Hi Chris, This is an interesting question! I am familiar with the design principles for humid climates although I have not built in Queensland before - but your instincts are correct to question the humidifying effect of pool water on indoor air temperature if built adjacent to a home's interior in Queensland. Because humid climates benefit most from permeable walls with air-circulating; i.e lots of windows / screens allowing air to pass through the building, assisted by ceiling fans for passive cooling etc, you generally don't want to add any more humidity to the air in the direction of the prevailing wind, otherwise you will significantly lessen the cooling-effect felt indoors. You also want to prevent sunlight striking large amounts of unshaded paving directly in front of your window openings as this heats up the humid air before entering the interior, and generally speaking lightweight construction with a raised floor provides better passive cooling and ventilation effects than thermal mass on the ground. Having said this, many homes are thermal mass on the ground anyway, and simply resort to lots of air-conditioning to keep temperatures lower whilst lowering humidity indoors! In other words, although the general thinking would be to avoid pools in front of the interior within the line of the prevailing winds, I think it would also come down to personal choice; and if you were careful with pool placement, wind direction and opening-window location as best you can be, you would be able to architecturally integrate the pool with the house whilst trying to avoid the humidifying effects. So whilst having the pool right in front of the rear living area for maximum visual effect might not be advised, having it to the side might be quite possible. It would be important to avoid large expanses of paving, and try to have lots of greenery around the pool to improve the microclimate. Having a look at a few pool contractors websites based in Queensland, I can see many examples where the pools is built up to the building. Many offer a FAQ page where you can ask questions, so I would start with asking them for their opinion (i.e. http://precisionpoolsqld.com.au/contact-us/) This website seems is a good resource for ideal construction principles for a warm-humid climate zone; http://precisionpoolsqld.com.au/contact-us/

Hi Rebecca, There are never any set "rules" about what is right & wrong it comes to design and detail, however "balance" is always a good thing. Generally the shaker style is referencing the traditional/bygone eras which is fine, but why you more likely see this style of cabinetry coupled with handles than coupled with the shadow line finger pull which is a contemporary detail. Unless the proportion of the cupboards is carefully managed and balanced you're probably correct with your instinct (that you must always trust!) that it will be a busier rather than sleeker look, which may in fact defeat the purpose of the no-handles thing that you're shooting for. Whatever you do I advise on being consistent and confident with your decisions, in that there should be good reason for doing something in a particular way. The risk you have doing what you're proposing is trying to be two different things.....it's kind of either go retro and embrace it, or go contemporary/sleek and be confident with that.. Hope that helps...Good luck! Cheers PD

Strong geometry, cool blue and glass and a plain lawn background. to fill the diamond with bush is going to cancel out its strength. But something different to the slightly sterile design compilation … if the finance is there, get two or three massive raw rock slabs and one spectacular architectural tree. resist going vertical .. layer them horizontally to slightly overlap or break the hard lines of the diamond, but not to obscure it. Then choose you vertical with a sculptural tree. There are vertical cherry trees with spectacular autumn colour which would contrast with the rocks (texturally), and be floaty like the water in the pool…. whatever the tree, lift the foliage up from the soil level, and underplant with jut one kind of tight low ground cover, even moss (if your climate can support) or ground hugging juniper that you can train inside the diamond. This combination of elements is rich for the eye, softens the geometry, and adds interest which is lacking right now. The place for shrubs and grasses and palms is to border the lawn.

Actually I think you can have whatever style cabinetry you want so long as the colour scheme is the same, consistant colours are what helps create the 'seamless flow' from old to new. We did the same kind of renovation 2 years ago - a huge extension onto our 1900's cottage and the front hallway (in the original house) joins the new hallway so flow was very important as we did not want it to look like the old house stopped and the new house began. But honestly the cabinetry can be more modern if you prefer, and completely different from your existing, as from my experience to create the perfect flow between the old and the new the most important details are: 1) Paint and colour scheme: If you want the old house to connect well with the new extension make sure you repaint the walls, ceilings and cabinetry in the original part (at least the hallway and areas that connect with the new) the same colour as you paint in the new extension and keep the colour scheme very similar between the old and new. 2) Flooring: We had solid hardwood flooring in the original house but unfortunately is was so badly water damaged and patched throughout so couldnt be saved, so we installed the same wide-panel reclaimed-look oak flooring that we were using in the extension - essential as the old and new hallways joined. 3) Doors: Try and find doors as close as possible to the ones you already have. We had some difficulty with this as ours were solid timber and had 5 horizontal panels but in the end we managed to find one supplier that had similar and with so many doors in the new extension it really helps create a more seamless look 4) Wall panelling (if applicable): We had waist high panelling throughout the original house and our builder copied this throughout the extension (his suggestion). Couldnt be happier with the result and it definately wouldnt have looked right if the panelling stopped suddenly where the new house began 5) Consistant ceiling height: Really important when blending old with new, make sure you keep ceiling heights the same at the point where the old meets the new - or go much higher, this also works. But dont go just slightly higher or lower! Other than that there is no need to try and replicate other period details like cabinetry and cornices. Love and celebrate the original part of your home that has the quirks, ornate ceilings, fireplaces etc and let the new extension compliment without trying to compete