Love those ideas thanks Pazz. Thanks for your time on it. There is a window along the wall I have marked at 4m. However there are no windows along the wall marked 7mtr, as we are right up close to the neighbours. All natural light will only be from either end of the rooms (ensuite and other end) I like your ideas there and it's definitely a start. I wonder if there is a way to have light from the courtyard come through to the walk in robe and bedroom. I am imagining being able to see the courtyard from the bedroom but can't quite figure out how that could work? I had thought of having the walk in robe up the 4m end, but this would then limit any natural light coming in from that window. I do love what you have suggested with widening the room and doing away with the closed off lobby. Thanks again for taking time to look at this for me.

retain as much of the existing walls as possible and for stage 1 suggest stealing enough space from the office to include the window in a combined laundry pantry, keeping the separate front lounge and entry foyer and rearranging the kitchen with meals area and keep the original entry with twin cavity sliding doors and space for wall cabinets keeps some privacy for the entry stage 2 family bathroom, front bedroom and halls and remove storage from small bedrooms to allow for temporary entry doors stage 3 new bed 3, hallway with storage and master suite with extended hip roof stage 4 new laundry, family dining room, widen opning between kitchen and extension improved pantry, extra cabinets and study nook for old dining area and skillion roof then outdoor areas and holiday at home!!

Thank you both very much. You've both put a lot of thought and effort into this, its much appreciated! Its definitely opened up my thoughts and ideas on the space! Its definitely not as daunting as I was thinking and it is do-able! When you look at it everyday you get a bit stuck. I guess I need to weigh up making that study space smaller. It then makes the house technically 3B 2B. But I'm going to have to compromise somewhere for this to work! Its nice to have something tangible and clear to show the builders, so thank you! I might start drawing up something that's a little of both, as I love aspects of both designs. :)

Hi oklouise, thank you for the 3D drawing it really does make it easier to visualize the project. :-) To your question of why we are keeping the wall between the kitchen and dining......... The original plan (we got it from the council) is not true to the current kitchen design. The current kitchen is unworkable. The wall that divides it from the dining room is brick and has a tiled bench with cupboards underneath and one very narrow open shelf and room for a fridge. There is a small island bench parallel with that which has electric hotplates (that don't work properly) with minimal to no set down on either side and a rangehood that sounds like a plane taking off. I cannot open my fridge door all the way as the island has been built too close (it cannot be moved). On the other side of the island bench is a column that houses an oven on one side and a robinhood ironing board/centre which doesn't work, on the other. There is a sink under the window with minimal set down on the LHS. The wall that divides the two rooms will accommodate the new hotplates, rangehood and ovens. The new sink will replace the old one under the window and a new island, parallel with the window will give me the bench space I am missing. (I know that many like to have a sink or hotplates on the island, however I will be happy with just bench and drawers). By the way, none of the internal walls are load bearing. Hi siriuskey. I love the fireplace and it works - sad to see it go however, we will dismantle it and rebuild it outside and replace it with a closed wood heater on the wall near where the old laundry is. And your suggestion of extending the ensuite in that direction is a good one . Hi Paul Di Stefano Design, yes we have discussed the design with a couple of professional design companies, and even considered bulldozing and rebuilding however that was going to be a more expensive option, and we have gorgeous established gardens that we want to keep. I agree, we are touching almost everything and discovering more issues as we go.