Hi Michelle, While bathrooms are very much my area, exhaust fans aren't as they are installed by an electrician. If you know one (or even perhaps call an electrical wholesaler?), you might be able to ask them what brands are the most reliable (i.e. what doesn't come back for repair/replacement). I did find this really helpful article on line about exhaust fan location, size selection and fresh air ventilation which are crucial to effectiveness: http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/fans/fan-tips/exhaust-fan-tips.html Good luck!

We installed a skylight over shower (velux fixed) in a tiny ensuite and I would highly recommend. It looked absolutely amazing and was heavenly to shower under the sky. We only had the house for a year and sold it (about to install another skylight over shower in our new house), so I can't comment on the long term, but no mould problems or condensation drips. I think if anything the sunlight was actually helpful to dry up moisture. We live in Tasmania so I'd doubt condensation dripping would be a problem elsewhere. We had a fan installed not in the cavity with the skylight but just on the ceiling next to it. In the second bathroom we put in a skylight over bath and put an extractor in the skylight cavity as the ceiling was higher. Could not feel a draught- so I think the question of where to put fan really depends on ceiling height. Do the skylight over shower!! You will not regret it. It really takes your bathroom to another level and there are really no maintenance problems if installed properly with custom flashings. I found velux quite repellent of dirt etc, we did not need to clean after a year (one flat roof skylight, one very large sloped) and I have seen velux skylights looking great with no cleaning for 7 years plus.

K_jossie, there's some really helpful suggestions here. I can't add much in terms of design ideas, but in a small kitchen that serves a family it's vital to maximise storage, Have a look at some of the more novel ideas for extra storage. You can put drawers in kickboards for things like baking trays, serving trays, shallow casserole dishes, serving platters you don't use often, etc. Loads of space there that usually goes to waste! Another idea I saw that I thought brilliant was making walls into shallow storage. Where you have a blank wall that it isn't practical to place cabinets against, and you don't plan to put furniture against (such as along corridors or walkways), the lining can be removed between the studs and shelving inserted and sliding or hinged doors fitted. It provides shallow storage that is brilliant for things like canned and packet food, cups, glasses, and some of the utensils that we typically like to hang in the kitchen. I also saw this method used above a child's desk area, using the in-wall space for storage of art and craft supplies. I agree a slideout pantry is a fantastic idea. I had one in our last house and loved it. It provided loads of storage in a very small space. The other way to maximise storage is to use drawers extensively instead of cupboards. When designing my kitchen, I made a list of things I needed to store and designated their future home on my plan, working out both where they were most accessible when needed and also the optimum way to structure storage space to hold everything. It's amazing how much difference just varying drawer depths according to the height of items to be stored in them can make. Best of luck with your extension. I hope the result is pleasing.

we're very happy with our Solar skylights: one in an ensuite and several others in a south facing room... they do look like flat light fittings but the light from them does change with cloudy skies and bright or overcast days (when we use an electric light the same as you would for any room) ...only thing better would be a ventilating Velux roof window that would include views of sky and trees but they're usually much too big for a wip, wiw or ens and will interfere with space needed for your future solar panels...the tiny solar panels that power the Solar Skylights are installed on the ridge of the roof and only produce enough power for an individual skylight but i don't believe that they would be suitable to be powered by a Solar Electricity system and then you just use standard electric lights..