We have always done diy but never again!!! Exactly true that it is one of the last things to be done in either a reno or new build & of course it does save money. You should be aware that you pretty much need to spend all those lovely savings on take away food/alcohol/sedatives (personal choice) to compensate for the loss of arm & leg function at the end of the endless days work. Neighbours may complain about loud music & swearing or nudie runs to the pool to refresh & start the process all over again. Deny the urge to diy if possible & pay someone but get referrals first!!! Tips to all who "do it yourself" 1. It starts with the preparation & the plasterer must be on his game...that's where a lot of the trouble starts & ends with a bad finish. 2. Buy everything in bulk from tape to brushes to rollers to trays etc. 3. You will always be back at the paint counter for just one more tin to either start again or finish up. 4. Stock up on fast food standbys like pies, sausage rolls, pastries, microwave dinners etc. or have the pizza guy on speed dial. 9. Don't ask the children to do any painting unless you have the patience of a saint & are prepared to go over everything they do "to help" or "feel included" 10. On that subject if you have small children do not even think about diy. 11. Book & pay for a holiday in advance while you still have money to recuperate from what is essentially the worst job ever with even more precious time to spend reinstating furniture, curtains, long lost essential items of comfort & most of all sanity. 12. Say sorry to everyone you ever knew & you didn't know what you were thinking at the time, have excuses at hand like......................................................................................... I/We saved soooo much money!...They said it would be easy...Everyone does there own painting don't they...I thought this colour was more red/yellow/green/blue like the sample pot...I rather like the spatter effect & I think it will be a new trend...Surely you know that "Marsala" is the Pantone 2015 colour orf the year?...Don't buy any paint, I have plenty of left overs and a complete range of sample pots...here they're all yours! ;))))))

A perspective drawing which will give you a front, side realistic view of the exterior will help you decide, of course the most crucial and impactful part of an exterior is in the window style and size. Things like eaves, overhangs, entry design and symmetry all will change a basic floor plan, with so many ways to differentiate one common facade from another. Google sketch up will allow you to simply create this.

"Architect-designed houses are not accessible to all." This is a myth championed by the building industry. Alternatively, why not focus on the key benefits architects bring to a project. Here are a few for you: • Appoint an architect to your project and you’ll gain a home designed for the way you want to live.The alternative is a builder-designed home that suits what the builder is used to building. Quality builders will ask for plans and specifications to be thoroughly documented so that they can go ahead and do what they do best, which is build. Working out with the owner what you’re going to build and why is the architect’s role. • An architect manages planning approvals. This process is complex, often arbitrarily applied by many Councils, fraught with pitfalls for the novice and is ramped up every year with new hoops to jump. If you want a professional on your side who knows the territory, will go in to bat for you and will forge a way through this minefield, you need an architect. • If you’d prefer to put the works to tender to a number of builders rather than having to accept the quote of the builder you started the process with, you need an architect. • If you’d prefer to protect yourself with a proper, architect-managed ABIC contract that works equally for both parties and is legally enforceable, you need an architect. • An architect will minimise costly changes during construction as he or she will produce a proper level of drawings (expect 20 x A3 pages for a new home, rather than the 1-2 pages you’ll receive from a drafting service.). The reasons for this are that you have on paper exactly what you want to build. Without this, you are entering a contract with a builder with none of the details resolved. You wouldn’t do that if you were buying a house, so why do it when spending an equally significant amount of money? Unfortunately, some builders see this approach as an opportunity to happily accept constant changes from ‘project managing’ owners because it’s just another variation that he can charge for. The longer he is there, the better for his margins, particularly when there’s no contract to speak of. Finally, an architect is a specialist with a professional duty of care, irrespective of financial gain. In other words, they’re there to support and protect you, without benefit to themselves. No one else in the building industry can provide this.

Just my opinion and I’m no expert : D If you wanted to hang onto the lounges for a little longer as they are very practical while you have a young child and dogs, I’d look at trying to find a cushion that might combine the colours perhaps? Like the pic attached? I’d also use some conditioner on the lounge and maybe put a bit more stuffing inside the lounge seat cushions yourself. I did this to a Parker lounge and after a clean and leather saddle conditioner it didn’t look too bad. Maybe a big square (so it won’t tip over) pot with a dark green plant like a peace Lilly, cast iron plant or a tall plant could make the green lounge fit in a bit better.