Any advice if I try to figure out some of this myself? I found this website http://www.ikeasaudi.com/ikea.com.sa/images/stories/new2010/Web%20BG%202011/Kitchen/FAKTUM/FAKTUM_bg_GB.pdf Its overwelming for me. Did you use the online ikea design tool. I love your color scheme. How did you decide on that granite? I found this website too . Perhaps those cabinets are not available here but just where you are. either way I can find something similiar. Did you have any issues with ordering..getting parts.. assemely? Do you have any helpful tips for designing ? Did you actually hang them yourself? Is there anything about the cabinets that you find defective or insufficient or think could be better? Thank you so much for all your help.

As others have said, it depends on your environment and view. If the house is located in a particularly hostile environment (e.g. west coast Tasmania, central Australian desert) or experiences wild swings between the seasons (e.g. Snowy Mountains) then windows are your friend. In temperate / sub tropical areas like Brisbane then verandahs are the way to go. Windows can have great thermal properties IF they're double glazed which has better insulation properties than say walls in a QLDer house with a timber stud frame sandwiched between weatherboards and VJs. It also depends on the orientation of the house.

The theory of North facing living areas warmed by the sun does work and quite well in most cases. It does depend on where you live as noted above Tasmania vs Queensland. I actually find North facing living areas way to bright as well as quite inconsistent sometimes. Nice in winter though... However it all depends on where you are, your views as noted, etc. A cool summer breeze can come from any where or not at all in some cases. A good designer usually a local will know the area and climates (micro climates) as well as come up with a workable design. Doesn't need to be an architect as the only option as theres plenty of superb building designer and draftsman turning out exceptional work equally as well.

What about one of these for roof and deck railings? Trial any colour using sample pots before you commit to purchase, as how the colour look can certainly vary. If if you are hiring a painter for the roof, the downspouts could be done at same time. I would not attempt to paint the spouting myself for reason you mentioned. Otherwise, leave them as is - as lush as your garden is, they may not be noticeable. As for your decking, is it painted? If so, I’m pretty sure you cannot oil it, so could either leave it to weather or repaint it.