Not for me, I find the concrete floors too harsh, the one good thing about them when they go off trend easy to cover with something else.

It happens because houzz recycles very old posts into the daily feed. It's a totally useless feature of the site and serves only to cover up the fact they are lacking in daily content additions.

oklouise thanks for the ideas. We have actually really thought about the zoning. We want the two bedrooms on the southern side with a bathroom between for privacy. We also want the eastern lounge room to pop out as a dining room in that spot will waste a gorgeous view. We had a straight alfresco and thought it was all a bit hohum. I will attach the first and second drafts to see where we have come from. The first draft we had drawn was too boring for us ... Garry hated draft 2 as he thought it was too wide for solar access and didn't give cross ventilation (north to south or vv). It's only positive was the flow of west/east cross ventilation. Also the bathroom was too tucked away for guest use when we are using that nice alfresco area. We quickly scrapped all those ideas... LOL As I said, we like skillion roof lines and are planning on clerestory windows to maximise northern sun. Some raked ceilings will probably happen too (and definitely 9 foot ceilings in living areas). the mudroom/laundry will probably be incorporated into the hallway. Unlike some on this forum previously I don't object to entering through the laundry. It kind of gives a landing spot for groceries from the car on those cold days you don't want to leave the whole house open. The garage may actually be a carport to ensure we can have ventilation come through that way and to help us with budget.

Depending Regs, L would have both properties with double garages, parking is gold in Sydney, it would also make both driveways safer with better visuals. Th existing house is like small boxes, certainly doesn't need or have the space for a WIP, better to enlarge the living area this is a 4 bedroom house. The pantries could continue along the kitchen wall and would only need to be 300 - 400 deep for better storage and access without having to install draws for deeper 600 to work efficiently, also allows more floor space for the dining. 4 bedrooms with no Master? but a WIP?, I could live without either. The New build I would chaange so that it flows better, Kitchen and Alfresco together next to pool The Master with balcony, that space could be better used as a study, once again like the glass doors opening to the pool done with done with Juliet style glass across them, still have the feel of a balcony. Forgot to mark internal access from the new builds garage , they both should have that. good luck