Do you have a picture

My parents have a covered south facing alfresco in Perth. It's great in summer. In winter, they use a paved and pergolaed (with deciduous vines) area further from the house that gets full sun. Consider losing the bay windows. They will be unbearable in summer. Or push the eaves out, or plant some deciduous trees in the front. I would shift the rumpus room to where the laundry is. Give it a view. Also, it's probably where you'll end up sitting on hot summer days, as your formal lounge will still get a lot of heat. Consider shifting the master to the righthand side of the plan. You could get a lovely triple aspect (north, east and south) bedroom. You could have double doors that open onto a private seating area too. Put the laundry where the master is.

I would look through the many images on this app under a heading like "cathedral ceilings " and find a picture or two that you like the feel of , then follow that design... The feel of the earthy wood ceiling and a stark painted white one is miles apart... Only you are going to know which one feels right for you.. For me I would keep the ceiling and floors wood , render the inside brick and then decorate... I love an earthy feel.. There is also real stone cladding you could cover brick with. Have fun :)

I have a house that is tiled in a multicolour slate tile all through the living areas. The house was built in the 90's and was only 4 years old when I bought it in 1996. I am assuming your tile is also a natural stone?? if so it will need sealing as they are porous and may need resealing down the track, we have only resealed our floor once. Make sure you keep a note of the brand and type of the sealer for future reference.I would not take it through to the bedrooms - too much. The floor is very forgiving of dirt, dust, food splashes etc, if you have a busy week and don't get round to washing or vacuuming the floor no one will notice. The multicolour will work with your hamptons inspiration, careful choice of wall colour is needed, you may need to have the floor laid before you make a final choice to see what the colour it throws. A wall colour with a slight hint of colour works better with the multicolour than the bright whites or yellow whites. Hope this helps.