A very good point about the retreat area, that's why we have it away from the masterbedroom, kids are still young but as they become teenagers they will be going to bed later than parents and waking up earlier, and also used the ensuite area to seperate the room away from the kids.

Very informative information Vicky, wife totally agrees on the sink been removed as this was a debate when complying our brief and wishlist, the argument now has been persuaded.

The guest room has been left downstairs to cater for grandparents to minimise walking up stairs as they get older would be more difficult walking onto level.

Children age is 10 and 8 as this has been asked previously threads.

The pantry suggestions you have provided are very clever and will consider when we meet the joiner and provide him some further options as you suggested.

Do you need two bathrooms downstairs? I can understand a bathroom for the guest room and a powder room but you look to have two bathrooms.

What furniture are you going to have in the dining area and the meals area? Do you intend to have two dining tables?

"Will have a large dining table to seat 8 -10 people and the meals room will use the island breakfast bar as our everyday eating."

It looks like a large impractical wasted space, like an oversized corridor.

"The guest room has its own bathroom and powder to create greater convenience and make the area feeling more welcoming and give the grandparents a stayover treat."

There is a room labelled powder room beside the guest bed and accessed from the corridor. There is a room labelled bath beside the laundry which also has a shower.

So I'm puzzled by two things.

Ought not the room beside the guest room be labelled bath? Didn't you want direct private access from the guest room to the bath?

The other room beside the laundry is what I would of called the powder room. But it also has a shower and I'm wondering why?

I agree with MB Design & Drafting that the lower level is worth reworking.

I don't think the big space in the middle compensates for anything, I still think it is not conducive to furniture layout and basically just wasted.

Is it not possible to move the garage out to widen the entry? Looking at it again, am I reading it right, the garage is 5.5m wide?

If the other bathroom serves the pool have you thought about having direct access instead of through the laundry?

Agree with a lot of the comments above, including:

- garage is too small... 6x6m internally at a minimum for a double garage

- if second bathroom downstairs is for pool goers then would make more sense to have direct door access from laundry to bathroom... would also be better if garage-mud room-laundry were connected

- a 'highlight' type window e.g. 06x24 along the width of the cooktop/sink benchtop which would let more light in is more what I would call a kitchen plashback window, and not those two small square windows on either side of the cooktop

- a door to the butler's pantry and a further door to the walk-in pantry seems excessive, one or the other will do and there's probably no need for a door from the kitchen to B.P. if the cabinetry will be the same

- unless someone will be working from home, it doesn't make sense to have such a big study when the main bathroom upstairs which is to service three bedrooms is so small

- balcony at the front of the house is costly and will never get used, if you really want a balcony then wouldn't it be better overlooking the pool off the 'retreat' which I presume is more the kids retreat/rumpus (the word 'retreat' is confusing as it's generally used for parents)

- also think/consider furniture placement now at the design stage e.g. with those balcony doors, master bed against which wall?

- and don't forget the exterior esthetics of the house... I count over 8 different types of windows and all different sizes, not very pleasing when looking at the house externally, try to keep more consistency with your choice of windows (and doors)

I agree with a lot of the other comments:

- the guest bathroom (next to the guest bedroom) should either be an ensuite or the hallway should have doors so that the guests can move from the bedroom to the bathroom without entering "public" space

- if you can get rid of the stairs downstairs, it would be good

- I would combine the mud room and laundry as they seem to serve a similar function, so I'm not sure two separate rooms are necessary

- if the second full bathroom downstairs is for people to use after being in the pool, then I would consider including a door to allow direct access or at least putting a door between the laundry and bath so that they don't drip pool water over the non-tiled floors

- there seems to be a lot of dead space between the home theatre and the kitchen. I'm having trouble thinking of a functional use for that space. It might suit a dining table, but that is unnecessary since the dining room is only a couple of metres away

- the kitchen seems small in comparison to the scale of the dead space and the dining and leisure rooms. Do you regularly hire help when you're entertaining to work in the butler's pantry? If not, I would consider opening up the kitchen by getting rid of the butler's pantry. I know they're on trend, but I wouldn't want to be hidden away in a small room when entertaining and I certainly don't have any "hired help" to hide away

- the home theatre has a lot of windows for a room which ideally should be dark. Quality blinds will help, but you could consider reducing the number and size of the windows

- if you're planning on having a TV in the leisure room, think about where it would be placed as there are a lot of windows and now much "wall"

- instead of two small windows in the kitchen, I would consider having a window splashback (frosted or clear)

- I would consider flipping the stairs so that the hallway opens up to an "open space" sooner rather than later

