Changes cost an absolute bomb so consider your modifications carefully Joy. Looking at both plans you've not altered the design much rather you've moved rooms around whilst trying to retain the original content. Some rooms appear less usable as a result. The #2/bed/study is one, seems too small, even the guest bed seems smaller and it didn't appear large to begin with. Without room dimensions it's a bit tougher to make comments however. I wonder why you made the guest bathroom a powder room given the location is such that it won't be used as frequently as the bathroom off the main living area? Sure put the doorway into the guest room so the bathroom can service the bed/study too but don't lose the shower up there. Nothing worse for guests than having to pad through the main living area in their pj's to the shower or worse with a towel wrapped around their middles on the return trip to get dressed. It's enough to put some off their cornflakes! I'd seriously rethink some of those changes Joy they will cost you a lot with little gain methinks. I'm sorry to sour the mood I know it's an exciting time but I'd hate to see you make expensive and possibly unnecessary decisions.

I think if you replace front door and glass panels as well as the old fashioned lights with something more contemporary it will make a huge improvement. I'd also remove the ironwork and as you cannot re-glaze place some pots and plants on the sides of the large windows to draw the eye away from all the green cross pieces on the windows. Eventually paint the gutters fascia in a light grey/green.

Thank you every one for your input! We are very grateful for such great ideas :) VanessaL - the space next to the garage is the 4th bedroom/study, yes we have considered the dog leg in the hallway but we actually preferred it over a long straight hallway, to allow a little more privacy at the back of the house when the front door gets opened, people wouldn't be able to see all the way through the house to the back fence.. also the toilet your referring to is accessed via the ensuite so wont actually be walking past it on entry into the master Andy Pat & Liz Henderson - we have considered the northern alfresco blocking off the winter light and we are intending on having liz's idea of a angled roof over the alfresco or windows above the alfresco roof on the raised ceiling of the living included in the building design.. Liz we would love to see your photos Girl Guides - yes our cool breezes would come from the S, the garage is locked into being on the west as that is where the driveway access already is and changing it is a cost we would like to avoid Oklouise - this is a great plan thank you for your input we have considered having the ensuite on the external wall but then realised it is either going to be the toilet on the exterior (forcing still to have a sunlight) or the shower, where being so close to the fence (1m) the window would most likely only be a long high window - possibly being less effective than a sunlight window anyway? We really like your layout of bedroom 2 & 3 altho we are planning on having a window on the external wall above a sink in the butlers pantry.. and we really do think we would like to keep the dog leg in the hall Please note as well - the estate we are in requires re-assess that is why we have the rear roller door from the garage up the side of the house

anything is possible with enough money but with such a modest budget you might achieve the new bathroom and kitchen OR the extension but it would be difficult to achieve both at the same time but you haven't answered the questions??? what is the distance from the house to the back fence, what are all the floors, walls and roof built out of (ie inside and outside walls, concrete slab on ground, or is it a timber floor with crawl space underneath the house?? and NB where is north? ...what is the shape of the roof (hip or gable tiled roof or??) ...do you have an aerial photo of the roof like Google earth??...extending over the retaining wall shouldn't be a problem with proper cosntruction and there isn't anywhere else to go without losing the best outdoor area that has easy access to inside...the extra lengths of pipe isn't the biggest cost of new plumbing and a ventilating skylight will make a great light source for an internal bathroom...