Looks like a really lovely house you've got to renovate! A few suggestions for adding a more beachy feel are:

• Replacing the carpet with shabby chic wooden floors, or tiles
• Changing the curtains to wooden venetian blinds, or even block out roller shutters. There are some beautiful examples you can install yourself from Zone Interiors.
• Updating the front balustrade fencing with glass balustrading
• Adding more tropical plants to the front yard, side garden area and back yard
• Include some shade sails or umbrellas to the back area along with some beach chairs or a plush outdoor seating area, for added shade and to encourage relaxation and reclining :) some examples are below.

Transformación casa familiar en Madrid · More Info

Portable Shade Solution Ideas · More Info

18 Front Street · More Info

Hope this helps - good luck! Can't wait to see the finished renovation!

You might be able to achieve a beach twist out the front by doing makeover of the garden, putting in appropriate plants. Take out what looks like a conifer in front of the stairs? I'd love to see some breeze blocks (white?) incorporated in design somewhere.

Looks like there's room to extend out back.

Inspiration

I love MCM etched glass doors with interesting patterns, like birds in reeds, etc. always add interest, light, and privacy to a place. More 50s than your current front door. Keep the security door with glass front doors, though.

The bathroom and master bed room have feature windows with swans etc, they are a bit ott for me but will probably stay.

They are back in style again!

Hi kazzi18

Nice house, strong frontal appeal and typical of the period, I would not change the front with the exception of trimming some trees so that it can be seen slightly better. I think that what you propose is possible and the budget seem close.

Here some things that you might like to consider:

1. To give it a required style I would do it by changing slight details to the front if change is required. The handrail has to meet the Australian Building Code (NCC) especially for height and minimum width between balusters. (Cannot tell from the pics that you posted). You may be able to amend it and keep the original - steel can be welded successfully if required.

2. To get your third bedroom I would do a number of sketch plans maybe from a couple of professionals - this will give you an independent view of possibilities - I think a good investment, and you are not tied top any professional that may have their own design agenda once you sign on the dotted line.

There is quite a bit of information on your posted plan, dimension wise, you really need a few heights and some information of sewer and drainage all relatively easy to obtain.

Then its just a matter of emailing a couple of Building Designers of your choice.

Some photos of the side elevation will help in determining an approximate slope, you could employ a surveyor to do a site survey with falls and features (you would most likely will need to employ one eventually - especially if you are going to build close to boundaries or renew any fencing - should have your block surveyed so that you don't suddenly become noted by any surprises in relation to boundaries.)

3. When you are happy with your layout (Sketch Design) you can then employ a Building Designer/Architect/Drafts-person to provide you with documents for a Town Planning application and a Building Permit as required.

In the long run you could save some money, by this process, and get your preferred outcome. I have done initial sketch plans for a few clients and it generally results in a fruitful outcome.

4. Both Bedroom 1 and 2 seem to be ample in size, however storage (Walk in Robes) are slightly small especially for a master bedroom. So reclaiming the downstairs space for bedrooms seem to be the way to go , you would certainly have to seal the garage exhaust fumes from such area and may be provide a new internal stair link to the main area.

These are the sort of issues that can be sorted out with a little bit of "design work" ideas to determine the best solution.

Regards

Michael Manias - mm407p@gmail.com

Building Designers

Hi kazzi18

Glad to be of some help - I would be delighted to be involved further with your initial proposal. If you like to have a look at my website you can see some of the jobs which I have done in the past. - all the work that you see on the website has been done be my own hand and a few electrons that run inside my computer.

http://www.newhomedesign.com.au/

If you found the information helpful I would greatly appreciate some positive feedback under the HOUZZ Reviews feedback area.

Cheers Michael Manias

Hi Kazzi

I can see a couple of cool possibilities with this.

Re the extra bedroom, I would simply extend out to the back by deleting the stairs next to the laundry and making that a new ensuite, walk in robe and master bedroom with eg a deck connecting to the living, new stairs to the rumpus and access.

The master bedroom outlook would be either a private area or the yard.

There are plenty of configurations you can play around with at that area without a major budget. You could also look at the meals becoming a walk in pantry and reorientating the kitchen to the other side so you are not walking through an eating area...

I would not go up as you already come up stairs to get into the house and going up another flight will wear thin and be noticeable to future purchasers.Cheers