Kerrie, I live in Victoria and my pool in completely internal, that is to say it is part of the house and not an addition to the house. I planned to have an external door with the required regulation lock height and seld closing mechanism. Hubby was dead against this door and so I agreed to have a window instead, not long after, we found out that the laws had changed and you are no longer permitted to access to an indoor pool from the outside, so it was just sheer luck that we changed the door to a window. Further, when we purchased the awning windows (2) with regulation restricted 10cm windouts, our building inspector tried to tell us that the windows weren't allowed and that they would have to remain shut and we were also going to have to concrete "bars" into the brickwork on the outside. I argued that regulation pool fences had the same 10cm restriction and after contacting the Victorian Building Commission, I have confirmation in writing, that the windows are deemed to be adequately safe and the inspector has accepted the finding. My access to our pool now, is only from the inside of the home obviously and if that becomes illegal, then we'll just have to sit and look at the pool longingly through the window, as there won't be any access at all ha-ha I'm not advocating that people argue with regulations but if I hadn't investigated my options further, who knows where I would be, having spent $1,500 on these two windows with laminated glass and how beautiful would my brickwork have looked with prisson bars attached. Cheers, Barbara

sounds like a good use of space, you could install a pull out hotel clothes line, you know the one with the round fitting on one wall with a single pull out line which clips into a fitting on the other side. Attaching some photos the first is a bathroom that I would love to use to replace our existing ensuite (without replacing the window) which is as you enter the WC is behind the door to the left, right side is a nearly sunken bath with shower plus a large sliding window beside the bath, we think the architect hadn't allowed enough showering space so by adding the window gave extra width. Then we have a full width vanity and mirror on the third wall. The last should have a swimming pool style hand rail. Did you build your house, would love to see some more photos of the bathroom etc. cheers

Wow, that looks fantastic!

There's a lot to take in . It is pretty quirky , but it has potential to be interesting . I'd leave the brickwork as it is , and the windows are windows -- you say they need replacing soon -- they seem okay to me . I'd quite like darker brown timber windows , but I don't know of many people that have 'reverted' back to timber -- I assume it can be done ? The back door is easy -- its screaming out for a deck in a darker wood ( or darker stained ) , but even then you could have fun , with seating built around part of it , or even a barbeque or similar built unit on the edge -- in a similar light brick , or stone . Personally , I wouldn't do a pergoda or similar over it , mainly because of the studio -- it takes away too much sun and too much open space . Likewise , a modern terrace with glass sides would look out of place . The entry door IMO is not too bad -- it works . The concrete steps let it down -- black or charcoal outdoor tiles would lift it , and look good . A stainless handrail would be the go too -- it'll look out of place until its 6 months old and starts to look 'aged' . The addition to the right needs darker mortar to make it look integrated . The roof looks okay and period in that green , so depending on how much can be reused , maybe stay with that . Or go charcoal , or even orange would suit . The shipboards in crisp white . That leaves just one thing needed -- some colour ! An orange roof with bright orange gutters would lift the whole place ; green with an almost fluro crisp green gutter colour likewise ; charcoal roof with bright red gutters ! Just enough to lift the look , even for people who don't like much colour ! I'd also do the main body of the gables in the same colour as you chose for the gutters , or maybe 1 or 2 shades down .