- the study, WIR and ensuite all seem to be unnecessarily large, at the expense of the size of the retreat and main bathroom

- if the ensuite remains the same size, I would at last try to separate the toilet so that there is more visual and sound privacy

- with two children, I would try to turn the main bathroom into a three way bathroom (i.e. separate toilet, vanity and wet room (bath/shower)) to make it as versatile and multiple user friendly as possible

- I would put the robe in Bed 4 on the other wall to allow for a larger window on the current wall

- consider the furniture placement in the retreat, as the placement of the window and linen cupboard may limit your use of the space

- if the children won't be using the study for homework in the future, then consider including a built in study area in the retreat. If they will use the study for homework in the future, then consider it's placement as teenagers like late night cramming sessions before urgent deadlines and the noise and light may disturb the occupants of the main bedroom

- if the pool is in the backyard, then I would consider moving the balcony to the back

- I don't love the "squared" off faux edges of the façade, but that's a personal choice

Good luck!

Provided some existing furniture sizes to the designer before the christmas break to give us a better insight on how the furniture will be placed and what space is provided around the home. Attached is the furniture layout

The theatre room is more of a living space should we as parents or grandparents want to be in a more quieter area and not socialising with teenagers but keeping an eye on the youngsters and giving them space and allowing to bring friends over and giving them freedom and trying to keep them out of trouble.

The Butler pantry door is what the wife has requested should she be preparing dinner parties and doesn't have enough time to totally clean up can just close the door and hide the mess so the guests don't see the mess.

The reason for the 2 small windows was to have a cleanable splasback behind the cooktop as constant cleaning will be required as wife is a clean freak but will suggest to shift to the RH corner towards the BP and install a long window to allow more sunlight as suggested in previous post by haephestus

Valid point about the guestroom having its own ensuite and creating a ensuite.

The steps are required as the land slopes towards the west boundary (entrance)

Garage and guestroom is very limited in size due to land and council constraints and very hard to extend and provide 6.0 x 6.0.
Some nice points mentioned which we will be discussing around Christmas holiday. Can someone advise where i can find plan layouts so i can view for the ground level options as mentioned previously if i go to homeworld then the house will look like a project home, but driving around sydney and door knocking on exclusive designs is also a hard ask.

Re: Finding other designs - check open home listings, whether in your neighbourhood or the more affluent neighbourhoods where the residents may have had bigger budgets, for unique, architectural designs and then head along to the inspections. And don't dismiss door knocking - most people would probably be flattered if you complimented their design and may invite you in for a better look.

If you are after plans of architecturally designed homes, magazines may be your best bet (try libraries as you are unlikely to get most at the newsagent), however there are also a number of open homes and architecturally designed homes that are open to the public, including the Rose Seidler House. Also, if you are trying to get away from the kit-home look, take note of how the architects and designers use everyday material creatively in unexpected ways to achieve a highly polished look.

As for your floor plans, further work is needed to the downstairs plan. I would seriously question whether you need two bathrooms downstairs. The bathroom for the guest room could be used by everyone (maybe consider setting it up as a three-way bathroom). You can remove the doors between the pantry and the butler's pantry, it is already hidden and just uses up space. As MB Design & Drafting has said, there is a lot of empty space on the downstairs plan and there is going to be an empty void around the meals area.

Also of note, try to have continuity in your windows - that is, try to minimise the number of different sized windows and ensure they are standard sizes where possible (its cheaper and more cost effective to make 10 of one thing rather than 10 custom sizes); and try to ensure that the header and sills have a relationship.

You have engaged an architect as you feel they are able to successfully design you ideal home. I would suggest giving the architect the ability to experiment and push your brief, otherwise you are doing yourself and them a disservice and you should have gone to a draftsperson how would have simply just drawn up your ideas as you stated them.

You are on the right track, so don't give up! Often a design needs lots of discussion between the client and the architect before a great design can be achieved. Whilst it is wonderful that public forums such as this exist, ultimately the discussion needs to occur between yourselves and the architect as you are the ones who will be living there. Take time to listen to their ideas, and don't be afraid to question something you don't understand.

Looked at the guestroom dimension and believe will be very tight for a older couple as 2850 x3.0 for a double size bed will leave very little room around the bed. I am thinking of making this a void foyer area and move the main entrance to the northern boundary and hopefully make the garage larger and add a storage area attached to the garage to allow to store my tools of the trade.

