Hi Sarah, hope you enjoyed your travels last night, that's something we have spent our lives doing plus living in different countries. Do look into the attic room/s they are lovely and the Velux skylights very unobtrusive, look great and if positioned correctly take care of venting any hot air, as I mentioned ours were pivoting ones and could be locked open in several positions. I much prefer these to dormer windows, you don't really notice them. The stairs were built off site and lifted into position and installed, built in. At the time we did ours a very good friend a builder did the same but just completely opened the whole ceiling space right out towards the gutters into a large bedroom play study area for his daughters, also using Velux windows. Glass ceilings, like Velux windows have been around for years, believe me I know, we're both getting older. Velux windows can be used as glass ceilings in opening and non opening configurations. I would love to see you keep the outdoor loo as well and updating the old shed into a new connecting space to the house, perhaps a glass breezeway. I will have another look at your plan again over the weekend. I love your front iron gate as well, auto sliding driveway gates work really well and would really fit with your carport. My brother in law put in a tall timber sliding gate at his last home, lovely cheers

@Michael Smith - Where do you start? Similar and in addition to Dr Retro's comments, my advice as a starting point for any project is always the same: define your project requirements and nominate a budget. All decisions moving forward will derive from the balance of these two elements within your particular context. you need to refocus on the front end of the process, and set aside the backend construction for the time being...Since you have had no prior experience in this area I highly recommend you invest in experienced professional assistance with the process. It's a given that this type of project (involving building extension/structural adjustment etc) will require building approvals and/or potential planning approvals that require a process of design and development of professional documentation accordingly. Unless you have had experience in these types of things recommend you don't try and manage something like this unless you have a lot of free time, up for the task and are will to engaged/committed for a rather steep and potentially expensive learning curve. False economy in this area is a significant risk and easy trap to fall into for the inexperienced in this area. For something of this scale an appropriately selected builder will integrate the project construction management far more cost effectively that you can achieve independently as a newcomer. This general type/scope of project could be anything from 3-6 months in construction (depending upon the builder/circumstances/detail and whole lot of other factors) but you're getting ahead of yourself with this as first things first you need to establish the project scope and work through the process of design and documentation appropriately for any applicable approvals. If you're interested in further information please feel free to contact me directly - we can similarly service projects of this nature in the Melbourne area.....always keep in mind that there are different levels of professionals and you need to work out exactly what you require in this regard. Are you requiring higher level design assistance? Or do you just need someone to "draw it up" as you know exactly how you want it to be, and can get away with a drafting service.....questions for you to think about and work through/research accordingly..... @anotherbird - this stage can be particularly challenging when you have designed and documented, and then are left on your own to sort through and compare the "apples and oranges" quote differences, and it's not straightforward. I think here it depends on the builder you select. An experienced and competent builder should be able to have some of the things you've mentioned integrated into their process such as the building permit, and also providing advice as to the construction scheduling and how the decisions of finalising the kitchen design etc will be coordinated into the job. Sometimes builders want everything designed and documented prior to starting, others are more flexible and have the capacity to work from contractual allowances and refer you to//utilise their regular tried and tested subcontractors/suppliers to pull it all together collaboratively and sequentially. My advice is trust your instinct with the builder and go with the one that you feel you can work better with, rather than the one who is giving you the best price...the project will ultimately cost what it will cost, and more often than not it's better to pay a premium for less stressful build process with an operator that is tuned into your particular circumstance and needs, rather than go with a guy who might be cheaper but is more about "smashing it out" for lower cost and putting a lot of the responsibility of coordinating fit-out aspects yourselves.... hope this helps Best of luck with it all to both of you :) PD

without any special views it's not cost effective to alter the windows and (assuming the window into the old living area is full height?) i would prefer to keep the big window, with a wide doorway (with or without cavity sliding doors into the hallway to include the hallway as part of the dressing area and add venetians or shutters to the window for privacy and afternoon sun control) ) ... making the WIW a little wider (still plenty of space in the bedroom) allows for a central island in the WIW to create back to back storage for shoes and folded clothes, a counter for a set down space and /or jewellery box, make up mirrors etc.. depends on your preferred style ?? rearranging the bathroom allows for a double vanity and shower and the hallway will be useful for extra dressing area and maybe a gallery of favourite artwork... another option could be to swap the wiw and ens and then the wiw could be used as walk through sitting room/study (resale?) without the hall wall and add a biw to the master bedroom but that would mean changing windows and extra plumbing costs

