It's quite common. Stops all your stuff in the room getting wet and is something soft in the room to offset all the hard surfaces. Can easily be changed for a new colour look, and doesn't need squeegeeing.

@ Luke Buckle yep that’s the one. Has 1000w/200w switchable. I just put an oil heater in there 2 days ago to trial and room was toasty in under 5mibs WITH A non instant oil heater so a fan type wouldn’t take long. Also consider the heat lamps are 250w so 1000w total if all 4 are on. They feel like they are frying your head off from above when blazing all 4 lamps so depends on what “feel” you want also. As someone mentioned, let alone the cost of lamp replacement. Having been in lighting industry they wouldn’t last super long either (perhaps newer ultra violet do but their also pricier again)... I’m no better either!

My house is also built at the top of a hill, the summit and is cut into a cliff. We bought it, it was built in the 90s and the orientation is entirely wrong. The living areas face west and all bedrooms are in the east. The master is exposed to the western and the northern sunshine. It’s nice in the winter and entirely unbearable in the summer. The same goes for my living room. We take extra long holidays in the summer to avoid being at home. The home had no insulation in ceilings, and raked ceilings. So the first thing we did was remove the roof sheeting install battens to create a cavity and installed R3.5 insulation. We are also upgrading installing new windows to upgrade the glazing on the western windows and looking to put insulation in all the walls It also gets really windy, so windy. So I understand your concerns. When it gets windy the entire house shakes. So the next thing will be to improve the bracing. There is a 3-4metre clearance under our home for storage. We could do a build in under. Even with the positioning of our shed and close proximity to the home it does little to shelter from the wind. We are considered the building an “outdoor room” which would act as an alfresco with skylights, lounge, pool and kitchenette that could act as an outdoor entertainment area when weather permits. I just did a sustainable design for a client nearby. I am so jealous of her amazing home. Her land is smaller then my land and her land cost the same price as my house and land. So I am grateful for what I have.

Wow I hope you can afford live in help. Void. Why? The west facing windows up will be a nightmare for heat in summer. If the upstairs rumpus is not closed off from void by at least a glass wall then the noise between the two levels will be annoying. Not to mention kids dropping things off edge. In winter the heat from downstairs will be in the void not on your floor to keep your feet warm. Hydronic and underfloor heating will help but at what cost? Those western windows are also on Downstairs guest room. Kitchen. Really think about how you cook. Too many steps from cooking into pantry. Really think how you will store and access everything from pantry, and galley, fridge, cooking to table , setting table, and then to washing up and putting dishes away. : minimise the steps. You can have a big kitchen but it needs to be functional. The laundry access is also through this zone. With no laundry chute is that a good idea? When you say a big kitchen how will you use. Work with a kitchen designer to get this right they can talk you through pros and cons of option and how you will use it, which we can’t do in this forum. Storage. Where will you store suitcases, beach towels, board games etc. spare linen, camping gear, Xmas tree etc.will these be all in bedrooms? The alfresco seems small for house. What size table will be there, bbq? Outdoor kitchen Sorry to be so negative, the house is huge and will look pretty and kids will love their wir and en-suite unless they have to clean them. We can’t give specific help with the plans you have posted. We need lot plan and dimensions, and max floor area.