MMMM thanks for the suggestion, it will have to be the option for us, hope there is someone who can do a good job without breaking either themselves or the bank account.

This is actually a three storey house with a small entry, which makes it a little trickier to select a scheme. As it is quite imposing from street level, have you considered a darker shade straight across on the lowest level to 'ground' the house? Lighter tones can then be used on the living levels. Try using an app that allows you to 'colour in' to change and view various options.

Hi Yes it can be done and we have done it many times. The only question is how to transfer the dead and live loads... which an engineer will do. (dead load is static weight eg slab/roof etc... live load is people, movable items etc) First step is to dig out the original plans with particular emphasis on the structural plans that show the reinforcement of the second floor slab, footing details and wall sections etc. If you don't have them, you can go to your local Council and request a copy of all plans on file. It will cost around $50-$100. Depending on how the slab was reinforced, you will most likely need a beam to span from the laundry to a point in the other bathroom wall that is remaining. The beam can be designed to be part of a bulkhead or feature dropped ceiling. Then there will probably be some thickening of the wall structure and increase of footing capacity. Footings can be extended by drilling through the slab and grout injection into the soil underneath or excavating and installing new concrete. As others have said, a structural engineer will look at the plans, work out a design and detail that a builder will implement for you within your desired layout. Cheers

Your designer should be able to suggest some ideas, but a lot will depend on your budget, and the slope of the land. If the rear of the house is very elevated to make the most of the views, you would be better off with lightweight construction that can be maintained easily from your balconies, rather than masonry construction, which can get expensive if you are a long way above the natural ground level. So you need to consider your budget, the height of the building, the surrounding environment (urban or rural), how it looks from the river, the orientation, your climate, and how close the new building is above the flood level. Best of luck with your considerations, Regards Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.