Having just moved into our custom designed home - which I've already changed several times, I'd note the following to the design

1. Kitchen - reduce the sink size and put it one end, I had a massive open bench which I love, but have put a small prep sink in it now as I prep all of my meals on it, and it was such a pain having to to constantly move across the walkway when preparing meals. You have a butlers sink so don't really need to two large sinks

2. The flat wall along the back of the pantry etc... should be utilised for a 'study area' for the kids. I also have kids, and they are constantly spreadout either over the dining table or across the island bench when they need help. Using concealed doors such as pocket doors, this could become a very useable space.

3. the retreat and the study upstairs needs to change around. I would be putting the study downstairs somehow and making a kids rumpus upstairs with TV so when entertaining you can separate kids from adults. Plus, when you get the mail etc... it's much easier to have the study downstairs.

4. The guest room, this layout with the wet area needs to change. If it's going t be for elderly people in future it is well worth increasing the size of the bathroom and also the shower. The shower should be big enough to have a bench seat in it for the older generations.

5. Storage space - there isn't any. Just about every house I see these days has the cars parked out front because nobody has any storage space!

6. Flat Roof - tell your architect to use a TPO or Butynol - excellent products with huge warranties.

Good luck

Sorry - just re-read and wanted to add a few more things

1. Master Ensuite - put a door on the toilet! best thing we ever did! the ensuite is still useable with two of you in there.

2. We're changing our cabinetry to add a hidden pull out laundry basket inside each bathroom/wet area - I hate clothes baskets in bedrooms

3. Flat roof insulation - again - research Ardex TPO in white. It's used for heat resistance on commercial buildings etc... to lower their cooling costs due to reflectivity and is reasonably priced.

4. Use louvred windows wherever you can for better airflow - just make sure you make the reveal deep enough to hang blinds etc.. over the top when they're open

5. You will eventually hate the position of the robe in bed 4 as you need to walk to the other side of the room to get dressed and put clothes away etc...

6. Allow for a wall mounted, hidden panel ironing board somewhere easy

7. Build a display niche along the diagonal wall of the media room

8. Consider changing the layout of the bath upstairs to have the sink separate to the shower/bath - especially handy when you'e got two kids trying to get ready for school in the morning at the same time

9. Skylight in the walk in robe

10. Remove the window above the master bed head -nowhere to hang artwork if that's your thing

11. Remove the solid wall balustrade at the front - you've got great space here and you'll block out any breeze you may potentially get.

12. Delete the upstairs study and make the bed 2 and Bed 3 bigger - include built in desk areas with cabinetry for when they get older and they need study space

13. Where is the clothesline going? It looks like you can't have a wall hung one on the house as the windows are too low? Also, you'll need to put in a small deck or something on that side or you'll constantly be going up and downstairs to hang washing out - something minor, but may be of consideration with older people in the house.

14. Go a flat roof and see if you can make a private roof deck area from the master where you could one day put a spa!

That's it : )

Welcome all Houzzo lovers this forum is fantastic, good to see how professional readers are offering their services and advice to provide solutions. Grace design studio contacted our family to provide some alternative design options from our first draft and also provide their own design. She was very particular and professional and provided a very clever functional home layout that has all our ideas factored in the design with some clever options. Windows are standard sizes to keep build cost down and within our budget.

Kitchen Area has serving bench into alfresco area which will serve our guests and family.

Attached are the amended designs they provided. Not sure about the walk through via the study area into the master bedroom, overall we love this design and can't wait until we submit for a D.A.

I much prefer the downstairs area, but I do agree about the upstairs area. Walking through the study to get to the master takes away the 'grandeur' that's meant to be associated with the master, especially with a modern design home like this. Turn the study into the retreat and open up the study so that everyone can use it. Especially as the kids get older and they need somewhere to spread out.

Plus the retreat

then utilises the balcony which seems a waste in an office.

I've done a quick sketch attached - apologies for the messiness of the sketch.

I love the design by Grace design studio and the alternative bedroom entry suggestion by wetlock is good.

I don't think it would bother me to enter the bedroom through the study if that study is for the exclusive use of the bedroom occupants and the rest of the family have another study area elsewhere. What I don't like is to enter the ensuite through the walk in robe. But it's now looking like a much better design without wasted or illogical spaces so think about what you prefer and what details you might tweak to suit you.

Thanks wetlock for you idea, have looked and studied your plan but the study is now a nook room and will not function once the clones get older and goto higher studies and the books keep piling over the years...

Thank you very much for your feedback jammomuzo and I am very pleased that you are excited about the amended design that was prepared for you and your family. It is always always a pleasure to design a house that will become a family home.

Ok, so I've read all of the comments, viewed plans and am now invested in the project so I'd love to hear what the outcome was, if the final design is built yet or in progress, and see some photos.