Thanks, good point that it might need replacing in not too long and could be addressed then. I'll also consider the paint and other options to draw attention away. I'm sure with lots of books on the built in a when they go in, there will be some distracting colour and thinking a white ledge across the mantel to tie in the new built ins on either side ... We had been considering changing stone surround to some painted white panels, but thought stone might be warmer/ more character. I've seen some inspiring pictures in this thread and on houzz. Thanks all!

Hi all, I'm new to this and would like to any feedback from others who have installed refrigerative air conditioning with ducts under a raised timber floor, and what issues they may have experience by using a common heating and cooling ducts. We are also building a new home that will have raised timber flooring so we can install ducted heating but, in our case, there is no roof space to install ducts in the ceiling in any case because our house will have 2 skillion roofs, one at 15° and the other at 7.5° pitch, both meeting in the center of the house, and running the entire length of the house. The other challenge we have is that half the house along one side will have raked ceilings in the living, dining and kitchen areas and will extend along the entry hall way, whilst the other half of the house where the bedroom bathroom laundry etc., will have flat 2.75m high ceiling and the available roof space will be minimal. The option of ducting the cooling beneath the house is attractive because we also don't need bulkheads.

As a follow up Lisa, until the insulation is sorted you will find radiant heating (fire, radiator, column heater) makes you feel more comfortable than convective heating (air-con). This is because our bodies absorb heat energy from radiant sources better than they do from the air. Heating our bodies, not the room, makes us feel warmer. Imagine the difference between a heat lamp and a fan heater in the bathroom. The fan heater stirs up the air and can actually make us feel less comfortable, particularly when we are wet, whereas a heat lamp just sends warmth our way without making much difference to the air temperature. Radiant heating is only a stop-gap until your insulation is improved. An oil-filled column heater is possibly the least risky in terms of contact injury, and they are cheaper to buy than a fireplace or fuel stove.

Further to some previous comments I’ve made over the past few years on various subject matters ; anyone that would like some further detailed information on the subject on sun control window insulation films as an option to consider for improving both heat loss and heat gains through windows ( also referred too as window tinting and / or glass tinting ) , including glass security /glare control / fade protection and decorative glass treatments etc can check out some articles I had printed in the “ The Owner Builder “ magazine no’s 180 & 181 ( Dec-Feb 2013-2914 editions ) It may help those understand a little better the product for those having various issues, such as this present subject matter on cooling methods , in this comment section . As others have mentioned, one product may not solve all their particular problem/s and quite often more than one product / solution may often be required to obtain a better outcome . I’ve found a lot of problems start initially with overall buildings design , orientation and the amount of glass / windows used and their sizes /design and type / amount of insulation used overall . Having been in the window tinting industry for about 38 years now and covering both domestic and commercial buildings , I’ve noticed how the weather patterns changed to an extent that the solutions/ products that may have been available / used some 30 odd years ago ; now have new and updated products / solutions on offer . One can email me for further advice to clarify some issues . Although I’m a Tasmanian based business, I’ve lived and worked all around Australia and spent over 5-1/2 years in north Qld so do have some experience living in different climates .