Thanks Jayme, I get what you mean, it's just not really practical for our house & will make the renovation a lot more difficult & expensive if we start moving walls like the to gain an extra couple of feet. It's possibly a load bearing wall too. But that area which is currently our kitchen where we are thinking of putting the fire place isn't the main living area, it's basically the centre of our living area which is a long room from one end of the house to the other, so we were thinking having the fire there will warm the house better being that it will have the kitchen & dining table one side of it & the lounge the other side. I think we could it a couple of cozy arm chairs & a small coffee table or we could just put a love seat up against the section of wall opposite the fire?

@fianou, Thank you for your kind words, I agree it's coming along, although not everyone knows that we've been building this home for 8 years now, using only our own money as humble farmers!!! We live in a tiny but comfortable7 square, (roughly) relocatable home and I personally can't wait to get into my new home with all the room and room to put everything in it's place!!! Right now all my posessions are boxed or wraped and in storage in various locations here on the property like our woolshed and an old caravan, as well as things stored in my mother's home a few kms away and with the home having just been sold, means I will have to move this furniture here and add to the mountain of things already in storage!! I'm sorry to say and hope I don't offend, that I don't have an affinity with hanging pots and plants and hubby would literally "cringe" at the thought of growing a vine up our new posts ha-ha I have got a pair of large pots either side of the front door , visible in the photo, housing Wisteria's that I hope to be able to keep tamed and they shoud look lovely when in flower. I originally planned to have about 20 standard roses along the front of the home but they are too much work I've decided and more often than not look quite shabby at certain times, especially when they are dormant, so instead, I have decided to plant several standard grevilleas in a nice stone mulch with a brick border as is the rest of my garden for easy mowing. I actually have quite a large garden but mulch is definitely the way to go and I have used a few different types of stone mulch, as well as tree mulch and woodchips and this reduces my weeding workload, the bain of all gardeners. I'm almost 60 and want to enjoy my home and garden but do not want it to become a burden but should I ever consider a hanging basket, perhaps indoors, I will be reminded of you!!! ha-ha Cheers, Barbara

Hi, so sorry... new to this website and cannot figure out how to make a new comment (not tied in with anyone else's post) so that Two's Company renovations sees it! 20 mins searching still hasn't helped figure it out! Am trying to reach them but their phone number doesn't work. Does anyone know if they're still in business? Tried to send a message but the website said I'd reached my maximum of messages... but I've only ever sent one to another company. Very confusing. And no helpline for Houzz. Most strange!!! If anyone can help point me in the right direction it would be most appreciated! Thanks, Rachel 0406 968 782.

We have just installed a new door with sidelight using translucent double glazed glass. Pretty much complete privacy unless you are leaning against the glass. Lets in lots of diffused light but not the heat. I went to the manufacturers to see all the options, the tint does not allow as much light in so it depends on what you are after. Do consider which side to open to works best for you - for us opening to the left meant we could push the door all the way open without encroaching on another doorway in the entry. New doors replaced wooden french doors with clear panes, we had them covered with frosted film pretty soon after when we realised the privacy issue. This was ok but the film shrank after a few years and left a sticky edge that caught flies and bugs - not ideal. Good luck with your choices the idea you indicate looks great.