Hi Kieran, I've spent a fun Sunday playing around with this... thanks for the challenge! Jumping in to post it though, I think my ideas overlap with Siriuskey and Lucia. Isn't it funny how similar solutions can be arrived at independently! Key points: - As far as possible, I've tried to stick with the existing walls. - Since Bed 2 & Bed 3 are quite small already, even though I've encroached into each to achieve separate entries, the impact is minimal, particularly for Bed 3. - I've used pocket doors to both ends of the WIR and to the store room for optimal functionality. - I've depicted Caroma Urbane compact toilet suites with wall concealed cisterns because they save a bit of space and both toilets can use that extra space in that direction. - It's a very stageable design. You may for instance decide to build the ensuite/WIR and reconfigure the bed 2/3 entries without doing any of the kitchen changes. Or you may decide to save the expense and not move the main WC into the existing store, though it does add a fair area to the living space (I've used the exact existing footprint of the store to save cost and demolition pain which is workable with the Caroma Urbane, but alternatively you could demolish and rebuild the wall behind the pan for a more spacious loo). - The Family/Dining area ends up being fairly generous and very flexible. I've added a door to the end of the corridor to screen the loo a bit better from the dining area and for noise separation for the study, but you may prefer to leave this off. - I've not mucked around with your windows, figuring the important thing was to get the concept down for you, except in the ensuite. Really good idea there to have a central mirror with a narrow window to each side to throw light on your face at the mirror. Has the side benefit of a symmetrical effect which is always good aesthetically. - I've also flipped the main bathroom door to relate better to Bed 2/Bed 3, though not strictly necessary. - I originally used the Bed 1 robe space as a big walk-in-pantry, but it didn't relate particularly well to the kitchen and it also left no provision for general storage. Rather than take up a lot of valuable kitchen space with a pantry which would reduce the length of the peninsula breakfast bar (not ideal), I came up with the idea of shallow shelves with a roller shutter which I think you'll find give you an amazing amount of readily accessible storage. I'd like to think it would be possible to source a horizonal roller shutter that would coil back into the dead space at the back of the fridge, but perhaps better to just go with a vertical shutter and avoid the headache!

What about this: move carport down so it is in front of the entry, or the end is in line with din/lounge wall, build into the carport space for new kitchen: two long runs of bench and island. Perhaps back to the west. Roof being held up permitting! then open the kit, din and living (with new raised floor) into one large open area. Then you can afford to pinch some space for more storage in you need it. Personally I would remove the clear stuff off the alfresco and have the north sun stream into the home for FREE warming in winter and plant a deciduous vine to shade cover the windows in summer. Plant more garden! I am in Melb too so I know how well that will work! happy to assist further..... Cheers Margot

I agree with comments made. You need to do a large scale plan and put all your furniture needs in place and play around with various options. You can't put a TV over the wood fireplace so this will need to be considered. Do you want to orientate your living furniture to look outwards? In which case, you probably want the TV on the outside wall too, to reduce reflection on it and have a single direction of focus. You could have the fireplce central, between the dining and living room so the heat is easily spread around. It could be a double sided one in that location. Don't forget though that the kitchen is also a source of heat. Do you want it as a free standing fireplace or situated on a wall? Do you want it also to be a focal point or more functional with the possibility of putting the winter soup pot on top? Do you want to be able to sit on the hearth on those really yucky cold days? Do you need to keep children safe from the hot surfaces etc? Work out your priorities and the location will probably fall into place. Good luck, C.

The house is detached from the back yard because it is on a different level. I would extend a deck out into yard, then steps down to yard. Dining becomes bedroom, so bedrooms are all grouped together. Living become new ensuite and master bedroom. Open up walls on all rooms on the right. Obviously there will be load bearing walls, so you may need to keep part of walls. A good architect can make them a feature. The front is north, so having the living, kitchen and dining opened up to the front would be beneficial. Then flowing onto the new deck into your yard. The second living would stay as the rumpus room. But, what is the house made of? Internal bricks or timber. What are the floors made of? Concrete or timber. What is your budget? Yes there is potential to change floor plan, but does your budget equal the expense?