Thank you so much for your kind words, everyone. Houzz never ceases to delight, I am so glad I began this renovation even though it was an incredibly stressful journey at the time!! Here are a few more pics taken over the last 2 years.

Hi Jimmy South facing can be challenging, not only in getting natural light into interiors, but also because any additions you add will put your garden in more shade. Some work can be done to ensure that the interior is well lit naturally - as has been suggested. Be aware that the garden space will need to be designed also to deal with being shady and cool. I'm not sure where abouts in Australia you are, and if cold and damp winters are an issue. For example, this home faces south, and I designed an extension that popped up over the existing house with a clerestory window to bring northern light into a double height void within the new space. We got great light internally, but the garden was always in shade - so grass and plant selection was made accordingly. I know you're not planning something this significant, but think about strategies you can use to bring northern light - or even eastern light - down into your new extension. Perhaps you can extend lengthwise into the garden and pull it back from your eastern boundary, to get some morning light onto an internal concrete floor and provide some natural warmth in winter through thermal mass. I also recommend if you're planning lots of glazing (even skylights), that you look for ways you'll prevent heat loss in winter, and heat gain in summer. Skylights such as Velux sky windows are great for top lighting (you could again look at arranging your roof so that you can face the skylights east), and you can get them double glazed, with blinds in them for shade when required. Best wishes for planning your extension. These brick homes can be modernised so well, it's a lot of fun to see their transformation. You can see a late 1960s home that was my own renovation project here - we had a lot of fun and the transformation can be quite dramatic when finished. Regards Amelia Lee Undercover Architect www.undercoverarchitect.com.au amelia@undercoverarchitect.com.au

Just took another look. And another. I was looking at your plan upside down. Your laundry is fine, but I'm still sure it's the entrance. If you could move the barbeque and that bit of fence - to make the front entrance a feature I am sure that would make all the difference. Get out of your car and see what you walk into. Then make that entry the feature. I'd also maybe give the top of the carport roof a karcher or a coat of paint. Most people have two cars and they want them undercover. Maybe the carport could be extended to fit two cars. Maybe change the fence near the kitchen to make that the entrance. Then have a look and think what you would like the entrance to look like. I know one of the reasons my house sold was because the bedroom looked out onto beautiful garden. If you have enough room change all the beds to face the balcony and the views. People do lie on your beds. They also look in all your cupboards, even i the kitchen..The large chest of drawers in one of the bedrooms will make people think there isn't enough storage. It is a beautiful piece of furniture so ask your neighbours if they would look after it for a while. I had my house termite proofed before I sold. It's something the new people won't want to do. They always have a termite ispection before they buy so I did it for them. I took money off this new house because they hadn't kept up the termite control. I'm sure you have karchered your driveway if it's concrete. It does't take long and makes a incredible difference. Make sure all the lawns have whipper snipper edges. People don't want to spend their life mowing lawns, especially in such a beautiful position.. I lent a karcher to a friend of mine who had an enormous house but it wasn't selliing, it had been on the market at least six months.. Once they karchered all the concrete they sold the next week. It's true most buyers have no imagination so you have to do it for them. If there is something wrong - never, never mention it and people will not notice. I am i love with your house already so there must be something that turns people off. Do you give them feedback sheets on the things they like and do't like? It would be worth looking because position is everything and your house is superb.It may be price or it may be something you haven't noticed because you've been there so long. I hired bond cleaners and spent weeks in the garden making it neat make everything sparkle. This house is stunning but there are a few easy fixes. Look at photos of how pillows are arranged on the beds in magazines and copy them. There are no bedside tables. You can buy cheap ones at KMart - they are woven cane - buy white and buy cheap but good looking white lamps for each bedside table. The pictures in this house would drive me crazy. They need to be centred. The picture above the tv does't line up with the edges of the tv. It should be centred above the tv. The mid point of the painting should be around 60 inches to the middle of the painting. Just measure up 60 inches then measure the measure to the middle of the painting. The middle of the painting should be 60 inches up from the floor. The rule fro decorating is one, three or five, so rearrange your knicknacks in one, three or five. Take the red toaster out of the kitchen. It doesn't fit. Instead of painting you can buy cheap wall and floor steamers. I have a vac - around $140 and you can buy wall attachments. You'll be surprised how much gunk comes off the walls. They will make your paint look new and take away any smells. Smell is really important. I normally use jasmine or vanilla plug in smell. Turn them down so they don't overpower. Use the plug in ones as they are subtle.. Buy fresh flowers every week. People hate calling up to make a appt to see a house. Get an agent and have a open house every Saturday afternoon for at least 4 weeks, Auctioning is cheap. Think mine cost $180.00.If you have an Auction you don't have to sell, you set a minimum price and I decided mine during the Auction. When it went to the market I got a extra $15,000, but my house got a incredible price because two guys competed for status. One had never seen the house before. On the coach by the pool throw over a plain white cover and mix and match all the cushions outside. If the pergola wall is painted blue paint it white so it blends in. I decorated like you with blues but have changed to whites and greys. They always look fresh. The trick to making the bed smooth is to pull from opposite corners so the doonas look flat. Sight lines are everything. Walk through the house and look at your sight lines. Then blend a cushion or something of the same colour that matches to draw the house together. Your windows and floors need to sparkle. You can use a steam cleaner for the floors as well. Your wooden floors are beautiful. Leave them. Karcher all outside concrete. Karchers, smaller ones are cheap and make a world of difference. Take away the bottles of wine and plates on the tables. It's staged and no-one does it anymore.. Place fresh flowers there. Spray the rugs with a light mix of vinegar and water. It takes smoke smells away. Had to have another look but there are no pictures of the entrance to the house. The entrance sells a home. Fix it up. Put in chairs and make it look beautiful. If your front doors are shabby replace them. Don't go to Doors Plus like I stupidly did, but there are some great door manufacturers who don't TV advertise. Buy new door mats - the beautiful ones are around $60 - $80 dollars from HAUZZ , Frenchknot . Make sure they haven't got writing on them. I'm guessing they are not showing the front for for a reason. Fix it. Cut off any brown leaves in the garden. Have a look at similar photos through HAUZZ of the front of the house. There are some great inexpensive ideas for front porches, If the driveway is concrete karcher it. To sum up, karcher all concrete and bricks, Hang paintings so they line up. You can probably hire real pieces of art to match the house for not much for 4 weeks. Have a open house, go to Auction - you don't have to sell but it can start an ego bidding war. Boys wlll be boys. Your house is so beautiful it must be the front if there are no photos, I'm guessing. Entrances sell houses. It is such a beautiful house. Have an open house on the weekends. People who work are too busy to ring and ask for a inspection because the real estate agents are ALWAYS late.I worked and needed to be away a a certain time. After a while I gave up making appointments. It just made me furious and I may have bought if the agent had shown up early or on time. No-one wants to inspect at night. I love your house so it has to be something really simple that has stopped it from selling. I hope you were not offended because your house is so beautiful. Any person would love to live there. It's why I keep coming back and having another look. Maybe it is worth bringing in a stylist, because your house is so beautiful. The details are everything. And deewb said something that makes total sense. Most people won't buy just before a federal election. Just had a look at your photobook. Clutter - it must have hurt you downsizing the clutter. To be honest please hire a stylist. It will make all the difference to unclutter more and depersonalise.. I just looked at Realestate.com.au and your house is not listed. I guess it is't listed o Domain either. You have lost 75% of your buyers by not using these two sites. They are the sites every looks at. Most people don't look at one agents site, As soon as you can get out of using them as your sole property agents - ditch them. They haven't worked i your best interests.

