Hi Jenn, If the house design allows for it, why not look at a compromise and have high ceilings in the larger spaces or perhaps look at skillion roofs with sloping ceilings in the more prominent spaces. That way you wont change the roof line if that is already confirmed and the stud height could stay the same for the wall linings etc. Don't forget though, anything that varies from standard will cost more and have extra things to consider - like Dr Retro mentioned. In a living room or master bedroom with high ceilings, window and door heads at 2000mm high look completely out of proprtion with the space and then what does that do to the outside appearance of the house and then extra cost for window treatments etc. The list of considerations goes on. The reverse is the case for the small rooms. Do you want 3000mm high ceilings in the powder room and laundry etc? Whilst it might create extra storage oportunities, high storage is the least convenient to access. It might look great though for a full height library wall with an access ladder!!! The potential options are endless. Also, if you want something non standard and a great quality home, is the builder the right person to be designing it for you? There are awesome builders everywhere but generally designing is best left to the designers if you want something a bit more than standard. Good luck, Christine.

Thanks all for your advice. Ive included some renders that I made with view along the corridor with and without the bulkhead. I don't think renderst does it justice until you actual walk through @ frame stage. I agree that ceiling height and comfort and look, depends on climate, orientation, insulation, relative proportions of other parts such as windows/doors. Because of the Melbourne climate, we have planned for double glazing, and good insulation with R2.5 batts wall, R6.0 ceiling. We have 2.4m height of windows and door around the ground floor which is btw 3 to 3.6m so I think proportion wise should be ok. In the family where it was always planned 3.6m from the start, we have a band of clerestory windows too. We have decided not to be too excessive with windows ( ie 3m and even 3.6m floor to ceiling - how grand would have that looked though! ) to minimise heat loss during winter. Energy rating for house is 7 stars so far. Thanks for giving me the pro and cons - I have some more confidence to let it stay at 3.6m throughout now.

Get a builder or engineer -- do you want to raise 1 room , or the whole house ? Is there sufficient cavity space ? Most 1970's houses would be roof trusses at a guess , so difficult/impossible , likewise you have said about lowering the floor -- again , real difficult , even if the floor is on beams like that . If ceiling height is a deal breaker , look elsewhere -- in fact , I must be getting lazy , but these days if I look at a house and I have to start thinking of half-pie serious alterations , I will keep looking .

If you are referring to the plan posted on another discussion, you only have three windows on the facade, so it would not be a big design choice. I personally prefer 2430mm doors and windows with 2700mm ceilings, and standard height window and doors for upstairs 2500mm ceilings. But every increase to window and door height costs more money, so it goes back to budget.