Thanks midesign. If you search under Advice for the topic "Asian Eclectic" you will find another post from me that has more photos of the same space. This may help you to orient more. The Cambodian screen is against a half- height wall and is dividing (non-intentionally) the living room from the dining area. There are 2 steps up to the dining area-still within the open plan first floor but also separated by the small "half height" wall I mentioned that the screen is resting against. I had already thought of placing the screen behind a bed. In fact - this is one of three screens I have throughout the house ( this timber carved Cambodian one, a Chinese black lacquer inlaid one with mother of pearl -currently in my home private music studio downstairs in a lower floor of the house - and a Japanese gold leaf screen with Kutani Cranes, which is behind my bed in my master bedroom as headboard centerpiece. ) So, you see- too many beautiful things all fighting for feature space. There seems no other place for this timber screen other than this living room! The kitchen is behind the armchairs in the current arrangement. The sofa is against that wall under the large triangle so it enhances flow of visuals between people in the living room and straight into kitchen. The windows are in fact floor to ceiling sliding doors across the entire back of the house- currently not seen in this post which is why I made a better post with same title that I've referred you to - there I added more photos of the various aspects in the living room. The sliding doors are directly across from the timber screen in these pics. There is a spectacular view from the sliding picture window doors in open plan lounge/kitchen of ocean view looking out across rainforest. The house is quite elevated- being 3 stories and 3 levels built on a hill with large covered decks outside wrapping around 3/4 of the house and views from all decks. The main issue with too many things and all vying for proper space to let them stand alone and show them to full advantage is that the wall space is very limited throughout the home on all levels due to the full length doors covering the rear aspect on every level. The house has wonderful quirky angles and less pure white wall space than most houses as the doors with all the views are the real feature. These are good difficulties to have, I admit, but I really think I need professional advice such as yours to let the house and its contents fully shine. If you are familiar with the pole home style then you will understand many of the challenges designing in such a home to bring out its full potential brings. I will post more pictures of other rooms too if you like? I love your suggestions already! What you say makes sense- I just would love someone to be able to see various things in my collection and know more intuitively in which room and with which other things they would make the greatest impact - yet harmoniously too! Thanks again

Apartment building and condensed living is problematic for so many reasons. One I experienced recently was attending an outdoor gig in a gentrified, high density living suburb in Sydney and the music was so soft I was meters from the stage could have a normal conversation. So many residence had complained because of the noise travelling and being trapped in the area because of the buildings, there were such strict noise restrictions. So frustrating.

thanks, below is the bin cabin i am looking to get its 450mm https://www.arova.com.au/collections/side-mount/products/soft-close-70l-pull-out-waste-bin-for-450mm-cainet-white the reason i put 1440 wide is that the maximum wide benchtops comes in, since it needs a joint due to the column i can cut the 3000mm stone cut in the middle and make 1500 wide of more, no problems. moving the door involved too much work like cutting bricks, door frame etc. Agree the 600mm is too deep for top cabinets, i am thinking of doing 600mm drawers with a bench then like 300-400 gap, and top cabintes at 450 or 300mm deep.

Hi CP and thank you! Your comment and suggestion is not controversial at all, but raises interesting design points. They are not shutters, but timber louvres. They can be raised and lowered as 1/2 panels- 2 per each window. When they are “open” it’s straight out to the deck and the elements. IE no glass Windows behind- just screens to keep out the insects. As the home is in the tropics, and currently it’s steaming hot and the humidity level is sky high too- in order to keep the room fully Air Conditioned (for now) it’s necessary to keep the louvres fully closed. So- it’s “either/or” with this window style, as they are not “traditional” windows. That’s why there is the glass door to the balcony and the skylights in the ceiling- to let in natural light in the summer steamy season. The only months we don’t need A/C are winter months here, which is June- September aprox. In those months when excessive heat has gone, I can open everything and there is a beautiful view out to the tropical rainforest vegetation and trees. Then, it indeed looks as though there are no window “treatments” as I can raise all the louvres. I once (years ago) got a quote to put in more normal windows, but the cost was exorbitant and besides, I felt it was ultimately the wrong thing to do as it would take away the unique character of this pole house. Tomorrow when it’s light, I can post some photos of all the louvres raised just to give you an idea.