Hi. Seems like a pretty big home. Generally looks functional with a simple layout. A couple of simple suggestions I would have is: 1. I am not a fan of the ldry access off the living room, I would potentially change the study to more of an open nook and put the access from behind the stairs, being a 5 bed house a closed off separate study might not be necessary. 2. I am not a fan of Walk through pantries, unless you are using it as a true butlers pantry with a sink and cooking facilities, I much prefer to see full ht cabinets 700mm deep to accommodate for appliances etc. 3. Upstairs is ok, I would like to see the master on one side of the home with the kids beds on the other side split by thr voids and the upper living space. With the size of the home seems to be a small retreat off the master mighy be nice and an open style ensuite would look good. Thank you and good luck with the build.

Rebecca - try oiling the timber and see if this brings it up. Rub it in with some steel wool and it can do wonders to bring life into the timber again and it is quite quick to do. The worry with painting is once that is done, you can't go back. I'm assuming you live in an area of similar homes so for selling purposes, I would check out all homes currently on the market in your immediate area, go to open house days, see how they have been renovated and gauge potential buyer's response to them, ask questions as to just what they are looking for in a home. Agents will help you with this too. I spent a year doing this before I sold my home and learned a lot from it. There are just as many people out there who want to put their own stamp on a home as there are those with no vision who just want everything pretty. Your front door, while it doesn't allow much light, could well be a significant heritage piece for the home so a solar tube or 2 could be the answer to bringing light into the space. Colourful artwork on the walls will then help detract from all the panelling too. Good luck with it all.

Drying room with retractable clothes line, floor to ceiling cupboards on one side, low line shelves for shoes underneath and a place for kids sports bags on top, a window for ventilation, and double cavity slider doors to close it all off - BLISS!!!

thinking about the rumpus and wine cellar my suggestions keep most of the original walls with the cellar built in the garage with no external walls to improve insulation and temp control, uses the old single garage door space for an optional entry porch and has the new bar in the old gym maybe replacing the sliding door with a servery window? and the opening to the rumpus could have optional doors to separate the rumpus and bar and keeping the angled wall (and matching ceiling?) in the rumpus could be a good location for a small heater and there's more wall space for enough furniture for a crowd and i've added some suggestions for the bathroom with a separate powder room with vanity and, based on family gossip, a wine cellar this size should have enough space for about 1500 bottles and a small tasting table and chairs!! avoiding changes to walls and adding new doorways instead keeps the original ceilings, avoids unnecessary demolition, is cheaper and saves money that will be needed for new finishes