Hi Harmony, Yes it is getting there! Laundry/kitchen: If I can read the dims my plan will work very well. See if you can follow me here.. left to right dims… l'd 600 bench, 1 m walk, 600 broom & shelf in pantry, 700 depth for 'frige and panty is then 1300, 1200 between benches & 1200 wide island = 2400 along outside wall for DW & sss. This should leave 3600 for meals which is great. Keep chute: get it in the right place! washing then arrives in l'dry. So bench backing garage is where u want bench (sorting) sink (rinse & soak) WM then TD if you need one with bench above. and overhead cupboards to keep the nasties out of kiddies reach. This is the flow of washing from dirty to washed to go outside. The other side backing kitchen is ideal to have some rails to finish off drying or airing, for brought in clean clothes, when ready: fold, stack for kids to take back up stairs. With broom cupboard next to outside door, there are no dead corners! Yippee! Someone put a powder room in here but not needed with the guest bedroom just across the hall. I was trying to make the shower and loo not visible from hall but still accessible from outside. I am sure guests staying of visiting can use this bathroom. Upstairs: I like my layout for ensuite: robe first putting distance between bathroom and bed. Window in robe I mentioned, so you can find sox without light, also lovely to open up for fresh air blast every now then. Looking along vanity to bath and to window. I do like the separate room for loo please with a window. Again not sure of dims but sure it will fit. Bathroom is tope with three people able to use it at once and each area with light and air. Doesn't matter with linen store. to have light and air. This looks to me like a lot of house to clean but a forever home to enjoy entertaining as kiddies grow and family expands. I hope you let us know the final plans and built pix would be lovely to see too. May I ask a favour of you: to write a short testimonial on my page here on Houzz so as others can find me and my design skills too. Thank you Cheers and good luck. Margot