Hi. Seems like a pretty big home. Generally looks functional with a simple layout. A couple of simple suggestions I would have is: 1. I am not a fan of the ldry access off the living room, I would potentially change the study to more of an open nook and put the access from behind the stairs, being a 5 bed house a closed off separate study might not be necessary. 2. I am not a fan of Walk through pantries, unless you are using it as a true butlers pantry with a sink and cooking facilities, I much prefer to see full ht cabinets 700mm deep to accommodate for appliances etc. 3. Upstairs is ok, I would like to see the master on one side of the home with the kids beds on the other side split by thr voids and the upper living space. With the size of the home seems to be a small retreat off the master mighy be nice and an open style ensuite would look good. Thank you and good luck with the build.

When I first wrote in August 2017 we got a lot of great suggestions and comments. At the time we had accepted the limitations of the block (easements, tree, solar access etc). It is now one year later and I can tell you we found a way to move the garage to the south-west corner. This allowed us to move Beds 2 and 3 and the bathroom to the northern side. Pantry and laundry between garage and kitchen/living/dining. I think it was all of the comments and suggestions that encouraged us to look at it again from different angles, rather than just accepting the limitations. Thanks to everyone for their generosity! The solution involved working around a lovely tree (it is nice, just in the wrong spot). It is still in the way (council said we couldn't remove it) but we've opted for a long, curving driveway that starts on the other side of the block and weaves its way around the treeline to the garage entry. Not ideal, because a large portion of the front setback will now be a hard surface, instead of a garden. But if there is one thing that designing teaches you - its all about compromises. Thanks everyone. MB Design & Drafting Shara C Nik Star girlguides oklouise siriuskey genkii saragraham76 Andy Pat brizcs Mel N 3D Home Concepts suancol Caro

Yes anything can be painted. It is the preparation that is most important. This is a I informative article, that may help. Dr Dulux: How to Paint Kitchen Cupboards The easiest way to update your kitchen? By giving your cupboards a lick of paint, of course. Q: My kitchen is looking a bit dated. How can I give it an update without starting from scratch? A: Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so it deserves a little attention now and again. Whether you’re saving up for your dream kitchen, or just fancy a refresh, painting your cupboards can give your space a completely different look and feel depending on your colour scheme – and it’s pocket-friendly to boot. Consider too painting the insides of your cabinets – especially if you have glass-fronted units – for an extra pop of colour. So what are you waiting for? Whip up a storm in the kitchen and give you your cupboards a new look: how to paint kitchen cupboards 2 Step one First, remove all knobs and handles (as well as the contents of your cupboards and drawers!) Use masking tape to protect hinges and glass and put down dust sheets to protect other parts of the room as necessary. Step two Wash your cabinets down with sugar soap or a strong detergent solution. This will remove grease and create a smooth canvas. Wipe off any soap residue with a damp cloth. How to paint kitchen cupboards 3 Step three When the cabinets are dry, sand with fine paper (you can skip this step if you have melamine or high gloss surfaces). Fill imperfections with a good quality ready mixed filler and sand again. Polycell Multi Purpose Pollyfilla is great for filling in gaps on kitchen cabinets and cupboards as it's easy to sand, dries white and won't shrink or crack. Step four Apply a wood or melamine primer depending on the surface. You might want to use a small roller on doors for a smooth finish. Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood is a water-based paint, which means it’s quick drying and won’t smell during the painting process (the only smell coming out of your kitchen should be that of your culinary creations, after all). The finish will be a subtle sheen that’s easy to clean and touch-up – just what you'll need if you have one or two enthusiastic little cooks at home. If using a brush make sure it has synthetic bristles to avoid those brush marks! how to paint kitchen cupboards Step five Apply two coats of your chosen colour. After the first coat is completely dry, sand with a fine paper to ensure a smooth, professional finish. Remember to wipe off any dust with a damp cloth. Step six When the second coat is completely dry, carefully remove the masking tape, put the knobs and handles back on, and admire your sparkling new cabinets. If you want even more of a change, mix up your hardware and replace your old handles and knobs with new ones. Anthropologie, Zara Home and Graham & Green all have cheerful and quirky designs to pep up your cupboards and drawers.

Appreciated am coming in late to this conversation, but generally the ideas are there, but I'd be playing with it a bit more.......there are 2 big ones for me here. Firstly missing the opportunity with the master suite. The whole thing should arguably be flipped so the bedroom space is to the rear/outlook to the pool and the bathroom/robe amenity internalised. If you're going that far with extension works arguably a bit of structure/engineering implemented to support the upper level is worth the investment to get the layout working. Design decisions should always be driven from the experience of the space. and 2. Not that convinced about the flow from entry to main living through an internalised dining space. Its like the kitchen/living/dining relationship is similarly not functionally balanced,. It's like the dining should be aligned with the kitchen space and living then separated....How exactly is that living space intended to be furnished?? At this design stage furniture should always be on the plan. You have to design from the inside out, make it work functionally and then deal with the walls/windows/doors etc last What's you're budget? Has your design given you projected costings on this? You want to make sure you don't need up with a conservative design solution that ends up costing you more than you wanted, and you then spend the money anyway but miss the opportunity for a much better resolved, higher value option than makes sense spatially for the way the house will be used and experienced. Best of luck PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com