You could build a wall of bookcases, but they have no backs on them, you can utilize from both sides, put ornaments, neat office storage boxes or the like, you could even add a bench seat as a reading nook on the outside face of the bookcase, you could do it in which ever style you intend to adopt, modern?, with natural textures, classic with lots of cushions or retro with bright colours. This will seperate the office from the rest of the space but also allow air flow and light into the space and will not altogether cut you off from whatever else is going on in the house. I chosen a few example pics for you.

Two years later... We ended up purchasing a 3-seater for wall opposite fireplace, a 2-seater for under the highlight window (leaves a comfortable space to enter the room) and an armchair placed diagonally opposite the couches. I've fooled the advice to pull the furniture in off the walls a little. We have just updated the fireplace with the (professional) installation of an insert wood heater and (DIY) replacement of hearth and tiles/timber mantel to conceal the brick while meeting the safety specifications of the heater (required a much wider/deeper hearth than the existing brick one so we removed and replaced with a slab of honed granite, and the minimum height for breastplate/mantel shelf posed a few design limitations). TV mounted above fireplace to allow for better furniture placement. Not quite the picture I had settled on 2 years ago, but works with the style of updates we have made elsewhere. Thank you for all the advice. before: After:

Hi Donna - Look for a company that offer a 10-year warranty and a product that complies with Australian Standards. There are some companies that provide a 'kit' for your builder to install to make it a little bit cheaper again. There are also products that have a 'rack and pinion' design which minimises maintenance and eliminates the need for a motor pit - just do a google search for "dumbwaiter rack and pinion' . Good Luck!

Underfloor heating is a very good idea for rooms with high ceilings, as hot air rises. Warm feet are great too :) Just be careful about your underfloor setup though. How will you be heating it. Electric underfloor heating can be frightfully expensive to run. Hydronic is a much better idea, though install costs are a lot. Hydronic heated by a heat pump has three lowest operating costs, though heat pumps aren't cheap. Gas operated hydronic is middle of the road for running costs, though not a green solution. Make sure your floor is well insulated from the ground, or you'll loose much of the heat into the ground. I think the best option is to insulate above the slab, & install hydronics in a screed.