II know this is an old thread and you are probably well underway, just realised the date :-( But I would try to make a private courtyard off the ensuite and move the bath to the window overlooking this area. Would probably have to turn the WIR sideways and redo bedroom entry, I would switch dining room with kitchen & laundry too with study at rear of media room looking out to courtyard with possible access from kitchen & laundry. Maybe move powder room to exterior wall too next to study & Bed 3 bathroom turn sideways with robes behind bathroom, may improve bedroom size. Then Media to room add corner sliding doors as in this great debate on Houzz https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/media-rooms-in-or-out-dsvw-vd~3149173 You can then open to living space if wanted - gains air/light/breeze & functionality. Kitchen gains wall for high cabinets and you could include a servery/hatch to media room. :-)

Hi Filfy, some great ideas from everyone, mine will probably be quite similar. Firstly, depends how much you want to spend and what look you are after, modernise or modern? Anyway, here are some of my ideas. Take out the Yuccas from front area - they really close in the house there and make it look depressing, replant them, maybe along the front side of house. Repaint the brown timber cladding to something like, Dulux Malay grey or similar. Repaint the Fascias in same Dulux colour as well as the triangular piece on the roof. Take out lattice, do not replace - old and tacky now, very popular years ago though : ) Extend deck along front of house and also bring it forward(if you have the cash), stairs to come forwards (straight out) to meet with path. Decks make a big difference to a house and re-sale IMO. New railing in... Timber posts near Yucca's, are these painted or oiled and stained? See if you could sand these back (I hate sanding-takes time) and stain and oil them, possibly teak? You could re-paint them in Malay grey but stain and oil would make the property look more expensive. Or if you want to render, just do the front of the house and say a metre coming around the side of the house from the front. Could use a grey on the render, paint the slats either a light colour (something that goes with the brick and grey, close to white) or a very dark colour like domino….. Hope this helps.. : )) Below is a link to a big renovation I just finished on the Gold Coast. (Signed M) http://www.kwikclicks.com.au/viewproperty.php?id=3045 Michelle..

Great advice - stop living until you have the money for a pool, after just buying the property, Ugh. Is that a curb cut and open access to your rear yard on the property on your northside? If it is a right-of-way that you can utilize during work on your property, you had better make it legal, as all the work will be more expensive if it has to come in on wheelbarrows along the northside of your own lot. If you have not read my responses to homeowners in the past, I'll try to give you a short version, so as not to take up time from those who will follow. If you want the full advice, email me at cascio.offsite@gmail.com If I cut off in the middle, I have had to leave Houzz, but I shall return. analyze first, then plan Start with the engineer's scale drawing of your new property. Blow it up to a comfortable size and walk around the neighborhood making notes of views into and out of your site from the outside and from within the house. Note all the utilities, above and below grade. Have everyone in the family, and regular visitors, make a private list of all the activities they would like to see located on your property, let no idea be unreasonable at this point. Have a landscape architect study what you have developed and prepare some initial studies or concept plans for your immediate need, the next few years as you get settled, then perhaps a long-range plan that will include your pool, if it is on your "wish list". That should get you productive so you are no longer in a quandry. Good luck, and make it fun!

Hi all, it's now 2020! I'm at render stage and would love it to be white but the renderer I spoke with this morning said to think long and hard about 'white! as it gets dirty very easily especially taking into account the recent dust-storm, not to mention the ash and smoke from the ongoing bushfires. I would like to know: how your respective white renders are coming along in regards to appearance, staining and maintenance; and what type of render and render finish do you have? I am looking at a sandy Rokcote acrylic render. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!