Lots I like: separation of master suite, separation of teens' area, kitchen flow into scullery/laundry, study nook, large pantry.

Things I'd question:

- sink position in island. This looks to be the main washing up area but there's very little space on the right of the sink and I can't see a bin nearby. I suspect, like us, you're trying to get the sink as far away as possible from people sitting at the breakfast bar. In which case, could the island be longer. Or you could make it L-shaped with seating around the L end and closer to the al fresco. This would move it into the dining area a little but that is very spacious.

- size of dining area. It's the largest room in the house. Perhaps you're different to us be we don't spend that much time at the table. You could consider swapping living and dining or making the activity room at least a metre bigger to utilise the space more. Swapping living/dining would also give you all day natural light into the living room whereas the dining space could be more intimate with pendant lighting (or even some built in seating).

- clash of doors. Consider a cavity slider on the scullery.

- powder room. It's quite large. I feel like there might be a more optimal arrangement of all the storage in this area if you played around with it. However, having it accessible from two sides makes it more challenging.

I'd also recommend reading the articles on Houzz about kitchen zones to make sure you don't end up walking all day since your kitchen/scullery is quite long.

your floor plan has great interaction between family and private spaces and I prefer the cosier living area for TV and the generous family dining area (with space for a comfy chair for coffee and a paper)... my suggestions include some small variations to increase light in the activities room with a sliding glass door or wider windows looking towards the alfresco and a sliding wall to open the activities to more light through the dining area (which also creates a direct line of sight from kitchen to the computer nook) I've rearranged the bathroom and salon toilet for more privacy and better access from public areas and if your work needs water for clients' a cabinet with extra sink could be useful inside the salon on the other side of the wall from the toilet

Love your design, you've obviously given it lots of thought. Definitely agree with the idea of a basin in the 'kids' toilet, I always cringe at the thought of door handles etc. being used without hands being washed. I'd also consider moving the robe in bed 4 against the toilet wall for greater sound insulation in the bedroom.

I also love your design you have certainly put a lot of thought into it. there are just a couple of spots that I would change to save wasting space

1. access to the girls area and introducing a pocket door between the family living and the nook so that you can still manage computer access especially with your 8 yr old, you sound a lot like our family we had two and a third 10yrs after the second. this also gives better access to the outdoor area for them.

2) Front entrance matching solid double full height doors to the Salon and Master, with one being locked in place until needed. a bit of Wow factor

3) reduce the wall into the family area and entrance doors moved back, lounge layout can be changed

4) a pocket door for your WIR (cavity doors) to save wall space.

Other than that lovely, I" am attaching your drawing with the changes I have suggested. The only other question I have is there a view from the girls bathroom that maybe could be swapped with one of the bedrooms, cheers

Thanks everyone for your input - it has really helped with a few things which were bugging me too but wasn't sure how to rectify :) I loved the storage too big reader but now that I've seen oklouise's changes I think I may have to concede some space.

So it is agreed that we need a basin in the WC - haha - me too! And once again thank you oklouise because I had no clue how to do that. I really like the idea of opening up the activity/nook too and making the powder room more private was something I was mulling over.

Also thank you Jason, what do you think of oklouise's solutions through the scullery/laundry area - sliders are definitely the way to go. We like to sit together to eat as much as possible and didn't want the Lounge being a thoroughfare so although it is a big room I think i need to leave those as is. The kitchen......I'm tossing up cabinetry along the window side and maybe putting the sink there??What do you think??

Thanks Sammy, I'm cringing now at the toilet thing - haha..... moving the wardrobe over is also a great idea - I always pity the poor person who is stuck next to the bathroom/laundry :)

Love a sink either in front of a window (or maybe a mirror) otherwise in the island facing the room, couldn't possibly wash up just looking at a wall or cupboards. Ours is in the island facing the open plan area which suits as whoever is washing up can chat to everyone and be involved with what's going on. Mum's is in front of a window and that's lovely too.

Hi siriuskey :) I'm just blown away at all these responses! I feel like I have been going at this alone for so long - all the builders etc that I have spoken to have never seemed to come up with any suggestions/solutions and just duplicated my sketches. Finally I have something that I love and I think will work for our family and it's very exciting. I did consider swapping a bedroom with bathroom but needed light and ventilation into the activity and couldn't think of another solution there as I like big bedrooms :)

Yes, Sammy I like the idea of both....I've had a sink looking outside for a long time - think it's time to mingle while I'm cleaning ;) What about a servery out the window instead?

