i've attached my suggestion which doesn't knock down any walls or change the entry and only includes an 1800 wide sliding door on the side of the sunroom (with or without matching windows (cheaper than doors) across the front, big stackers are more expensive to buy and install, very expensive to add security doors or flyscreens and take up more floor space with bigger tracks) and i hope the sliding door on the side would be less obvious and more acceptable to the body corporate. i suggest you keep the living room as is, change the old kitchen to a bedroom and install a new kitchen/diner/laundry in the old bedroom without knocking down the wall into the sunroom although you may wish to remove the double doors if they take up too much space..if you keep the separate sunroom it can be called a third bedroom, if you ever decide to sell...the new plumbing is on the external wall, close to the existing plumbing and it could be convenient to keep a small sink in the new bedroom to use the old plumbing...should be relatively economical and achieve your main goal, hope you like!!

Thanks siriuskey and Jen! I have been toying with this idea already.... also with making the current main bedroom into a living area (as it would make a nice sitting room, it has a great garden view). Actually, since I originally asked for help on here we have booked the job in with a builder & plumber.... still have to line up other trades but it's not happening until June next year. Below is the plan I ended up giving to the builder for his quote... but of course I am likely to change my mind about 50 times before we go ahead! Especially since as you'll see, the planned ensuite is too narrow, we will have to make it wider. RE having a WIR for the maswter, we decided a BI would be ok instead since we dont have many clothes and we'd rather use the limited space for bigger bedrooms. Also we had to double our budget to $100k as $50k (our original) wasn't going to cut it!!!! ( & we'll still have to be very careful with our spending).

Thanks everyone, again, a lot to think about! With regards to changing the structure of the house to make it more open plan - making one large living/dining/kitchen room is not something I want to do, it means getting rid of the 50s styling (inbuilt shelving brickwork etc) which I love about the house in the first place. It would also not be very practical for Hobart living, with freezing winters heating such a large space comfortably (initial heatpumps plus ongoing winter bills, without or without the wood heater )- would be completely out of my budget to be honest. I'm also not a huge fan of open plan living in general. The sunroom is effectively a 'tacked on' room to the outside of the house (load bearing wall). It was the original concrete deck just enclosed with plastic sheeting roof and walls, again a very costly renovation that I wouldn't be able to afford without years of saving. I'm liking these suggestions though- its all stuff that hadn't even crossed my mind. I think I will go with turning the bedroom into the kitchen and opening up the house from that side, I think that because it's a one bathroom property, it makes sense to me having 3 bedrooms and a larger kitchen/dining space. Thank you again for all your help and detailed responses :) Laura

how exciting for you....most important is location first including views, local climate, sunny or cold and noisy side of the building then access to public transport, local shopping, direct easy commute to work, ongoing fees what will you be responsible for outside your own apartment including ceiling leaks? security front door, windows, balcony and access to lock up garage with storage, private laundry (or space for a washing machine in the bath or kitchen), secure public entry and external lighting ..inside look for the most spacious rooms, open plan kitchen rather than small separate space, preferable two bedrooms and a generous bathroom...old kitchen and bathrooms, floorcoverings and decor can be improved but you can't improve the location.. best of luck with your first home