How disgusting does it feel when you smell a pungent odor coming from your drain? Definitely, it is a poor experience, and unfortunately, it is a very common issue in every residence. The only way to avoid this smell and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere at home is to keep all your drains clean and hygienic. In case you want to know how to get rid of a smelly drain, this write-up can be the best to help you out. Just give it a read! Before you check out the various ways to fix your smelly drain, it is necessary to understand the stinky drain causes. Some of them are listed below. Drain clogs that give rise to bacteria Strong smelling foods Rotten foods Sewer gasses How To Get Rid Of A Smelly Drain? Cleaning a smelly drain is very necessary to ensure better health and inhale fresh air. So let’s check out the few ways that can help you to fix the drain problems problems easily. Hot Water Flush One of the easiest ways to smelly drain fix is by flushing out hot water. Hot water is very effective in killing germs and bacteria. You can mix a couple of squirts of dish soap with water and pour it into the drain by removing the stopper. Pouring the hot soapy water through the disposal with good force kills all the bacteria and flushes out the debris. A soap contains antibacterial chemicals that can help you with smelly drain fix effectively. Hot Vinegar Flush If hot soap water doesn’t work, you can try out a hot vinegar flush. Vinegar contains acid that acts as a disinfectant. It neutralizes the bad odor and eliminates the small and large clogs. You can use four cups of vinegar in hot water and pour it down the basin drain. The moment you start pouring down the water mixture, the vinegar starts absorbing all the infectious germs and turns the environment odor-free. Using Eggshells And Citrus Peels Another way that you can prefer is using eggshells and citrus peels. If you are tired of using other methods and still browsing Google with “how to get rid of a smelly drain,” this particular homemade solution works the best. What you need to do is – take a handful of eggshells and put them into the disposal cavity. Once it is done, turn the faucet on with full pressure so that the garbage disposal grinds away for a couple of minutes. This step should be followed with lemon peels so that there is a lemon fragrance spreads all around. You can run cold water down the disposal to make the area dirt-free. Baking Soda & Vinegar Flush Another way to clean a smelly drain is by flushing a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. We have already spoken about the perks of vinegar, and baking soda has almost similar perks. The mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water is very useful when you want to break congealed grease in your drain. Just pour a cup of baking soda and add two cups of vinegar into the hot water to flush out the clogged drain. You may have to repeat the process to clean the drain and get the best result. Hiring a Professional The home remedy may work sometimes but oftentimes the bring back no result leaving you with the smelly drain all the times. So you must call the plumbing professional to figure out the main reason that causing the drain to smell. They can figure quickly what’s causing the issue and give you with suitable solution for it Reach Out To Your Sydney Local Plumbing Service Where do you find a good plumbers for hire? You must lookout for expert local plumbing service provider. Clean and Clear Plumbing is one of the most trusted local plumbers in Sydney that offers various plumbing services, including cleaning a smelly drain as well as emergency plumbing services. It has a team of experienced plumbers who take a short time to fix your blocked and smelly drain. Just give them a call, and they are ready to serve their clients in a short time. The best thing about their services is that you do not have to pay a huge amount. Instead, you can avail of their quality and professional services at a pocket-friendly rate. Take Away Are you looking for an easy smelly drain fix? Start with the easy methods but in case they did not work hire a professional plumbing service provider like us. Such an approach will always keep your drains stink-free and clog-free. SHARE: Clean and clear plumbing