To Uyenvy Le...hope I got hat right...as they say "Great Minds..." I've never forgoten my early "nuddie days on Nauru Island" just after WWII...a whole tribe of little chocolate and vanilla kids with the whole Island as our playground...the older ones with a littley to watch over. Now, I was about to log off when I read an article by a fellow who says that its unhealthy to wash too much or have long baths...that in his opinion equate to "stewing in your own juice". He advocates a short shower without soap about tice a week otherwise a 'sink wash'....and expounds his theories based on the healthy, supple, smoothe skin of jungle natives who do not bathe or use soap....all their natural oils preserved....lalalaaa.. Started me thinking about an pleasurable alternative to "stewing" (his opinion)...I like to have a shower after a long bath both to close the pores and rinse off any.."juice". Oh YUK, why did he have to spoil my heaven! I spent years in Italy in a community where people did not bathe at all or use soap but showered briefly on Saturdays so to go to church on Sundays...it was the worst, so I'm not going to go without my ablutions ever again. But...what if there were such water restrictions that we were all limited to a measured amount of water per person? What of our showers and tubs? That started me thinking on how to remain sweet smelling and really clean. My solution was...SAUNA! I go up to the local Gym for a swim a sauna and a massage just to keep as much mobility as possible and I love the Sauna! You mentioned the Spa..but that requires copious water...then there's communal bathing...which is not something I've done as an adult...that also requires water plus...so SAUNA!... I am having increasing problems getting out of my tub. I'd researched the disability 'walk in tubs' that are filled after one gets in and closes the door on the side and in which one sits on a seat submerged in the water, the Molly Bather which is a belt that lowers one into and out of the tub...but being a permanent fixture it spoils the look of the bathroom...and I like pretty bathrooms as well as functional ones...So many options to getting into and out of a tub....some sort of pretty others not. Not because that fellow has worried me but just that I want to enjoy a really thorough, healthy invigorating cleanse that is easy to access, that is relaxing without making a bathoom that resembles sports locker room showers, the ablution wing of an institution or the disbility facilities in a hospital. Maybe remove my lovely tub and replace it with a state of the art practical sauna room could be the go. Any comments Houzzers?

Louie - pretty well I think. See my latest renditions below. I have been playing around with how to screen off that toilet/shower area from the living room. Not only would it be preferable to keep the toilet out of sight, but it would also be nice if people pop go down and up the stairs to visit the toilet or shower without having to do a short "walk-of-shame" past the potentially occupied living/dining room. I was thinking a of having a partially-drawn pair of curtains or perhaps one of those dangle-y "fly curtain" type things to disrupt the view a bit, but then I thought a set of swinging doors with tinted/diffuse glass in them, because: 1. You can charge in and out of this busy area by just pushing through the set of doors, and letting them swing back in to place behind you (like saloon doors) 2. The glass panes will still allow the person to see if anyone is on the other side, so they don't bowl them over. Will also let natural light in. Also means could do away with the laundry door perhaps, since it will be kind-of redundant (main purpose was to eliminate washing machine noise in the living area) 3. The doors also stop heat from the fireplace drifting up the stairs on cold winter nights when the fire is going. Not a crucial thing at all, but a nice additional benefit Thanks for sharing the floor plans - it's given me a much clearer picture of what you've done with that pole house...looks fantastic! brizcs - great point about the chair by the window, that's really struck a chord with me so I am toying with ways to do this. One idea I had is in the plan below: Rather than put a narrow table hard against the glass, maybe swing the kitchen table 90 degrees, make it longer, and have people sit along the south side looking out the windows most of the time. When it's night time or there are lots of guests or whatever just drag the chairs to the other side and you're back to the conventional set up. If a table where flush against the windows it would mean a lot of direct sunlight on its surface throughout the cooler months, due to the low angle of the sun (glare might become a problem?)

Hi There Brian, I have been pondering your UK project, and like all big cities around the world, affordability is out of reach of most. Harking back to the Aussie House built which was once garage and is now a 5 story home. Is you your plan part of a complex? or is there opportunity for access to a roof top?. My concern is to make the most of internal space, the first floor would be Ok, but for top end dollar I would like to see two good sized bedrooms with ensuite, to accommodate 2 professionals or 2 adults and child/guest. Is there anyway that the 1.5 down stairs out door space could be included as internal space and part of the bedrooms, with glass panels/skylights opening, with blinds for privacy. This would then do 3 things allow more fresh air and light along with space for decent ensuites and WIR. I think that the 1,5 if allowed is more important for internal space. If you do have access to roof top the laundry could be moved back up to the entry level. Also have you considered a single stair case, is it a modern contemporary house. Just thinking cheers

I think I have gotten my head around everything , now I am definitely no designer but this whole design seems like it was done by someone stupider than me ! Downstairs you are going with 3 metre ceilings ( slightly higher than standard ) presumably to get an airier feel . Then you ( or your builder ) want a relatively narrow hallway ? Go slight luxury there IMO . The study has already been discussed , but one thing no-one mentioned was the 'slash' /bedroom 6 there -- a study with a bed ( even a single or bunks ) needs to be bigger . So surely the 'answer' is to make it bigger , push everything back until you get to the dining , and guess what -- yes , the split ceiling would not be a problem ! As Dr Retro says , turn the dining table around , make the alfresco a bit smaller . The alfresco has a ceiling -- it is under the roofline . You have lots of sliding doors . So the temperature and outdoor feel between the alfresco and the dining area is neglible -- I'd go for a bigger dining area any day ! In fact , even if you are BBQ nuts , you could presumably have the BBQ and even some seating 'outside' ( I tried to check the length but gave up , but I assume you have a back garden ) . But heres some other weird things . The garage almost certainly needs a window . Minor I know , but why not ? Then , without seeing an actual impression , the front seems weird . There looks to be columns , and a wall on the other side , a metre and a half or so in front . Its job -- to hold up a balcony . The front entrance is set back , but doesn't seem to have much , if any , weather protection ? And then the other side , in front of Bed 4 , has a large window but no balcony . Now I know the stairs would need a tweak , but why not move the whole upstairs 'back' by the metre and a half , lower the kitchen and dining to 3 metre ceilings ( a 4 metre ceiling in a kitchen may look great , but that top metre will be a pain to clean , and basically unusable -- cupboards , etc will be too high ) . Then you could have the balcony ( or 1 balcony right across , or a roof above the entrance , or even a bigger , more roomy entrance -- and yes I do realise it is double height , but make it a longer , wider , double height more lux entrance ) set back , more space front or rear if thats a priority ? Basically , it looks like someone has taken a template , added some bits , and gone 'there you go' , without considering the overall picture .