Air condition is called aircon, the combo air conditioner & heaters that you hang high on a wall are called swingers. Countertops are called benches, yards are called a gardens, closets-wardrobe, bonus room-rumpus room, hardwood floors or any wood is called timber. Living in the country is living in the Bush. Carpenters are called a Chippy, electrician -Sparky, brick layer-bricky, plumber-dunny driver. Downtown is called CBD. Neighbor is spelled neighbour. If a room is painted and decorated in updated colors & pattens they are called “Fresh”. If a house is updated in higher end-sophisticated materials it’s called “smart”. Fittings-are basically light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, appliances. Color is spelled colour. Picture rails are still pretty common. Queenslander-is a traditional style of home in Queensland that has a bungalow/Victorian/country/cottage feel. “security screens” are popular on windows & doors-which is a metal lattice. Full fences around your property are also popular.

I would also go the the majority and paint first. Low VOC paints are also the way to go and as mentioned new carpet also emit toxins etc. so don't leave things to the last minute and keep things well ventilated for a few weeks after completion. If the robes are sliding doors they don't usually have backs so you need to paint the walls before robe installation, believe me as a pro i have painted many the inside of robes, you will have a neater job and save time. Some wardrobe companies insist on the installation prior to carpet so you have a better fit to the floor, so check it out prior to timing the carpet. So paint first, asked your robe company if they have a preference and if not, carpet then robe. Hope baby arrives safe and healthy ready to enjoy the new environment you are making. Good luck and all the best. Regards Paul Wales

" How wonderful it is online that now we can all see what amazing ppl are creating. We always have had amazing ppl making such things, but usually reserved for family keepsakes, or nanas specialty. Put down the iPhone and pick up a craft I say!" ~mldesign0401 Indeed. I'm often gobsmacked at what people can do. And it's great to see the process in pictures. I do spend a lot more time looking at others creations the actually doing something myself! One of the traps of everything shared online. I do love seeing the creations that didn't go as planned too! So funny. It's great that people have the sense of humour to still share their "failures". At the end of the day, there's more benefit in the process of creating right? At least they had a go.

Actually I think you can have whatever style cabinetry you want so long as the colour scheme is the same, consistant colours are what helps create the 'seamless flow' from old to new. We did the same kind of renovation 2 years ago - a huge extension onto our 1900's cottage and the front hallway (in the original house) joins the new hallway so flow was very important as we did not want it to look like the old house stopped and the new house began. But honestly the cabinetry can be more modern if you prefer, and completely different from your existing, as from my experience to create the perfect flow between the old and the new the most important details are: 1) Paint and colour scheme: If you want the old house to connect well with the new extension make sure you repaint the walls, ceilings and cabinetry in the original part (at least the hallway and areas that connect with the new) the same colour as you paint in the new extension and keep the colour scheme very similar between the old and new. 2) Flooring: We had solid hardwood flooring in the original house but unfortunately is was so badly water damaged and patched throughout so couldnt be saved, so we installed the same wide-panel reclaimed-look oak flooring that we were using in the extension - essential as the old and new hallways joined. 3) Doors: Try and find doors as close as possible to the ones you already have. We had some difficulty with this as ours were solid timber and had 5 horizontal panels but in the end we managed to find one supplier that had similar and with so many doors in the new extension it really helps create a more seamless look 4) Wall panelling (if applicable): We had waist high panelling throughout the original house and our builder copied this throughout the extension (his suggestion). Couldnt be happier with the result and it definately wouldnt have looked right if the panelling stopped suddenly where the new house began 5) Consistant ceiling height: Really important when blending old with new, make sure you keep ceiling heights the same at the point where the old meets the new - or go much higher, this also works. But dont go just slightly higher or lower! Other than that there is no need to try and replicate other period details like cabinetry and cornices. Love and celebrate the original part of your home that has the quirks, ornate ceilings, fireplaces etc and let the new extension compliment without trying to compete