundary wall and locating the fridge in the pantry and this will give more space.. we use a thermomix daily and it is has changed our cooking and preparation habits quite a lot. the seating nook seems like a great place for kids breakfast, snacks, homework or a morning coffee.

the end of the hall will have a louver widow to let those breezes through as you mention.

we are considering removing the study and MPR dividing wall.

thanks for your input, Leigh and Penny

Ah, now I can see... I had assumed the alfresco area was fully covered. Looks like you've achieved a good compromise given your site challenges.

Kitchens are always down to personal preference, but I think a slight rejig to get more space around the stove and fit in a double sink will be well worth it.

Good luck with the next phase!

No offence but there's not a lot to like about the layout apart from possibly the idea of the courtyard alfresco! Proportions look out of whack, wasted space, wasted opportunities, etc. It will also cost a lot of money to construct! Trying to keep walls and things can be false economy if the design is compromised from the start.

I would seek out a good architectural draftsman, building designer or an architect who specialises in these jobs. Victoria has many good designers.

taken as an offence, people always have differences of opinion. if your opinion is vastly different then i suggest refraining from commenting on peoples posts.

As I said no offence.

I see and work on hundreds (probably thousands actually) of plans a year. Yes personal opinion has a lot to do with it to a certain extent too. But still some layouts and room sizes just don't work very well. As I said, so many wasted opportunities in this design. With reworking it can become so much better overall. Hence I suggested, as did someone else to seek further professional advise. Even save you money in construction and energy efficiency and still look great. I can comment on suggesting to rework one part only to not offend but that's not benefiting anyone. If you don't want honest opinions then don't post anything either!

As a mother of three older kids I can't stress highly enough the benefit of having a second living space, preferably one that can be closed off when necessary. When they are young it means you don't have to pack away all their toys every night and as they get older its great for them to have a space where they can listen to loud music or play computer games etc with friends without you having to listen to it! If the in-laws are really on "extended" stay it might be good to have another dedicated second living space. There does seem to be quite a lot of wasted space that could be utilised for this with some rejigging. Maybe the storage cupboards between bed 2 and the living space could become a walk-through study (could be closed off with full height sliding doors if necessary) and the study could become a second living space (pinching the additional space of the two robes and relocating the robe in the MPR to the opposite wall). I would also change the door to the WIR to a sliding, pocket door and use the space behind for shallow shelving to store handbags and shoes. Look forward to seeing how it all turns out.

PS I dont think the toilet in the girls room is an issue either, the powder room is always an option and the toilet is not used for many minutes in an entire day, maybe 0.005%. The toilet in that room is nicely screened from view, I would lose the separate door and instead create an externa, door direct to the pool area so wet kids are not running through your alfresco and living areas or, even worse, using your ensuite because it is the closest bathroom! Not sure of any potential fencing issues that may arise from that change.

From the drawings provided it does look like you are not getting the best passive design from your block. I would also encourage you to talk with an architect or building designer, now is the cheapest and easiest time to make changes to your plans.

Hi, thanks for you feedback. our block is oddly shaped. we have a 3 meter easement to the rear and and 2 meter running along the left and a permit is required for the garage to build over it.

For me I think the children's bedrooms are too far away from the master. Also I'm not sure about the master being off the kitchen, lots of smells and noise from children either getting their own breakfast at 5am or teenagers having a midnight feast. Also not sure that bed 2 facing onto the pool is a good idea, too much distraction for the child in there. Also I agree with MissMel07 around a handy toilet.

If you ask for feedback, expect the good with the bad. If you just want people to say how wonderful it is without thought don't post it here. Other people who are not excited by your design are more likely to see things that you either don't or don't want to . By and large I think most people on Houzz are genuinely interested in trying to help. The more time spent planning your design, the better result you are likely to get. It looks like you are going to spend a lot of time and money to improve your home so surely it is worth doing it as well as possible. There is a reason that architects spend so long studying, and indeed are still learning forever, and that's so they can resolve the sort of issues that readers have been pointing out to you. A small cost but well worth it in the end, and no I'm not an architect. A starting point could be The Undercover Architect (google her) who is happy to give advice via email or phone. Good luck.

Old post.....let it go.

hahaha, thanks chubbychicky.....probably should have looked at the date first!