Oh C'mon V Richards...every epoch has its treasures. B4 you make a mad run for it stop a while and consider the period and the reasons for the style...it can be extremely enlightening....unless its not the period you want to escape from but from some of the opinions. I spent many years of my youth outside of Australia living surrounded by old ruins in Europe. I forgot what it was like here. When finally I returned to Australia and found myself living in some of the 60s and 70s places..I found much to admire and wonder about. I may not have fallen in love with much of it but there was a certain mistique and a feel that I can still conjure when talking about certain places. Not saying that it was all romantic and pleasant but it conveyed something of the era and the kind of Aussie from those days.

Depends on the house but the Western Europe one is more aesthetically pleasing. Functionality, nice clean lines and clever balance of materials especially with the timber beams giving a touch of warmth and individuality :))

Love this style never dates, trees can get to be a problem if too close to the home but there are products out there such as gutter guard products that fit seamlessly in your guttering.

The style is less important than getting the proportion, flow and eco efficiency correct. You can build something on a tight budget but to feel happy with the outcome you need to decide on your key features - must haves. Put more resource into these areas and look for savings elsewhere. Many new homes fall short because they try to have every current trend which often makes them dated. What you chose to do should depend on the purpose of the home and how long you intend to be there. Do the basics well - consider how you live your life and the important traffic flows. Less is more- a smaller square foot will cost less and allow for better quality fittings. Features that make a statement but are often after thoughts are a good front door, an attractive kitchen slash back and an interesting bathroom and tapware. Good use of colour costs no more and shifts the house out of the ordinary, boring zone. Being careful about cladding choices really effects the impression of a home even before you enter the front door - don't be tempted by the ugly end of the line brick special - you will never recoup the saving in resale. The placement, proportion and shape of windows makes a huge difference to the look of an exterior it can either contemporise and make a house look dated. Remember that big windows cost more to furnish and may make it difficult to heat or cool the house. If going smaller with windows be clever about the placement and look to what views they will offer. If doing blinds etc - look on line - you can save fortune but always get samples first and buy one for a small place e.g. Laundry to check you are happy first. Dont succumb to stumpy curtains - almost always drapes should be floor length otherwise they look cheap. If you can't afford good drapes buy the lining first and use double tracks and put the ones you want up when you can afford them. Roof lines do influence build cost with raked [ sloping ]ceilings being more expensive but why can take the house from being average to interesting. This could be one of your features. It may also be worth considering a renovation to allow time to gather funds to do what pleases you. Something i wouldn't bother with is the current trend for a butlers pantry - just a fad and often a costly one - if you want a separate area better to have a large sliding or cupboard with shelves and a bench top rather than separate room. it kills the interaction with the rest of the house. I would definitely go for a separate laundry - needed for storage and hygienic purposes. Laundries in kitchens are not nice from a buyers perspective. Approach a local group building company and look at their house plans and costings- they will be able to advise where the costs and savings are. Through bulk purchase they are often able to deliver what you want but be sure to personalise for your needs and preferences. I hope this helps