Love the hand washing cringe we have some holiday accommodation and supply lovely pump packs, the shower packs are always mostly empty but sorry the hand wash is pretty much the same!!

arghhhhhhhhh :P

hahaha

my suggested floor plan reduced the storage wall in the activities room by 50cms but added 1m into bed 2 and there's also an extra 2.3m in the entry and 30cms added to the wiw ...please consider soundproof plasterboard and insulation around the bathroom (or any wall) to reduce noise because changing the position of the wardrobe in bed 4 will create problems with the doorway and make the room very narrow for furniture arrangement

Hi there Lady G not sure if the bathroom will offer enough light into the girls retreat, mostly closed like a bedroom, some glass next to the "nook" and perhaps some skylight panels in the wall between this area and the family.dining/kitchen.

We have always thought to put a sign on the back of the toilet/bathroom door "did you put the lid down before flushing, if not you are covered in it, forget washing your hands" !!!!!!.

This kitchen pantry laundry by a Sydney Designer is my go to it reminds me of the great space you have designed plus a photo full height pocket doors, these are used to divide the kitchen pantry Laundry spaces when needed

Tailored Interior · More Info

Tailored Spaces, Clever Layout · More Info

A contemporary shaker style kitchen · More Info

love those sliding walls and another opportunity to reduce noise and increase privacy is to use solid core doors with doors stops and automatic closers and the kitchen island can be at least 90cms deep which would allow for a standard 60cms deep cabinets with sink and dw along one side plus plenty of counter as well as 30cms of knee space along the full length of the island (and at each end?)

Love the photos siriuskey - I can definitely relate to the space a little more too now - thank you, a great find :)

Yes oklouise I love the idea of there being seating at the end of the island bench aswell - way more sociable :)

Hi Houzzers!!! So, I've been having a little play around this afternoon and taken all of your advice into account and come up with this.......let me know what you think??

I like the privacy of having the WC on the other side - not sure if the basin works like that??

Added room for our chest freezer in the laundry - think I'll put a hanging rail above that and an IT nook up the other end for charging devices etc

Added the pantry into the kitchen area so not so much storage is needed in scullery and much handier :)

apart from the tiny window in the study nook there's no other external light or ventilation for the activities area and you should check before finalising plans to make sure that this small window is enough to satisfy building regulations and here's a more private version of your latest bathroom (and remember the in wall sound insulation)

ooooh I really like that oklouise :) :) and I think my girls will love it - nice private vanity for all those moments infront of the mirror atm - so thank you. What sort of windows wold I have in the vanity area for natural light?? And yes I will definitely inquire about both the window size and wall insulation :)

try high wide windows above the vanity mirrors and across the bathtub and shower as well as fixed glass panels above every door in the bathroom and activity area and/or across the top of the study nook ...a 2.4m tall room should allow a window about 60 cm deep (including frame) x up to 180cm wide in both the bath and vanity area (awning windows with electric openers are well worth the extra as the windows may be difficult to open manually and one controller can open numerous windows ...btw have you considered roof styles? raked ceilings with roof windows (Velux?) may be worth considering...there's is no problem creating light for the activity room, it's cross ventilation with the sliding door shut that's missing

what do you think of this ??? I have always had a little problem with internal WC's :) Opens up the window area near the nook...would the shower be ok there? ps I really appreciate all of your help oklouise

the window near the nook will be smaller than we hope because we still have to allow for wall thickness and window frames (another option would be to reduce the depth of the dining room to increase the window and the depth of the alfresco!!) but here's another bathroom

http://www.breezway.com.au/project/window-ideas-walkways-ventilation/

Louver windows are wonderful to create air flow, long ones and those installed high in dividing internal walls, timber is lovely but won't allow light they can be automated or have a long handle mounted on the wall

Thanks siriuskey - yes! I love louvres :) Those power ones look awesome

Hi ladyG I will post part of oklouise first girls bathroom which I
thought was the best as this gives easy access to a toilet for everyone
from family room and outdoor area, this toileis also on an external wall
and allows for a window but reduces the girls bench, could that be kept
as my sketch suggests as their hair and MAKEUP by adding a large mirror
above the bench top.

You have taken some space from the
master WIR to make the cupboard on the entrance deeper, could this now
become the study nook, with stools that tuck in similar to what would be
needed to use at the girls bench so as not to block the flow.Posting a photo to show what I thought would look stunning in your entrance giving access to both Salon and Masterbed.

That's gorgeous :)

How did it go LadyG - is your build underway/finished? would love to see some photos.

Hi Nicole - seeing this again actually makes me a little sad. I loved this house design and we went to all this trouble only to find out it was too big for the block to enable a subdivision so design was abandoned.......we are however working on another design and only weeks from approval and demolishing...so cross fingers for me Nicole and I'll keep you up to date :)

research and planning is always worth the effort if it achieves the best result... look forward to seeing your new home...best of luck

I was going to ask about the combined scullery and laundry before I noticed the date of the original question.