I love this topic and look forward to seeing the finished article (and the idyllic photos that will go with it, which make me feel warm and happy and imagine my kids playing gently in nicely arranged, light-filled spaces, while they're actually sitting in a spewed-everywhere puddle of Lego having extremely violent Lego-spaceship-wars). We have 3 kids and I juggle professional work as well as study, so I've got lots of other things sussed - vegies get delivered, meals are bulk-cooked, we have a great system of plastic boxes which allow leftovers to be pre-packed the night before for school lunches (cooked beans and a mini tub of dip make a great school snack), compost and chook-recycling of food waste are automatic, everyone does homework at the same time on the kitchen table (and I sneak in another hour's study or reading at the same time!) In short, most aspects of our household run like a machine. But cleaning is not my thing (although having a clean house really is!) and on a bad day it seems like nobody else cares, so this is where my attention is at the moment. I have a few new tactics which are very successful so far. * Alignment of incentives. "You want to go to Hayden's house to play basketball? Not until all beds are made and the laundry is hung out. If you don't want to help, that's fine, but it will take me a lot longer by myself." And I am very hard-nosed when I say this, the kids know it, so they pitch in. * Deal with smells before visual mess - clutter can be annoying for me, but a persistent smell can totally ruin the whole family's mood without anyone realising it. Water soluble lavender oil spray is my go-to. I am also a fiend about removing leftover pieces of fruit from schoolbags etc straightaway. The compost bin is well sealed, and things in the fridge are not allowed to stay there long enough to develop intelligence. * As Melissa said above, have a spot for everything & make sure everyone is involved in the putting away. We have races, games, songs or very fun rock CDs reserved for cleaning (Van Halen!), we ask the kids to help with "feeding the laundry monster" by bringing dirty clothes & sports gear to the laundry. Limit new toys and games, especially bulky ones, and move unused-ones out quickly. New things in the house must have a spot nominated for them by the evening, or something else must go out to make room. * We have multiple sets of outdoor shoes (thongs/crocs, work boots, gumboots etc): at least one pair for each person at each doorway. In nice big crates, so we don't have to look at it. SO if I want to go outside to grab some fresh herbs or the kids want to play Star Wars, the shoes are just -there-, sit on the crate while you put them on, and leave them at the door when you're done. The tracked-in mud from short trips was driving me crazy so I went to the local outlet and got extra boots for everyone, made some super-simple treated pine boxes, and it works. * I wipe down wet-area surfaces (showers, bathroom benches, kitchen benches) with whatever almost-dirty cloth is available whenever I go past. Towel or tea-towel about to go to the laundry? Give everything a quick wipe before I fling it in the machine. Consistent small cleaning has been more effective for me than less frequent big cleaning days. Nobody wants to do the bathrooms anyway, but if the benches are clean there's only the toilet and the floor to do. It also reminds me to clear bench surfaces so clutter doesn't build up. * My husband does the same with floors. Dust bunnies and grit drive him crazy, so he gives one room a thorough sweep or a vacuum each evening and it never builds up. And *Ask for help outside the immediate family when it all goes pear-shaped. Get your parents in law to come over. Call on your friends - and be there for them to call when they need it, in a straightforward and easy way. Know your neighbours (you don't have to like them) but set up a way where you can look out for each other. 'Supermum' is a myth, get over it, because everyone who is juggling a lot needs help sometimes. Anwyay that's my contribution. I didn't mean to write such an essay. I hope there's something in that which is useful to you.

Yeah, that is what i got when i looked it up it just did not clarify the bag or box, oll, thanks. I know tin roofs, we had those in FL, online does not clarify where, but started in 1700s, all over US. Maybe come from england since we both have? Meat pies we have. American is pot pies, spanish - empanadas, i forgot the name for greek and armenian. We fought for the right to vote, but it was forced on you? Can you go to jail? Sounds harsh. Although we normally only have about a 30% show rate. i do not know who they are, but since my guys never win? It isn't people like me. lol oh and i don't think we have balmain bugs.

Hi Debbie, Just adding to your dilemma, until recently we had lovely offices in Sydney with each room having one wall of full height sliding doors, with wonderful day time views and night time lights. We installed very nice manual Roller blinds for when privacy was needed, but I still wasn't happy with the look either day or night. I love the lovely soft curtains that Mel n suggested but hubby wouldn't be happy as there would n't be any privacy at night unless they had a separate lining. So saying that I still think internal "Plantation" shutters that bi fold across the openings would really add something to your open plan room, I was also thinking sliding stacking panels, you could ask a local supplier to come out and discuss. These shutters are larger and easier to clean. I'am adding some more photos for you. On another note, I hope Debbie doesn't mind my mentioning this but Debbie suffered damage to her home at the hands of her name sake "Cyclone Debbie", when a very large neighbours tree fell down on her property causing a lot of damage, very hard to see your hard work ripped apart. You will get there again Debbie xx The large Plantation shutters look the best to me You mentioned new ceilings etc this could be done if you were having curtains Your view with undercover outdoor area added

Can I suggest that as most of your proposed project comes under the umbrella of landscaping that you consult an experienced landscape designer in the first instance. Someone who is experienced with pools and outdoor rooms. Also someone who has a network of other professionals that they work with such as pool builders, architect or architectural designer and engineers that may be necessary for the permits and build once the overall conceptual design is realized. All of your wish list will need to flow together and be cohesive to function well and a good designer will be able to work with your design brief and guide you through this first stage which is critical if you intent to carry the work out in stages. All the very best with your project. Lynn