Budget?

Water views to the South?? Openings/doors to this deck seem too small. Will budget allow some big sliders?

Hi Christie. May I ask how long you plan to live in your renovated home until you knock-down/rebuild? I'm guessing your children are not school age as yet.? And is the 3rd bedroom/office primarily to be used as an office?

Ok, I see you plan to rebuild in ten years. You mentioned the living area is cold and dark, so am thinking that with the dark timber floors, perhaps a light wall colour for this area, rather than the dark (black?) paint. As the ceiling has asbestos, a skylight seems not possible, so I'd suggest a lot more lighting in living area.

Would it be possible to rotate the island bench 90 degrees so it faces out towards the living area? Then you could add a timber extension to it to serve as a dining table. Rotating the island would give you a better outlook, IMO. I can send pics of what I mean, if you like. About the timber extension (as dining seating), I'm not sure if there's enough room to come straight off the end; it may need to run perpendicular.

Also, I think you could get away with additional lighting attached to the exposed beam. Black would blend well. I'll look for photos and post.

You mentioned a built-in bench to serve as seatIng for your existing table. i also like that idea.

Is there any reason you placed new entry to one side of the extension, rather than have it central to the house? If you swapped its position with Bed 3/Office, you would have your wall (shared with kitchen) in the entry to place furniture as you proposed. And, I think it would look more like it was purpose-built. Then, Bed3/Office could be accessed from entry foyer.

It also seems like the entry and bed/office are of similar size. I wonder if you can make entry smaller so that your Bed3/Office can be just that bit bigger?

Also, would you consider removing the small overhang roof from South wall (outside Master Bed)? This would let more natural light into master bedroom.

There are lots of choices for lighting that can be fixed to exposed beams and then draped to where they are needed for tasks, etc.

Hi Christie, great house, I love your dark walls and would like to see the ceiling and dark timber beams all painted with ceiling white and all other trims in white as well this will help pop the dark wall colour

. Another idea for lighting is to use track lighting which only needs to be connected to an existing ceiling light point, you can join these up into different shapes, they take down lights and hanging lights. Where does the doorway in the middle of the kitchen go to, maybe it would be best to keep the island running the same way, but make it twice as deep, ie: 120 cm, you could use bunnings 60cm or 30cm deep back to back, The floor looks lovely from what I can see. PS these ceiling track lights can also be suspended and look great, good for getting light over the island. cheers

I'am thinking entrance next to Bed 3 for a better view through the house, extra light from any front window, and you still have 3 bedrooms which is important with your growing family and visitors because you live at the beach. drop down place on wall next to new front door.

Miners couch (I have one) could be lovely opposite the kitchen bench up against the wall and perhaps a long narrow dining table in the now new entrancespace

Looking at your photos, along with painting ceiling and beams white I would include the wall above the sliding door to the deck the dark colour brings the ceiling down. some fun beach dining ideas, I love your wire chairs

Hi, gosh you did well with two little babies to look after, I've had a quick look and added some thoughts to your drawing. With children it's always good to keep it simple so I have tried putting your Miners Couch opposite the kitchen bench as you can sit the kids up to the bench in the appropriate chairs to help you make dinner & feed!!,

Then possibly fit a longish narrow dining table in the front space for a parents dining room . I did mark in red that perhaps if you didn't want to look through the house from the front door, a pantry for extra kitchen space, optional.

I think connecting these rooms will really make your house feel bigger and flow through. Your lounge is great where it is with a couple of large Bean Bags for the kids cheers for now

More for you

Oops here goes again Cheers