my suggestions include swopping the smaller wiw for more bedroom and bathroom space rather than an extra bathroom and the entry to the master bedroom has been moved to allow a little more space for the ens and wiw and downstairs i suggest combining the living and dining area and using some of the under stairs space for bedroom storage for the guest room...having the patio on the north side would allow inclusion of the extra outdoor space up to the laundry door into a more spacious outdoor area with the barbq along the fence...your concern about using the pation in winter would depend on the climate but the northern corner of the house will be the best aspect during cool weather but the patio an dany other windows may need sunshade from the western sun

Thank you every one for your input! We are very grateful for such great ideas :) VanessaL - the space next to the garage is the 4th bedroom/study, yes we have considered the dog leg in the hallway but we actually preferred it over a long straight hallway, to allow a little more privacy at the back of the house when the front door gets opened, people wouldn't be able to see all the way through the house to the back fence.. also the toilet your referring to is accessed via the ensuite so wont actually be walking past it on entry into the master Andy Pat & Liz Henderson - we have considered the northern alfresco blocking off the winter light and we are intending on having liz's idea of a angled roof over the alfresco or windows above the alfresco roof on the raised ceiling of the living included in the building design.. Liz we would love to see your photos Girl Guides - yes our cool breezes would come from the S, the garage is locked into being on the west as that is where the driveway access already is and changing it is a cost we would like to avoid Oklouise - this is a great plan thank you for your input we have considered having the ensuite on the external wall but then realised it is either going to be the toilet on the exterior (forcing still to have a sunlight) or the shower, where being so close to the fence (1m) the window would most likely only be a long high window - possibly being less effective than a sunlight window anyway? We really like your layout of bedroom 2 & 3 altho we are planning on having a window on the external wall above a sink in the butlers pantry.. and we really do think we would like to keep the dog leg in the hall Please note as well - the estate we are in requires re-assess that is why we have the rear roller door from the garage up the side of the house

Thanks again everyone. These are the best plans I have, still a little hard to read. https://www.dropbox.com/s/zlrfdddp702e45v/2nd%20floor.png?dl=0 Above are a few quick renders of the stair location/direction being changed, and a random woman to use for perspective! Thanks Oklouise! Siriuskey, is this (above) what you had in mind for the kitchen? Looks nice, not sure about cupboard space though? Laura really wanted a butlers pantry, but I don't think we have the space, but I was trying to have some sort of walk in pantry. And this was the last version I had designed before getting your suggestions on here: Not sure if this will work, but here is a link to the FloorPlanner project, if anyone wishes to tinker! https://plus.floorplanner.com/projects/53937748-our-houzz/viewer

i would remove the old flooring, then the window then add the new doors, new floors and then all the new architraves and skirting boards....the new opening is the least forgiving structurally and you'll need to have the new doors custom made and packed up to match the expected height of the new floor ..check with your window/door manufacturers for specific advice ..we have a stacker doors and window that is recessed into the floor and the new flooring continues over the bottom reveal but if you want a bifold or swinging door the height of the bottom of the door frame will need to be raised to match the height of the new flooring