I have a 13,18,20 years old..you really need a separate living area for them to hang out..in a different part of the house..that way they don't disturb the adults. i wouldn't do it as an extension or part of living area..when they are little it's hard as you need to keep an eye on them been there done that.. when they are older it's a case of not only containing their mess..their rowdiness..noise..friends our apartment is divided into 2 ..kids bedrooms their bathroom and study, mezzanine in the front. our bedroom kitchen and living area out the back as the entrance to the apartment is out the back ..they need to go past our bedroom to sneak out..

Hi Jayrees It looks like the house is built as per the reverse image, right? Are you swapping the furniture every time you entertain? You'll know your chiropractor well. How big's your budget? If possible you could move the garage forward by at least 1/2 and that'll give you a 3x6 family room, then you can move the kitchen down to the laundry with a breakfast bar also a possible scullery to hide dishes while entertaining. Want a bigger pantry too? A bigger budget would be if you can sacrifice bedroom 2 and move the laundry into half of it with a study in the other half if you are needing 2 studies. Condolences on the garage being small with the dimensions starting with 5000, hope you don't have big vehicles. Is the entry wide enough for double doors?

Hi Donny. You have made a good start with your lookbook. Love the mix you have put together. The artwork you have chosen is the key. It has blues which contrast nicely with the orange tones in the floor and the grey which ties in the couches. I'd look to add more of the neutral colours in the rug like the grey and add some subtle blues in the cushions as well. The rug could be textural rather than too heavily patterned. Love the accessories and tables you have chosen. A great light fitting as has been suggested will really lift the room instead of the oyster fitting. Best wishes. See my story on Houzz for creative lighting tips [https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/expert-eye-a-room-by-room-guide-to-creative-lighting-stsetivw-vs~84059947[(https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/expert-eye-a-room-by-room-guide-to-creative-lighting-stsetivw-vs~84059947)

Sounds vaguely like our house - original 60s layout of living at front, then kitchen and dining opening to patio at back. Two extensions in the 50 years since have added a new kitchen and sunroom at the back (including a few steps down here and there) so there are now two living areas and extra space (where old kitchen was) that we've recently converted into a study nook and bar. For previous owners the sunroom has acted as alternately an informal sitting/reading room, and a family room with TV, while original living room at the front was the 'formal' lounge without TV. We have young kids so set up the sunroom as their playroom as it opens to backyard, and front living room as a more standard living room with TV - and have hopes to add a fireplace at some point to cosy it up. I would think about what times of day each area gets the best light, and what are the activities you like doing at those times of day - then structure the rooms around that. Alternatively think about the gatherings you have with people and set one up as a more formal area (or for evenings?) and one more casual (for daytime?).