I did post it in Design Dilemma, but I am not sure if it did load it.

Congratulations on your purchase. We have recently completed a renovation which included an excavation. If you are wanting to have parking in the basement, it may cost you in excess of $80K due to the excavation involved. This includes steel beams, concreting etc. We also had to pay an additional amount for underpinning. I think building one home would be better for the size of block, across 2 levels. Or 3 levels, if you prefer. Three levels will be more expensive so depends on how much you're willing to spend. Our builder arranged the trades for the bathroom. We purchased all the tiles and fixtures. My builder did have a kitchen company he uses. However, I found a great place that I wanted to use. My builder organised the trades. I'm happy to share other costs with you if you contact me directly to give you an idea. We are about 10km from Darlinghurst. Our renovation involved both an extension and excavation. We do have a DA approved to add another level, however we have estimated that will cost about $150k. Which we may do in a few years if needed.

Just focussing on the outside , I love what you've done with the front part . Were the dark bricks already there , or were they added ? Here's what I dislike though . Firstly , the tiles all match , except the black caps -- that grates with me . The gable on the original cottage is great , but 2 things irk me . Firstly , why not do a gable on the new addition too , instead of the sloping tiles on the front part of the new addition ? Pretty easy to do , it would reference the 2 parts IMO . And then there is the paint -- an offwhite on the gable , a greyer tone on the upper half of the new build . I realise it is not meant to be a reproduction , but surely you would reference the 2 parts -- I know I would . Which brings me to the lower part of the new build , done in a darker taupe colour -- I would have gone darker still , again to reference the bricks . Maybe just me , but I can't see the point in doing something that sort of refences , but doesn't . And then there are the windows too -- it would be so easy to add a wider frame to reference the existing cottage windows . You and the clients may disagree , but I like details like that to be obviously new , but referencing the old . And 1 final little niggle -- I would have done a crisp white feature rail attached to the wall , between the 2 colours 'upstairs' -- the 2 colours which I would have matched to the existing 'downstairs' .

Thanks oklouise. Agree..downstairs will eventually be for guests.. 2 bedrooms and extra living flowing out to garden . We intend to add 2 story extension..garage underneath, master suite, maybe another bedroom and bathroom/powder room , thinking entry and stairs could be incorporated there also.main views are from east elevation and nice garden views else where. Plenty of room ant the back of the block for extension and garden east elevation is front of the house and west elevation is at the back of the house..but where guests and family arrive. I. The very immediate future we want a great upstairs living/dining and kitchen..downstairs a master bedroom, maybe 2 guest rooms and bathrooms.