Hi Charles, Firstly, I am not a designer or anything but I have just spent over 12 months planning & designing my house so I've looked at heaps of plans & I've done lots of research. This is what I have come up with.. I think you can leave it with the same layout and just extend the wall off the rumpus. Yes it eats in to you bi-fold doors but I have a plan to counteract that & not sacrifice the light & open plan. Using corner stacker doors (much cheaper than bi-fold) will open this space right up to the alfresco area. Not sure what you had planned for this area but if you were planning on having a built in bbq area it could be done on the back of the rumpus room wall (in the space where I extended the wall). I also think you will have more flexibility if you have doors entering the rumpus rather than sliding doors as you can use the wall space without having to worry about the wall cavity. I printed your plan off & had a play so check it out & see what you think. I will not be offended however if you don't like my ideas as its your house & it needs to suit you & your family. All the best with it, I know how hard & stressful it is! Shae

It really is all about the rug isn’t it. Really sets the tone of the room but must must must be large enough the old standard 160x230 is really a bathmat. Then the art. Thank god I’ve done the rug part in most of my house it’s one of the hardest parts of putting a room together.

Hi xclusive Yes you will need to fix the 'rough texture' on the ceiling. Either have a false ceiling battened on or do a smooth skim coat. Also 1. Yes add a decorative cornice- will finish the room and compliment the traditional style 2. Any other mouldings, Id keep fairly simple and repaint white same as wall to brighten and freshen the space. Your ceiling you need to paint half strength white as walls or celing white in a flat finish. 3. Yes- dimmer very important 4. Yes- engineered timber floor 5. yes- rug under table 6. No - I wouldnt place the pictures there- it draws too much attention to this space. Place larger pictures/artwork on the side walls. Id focus on updating the window furnishing treatments to make more of the windows. Replace the pendant light fitting. It's looking tired and will give the room an instant lift. Some ideas below Best wishes

Go for a neutral shade for the couch. Don't buy a matching chair. X2 couches same is okay. Occasional chair something different, perhaps a colour or patterned fabric. I like sofas that are off the floor to give a more floating look but the one you like is a classic style, I think "hamptons". Get the furniture Fibre guarded upon delivery, it really does make a difference to the batterings of spills etc. If purchasing a rug do that last. People always buy too small. Front legs of furniture must sit on rug or all furniture to sit on the rug. Bring colour in with accessories. I still like the idea of soft curtains to creat a more relaxed cozy feel and will help break up the white brick look. Take rods right up to the ceiling. Go for a mid grey carpet, not too dark as to see every bit of biscuit etc on it. Get good underlay. I would go for a coffee table not a matched ottoman. The room will look so different. Unsure if joinery was aluminum but if so could get a roller shade over it, otherwise paint it out. Good luck and I look forward to some photos. Oh, colours. Warm grey, Resene Quarter truffle with stark white trims like Resene alabaster or Resene Black White. If you want more of a warm neutral look at colours of NZ Dulux. Quarter Opononi (there will be a match for that in Oz if not in NZ.