adding a basin is high on the list of current changes - thank you!

I was going to say would start with possibly swapping the guest room with the bathroom & WC but it looks like that bathroom is in the original position so cheaper to keep it where it is, this was my thought to get a toilet closer to family and outdoor area for everyone to use. cheers

I think the 1500mm hallway is pretty wide - I would vary the width to avoid it looking so long. Create a slightly wider entry area, say 1.8 x1.8m then reduce the main section of the hall to 1.2m wide - still very generous. Widen it out again before the entry to the living area and maybe build in some low level storage in that area so it is not just an empty space - also add a skylight here. All these adjustments will create interest along the way to the living room and stop it looking so long. I'm not clear on the location of the walls in the existing house, but maybe the study and rumpus room could be flipped. Good luck with the project

all previous suggestions included in floorplan, the variations to the hallway should make interesting shapes for a gallery library area, the compartmented main bathroom would also work well swopped with the original guest study, variations to increase privacy for ens and wiw...Adding furniture helps demonstrate generous circulation space: your new home should be perfect in such a fabulous location

The living / dining area appears to be about 8m long which should be ok - roughly 3m for the dining and 5m for the living room.

I still have concerns with access to a family/guest toilet, and would move the bathroom to back onto the ensuite with shared plumbing. My brother inlaw has the same situation as you and has a third toilet off his laundry family area, using water saving cisterns helps. I have another link to share with you re adding an extension.

http://www.vogue.com.au/vogue+living/interiors/galleries/house+tour+a+shed+that+became+a+home,35906

Thanks so much everyone!
Oklouise - i really appreciate that you took the time to draw up an alternative plan. I'll have a proper look over with the other half tonight but it looks great at first glance.
Chilton Architects - thank you, that's the confirmation I needed. I was second guessing myself.
Siriuskey - yes I know what you mean. We might be better swapping the bathroom and guest room over. There isn't that much difference in size...
I will have alook a t that link tonight. Thank you

Another change I have been thinking about is changing the kitchen to have a bench run along the wall (facing the winter deck) and continue into the pantry. This will have a window that opens (bifold or similar) as a servery onto the deck with the sink partly in front of it. I am not big on having a sink in the island as we are drip driers and I'm pretty sure the dishes sitting there will drive me crazy. It will be a nice spot to sit in the morning with the sun on your back also.
I'm just unsure if that will change the aesthetics of the kitchen space being even and symmetrical.

Big reader did you check out the links for building a rectangular extension with using the shed barn concept, it would have to be a lot cheaper and looks fantastic, someone mentioned not wanting a box but all rooms are boxes it just depends on what you do with them, windows doors and internal fittings and most importantly the landscaping cheers

love the bench facing the winter deck with outside servery and barbq? and left out any door into the pantry, added a few more variations including alternate positions for family bathroom with access through the laundry from outside, new guest and rumpus rooms with all the minor bedrooms grouped away from living area and new fireplace (rear outlet into rumpus room?) with space for a tv away from the view and the "POST" concealed in walk in linen

Hi Mrs Richo, personally I love your kitchen family layout as is and agree that a sink in the Pantry with a window above looking out to the winter courtyard would be a great place to leave dripping dishes. I also would love to have door/doors opposite the Island bench onto the winter courtyard for easy access without return cupboards to block that sunshine from coming inside. cheers

OKlouise - thanks once again! That makes more sense to have the bedrooms all together at the front of the house and the rumpus closer to the main zone - especially with little kids! And seeing the layout of the kitchen that way is much better! I had the picture in my head but wasn't sure it would work. Thank you for reassuring me.
I haven't mentioned (but probably should have) that there are two rather significant structural beams that run along the house. We have utilised the addition of the robes in the bedrooms to disguise one (not sure what to do about the bathroom) and the other is in line with the support post that is hidden in the linen.
The only room that really concerns me is the rumpus (in the new spot) as it will have a beam running across the ceiling that is quite noticeable. And the laundry/mudroom too I guess.
Also, I'm unsure about having an internal loo. I think that is probably one room in the house that needs the fresh air. ;) I do like the concept of the separate basins to the bathroom and WC.
SiriusKey - thank you for those references. I was thinking the same thing about keeping that wall free of overheads so the emphasis is on the windows. Also we have a raked ceiling with louvered windows on this side to take advantage of the sun and the sea breeze that comes that way. Love the styling in the fourth pic you posted - the timber and the white is right up my alley.

you should be able to watch the kids in the rumpus from the kitchen, unless a structural beam will be lower than above door height it could be a feature memory of the original house that doesn't need to be hidden, with ceiling vents and louvre windows above the doors between the internal toilet and the bathroom, the internal toilet makes a generous bathroom more flexible and private

do you think that while the kids are so young that you will be using the"Guest Bedroom " to be closer. In the last plan I would suggest swapping the shower and toilet so you get you external wall toilet.

The beams in your house should be celebrated as part of the original design and not covered, make them a feature and continue them across the new extension, are they natural timber, if painted you can repaint to suit.

Don't forget the second sink in the pantry with the window looking out to the winter area for dumping washing and drip drying dirty dishes, perfect, the island sink for prep and drinks of water for the kids.

The toilet is now more reachable from the winter deck but for the times that you are all in the new extension area ie: Winter it is still quite a long way.

The first link I sent you re the Architect helping his son achieve his extension in an affordable way was to link the old house to the new extension was with a flat roofed breezeway style which housed the laundry and toilet, I will find a photo for you cheers

Lelean St Coastal Architecture · More Info

Lelean St Coastal Architecture · More Info

700 haus Trentham · More Info

Breeze way ideas are what ever size you want that connect buildings, this first photo has a small one at the end of the pergola

here's a close up of the earlier bathroom

do you have any photos of the poles and beams and how many poles are there etc, how low are the beams, could the second lot of posts and beam be moved out and into the passage butting up to the wall. this photo from a new very expensive house with it's support beams exposed

oklouise I prefer the second taking the passage cupboard back into much needed family bathroom space, would the bath be better on the long wall rather than across the room, would also like to see a bigger shower. Internal toilets don't bother me anymore after seeing one done by an architect friend.

Love the polished concrete floors for a beach area, you mentioned that you wanted something to stand out as different from the original part of the house, that's why I suggested a shed style rectangel extension as that really is different and great looking, I had thought that it would also look great with racked ceiling and some beams along with the polished floors and timber doors etc. Perhap you would like the Japanese style of bathroom where the bath an shower share the same space.

I love that one as well such a wonderful use of space, great minds x

Notice you're very close to the beach, this post on our website may be of interest to you... http://vuetrade.com/blog/coastal-corrosion-protection-requirements/