We are almost done - some metal artwork and filter box to go before planting. Thought you all might like to see what we ended up doing…. Pool & tiles by pool company, everything else done by ourselves. We are extremely happy with the waterline tile colour - they show up differently all times of the day which is a lovely surprise. Ezarri Glass Mozaic waterline: Space Capricorn Capping Travertine

No i don't want to keep the upper handles. We are replacing them but they will need to be 96mm holes width. i was thinking of trying to find handles that came in three or more lengths so i could put the 96 mm on the top cupboards. small length on the top drawers and then longer ones on the bottom drawers

A sliding door is just a big window, and if correctly built in (check if the glass is the correct sized for the door if a bit old) with the correct sized lintels this should not be a big problem as the loads would be transferred to the sides, allowing the door to slide easily. Silicon spray (being a Yachtie were we use this stuff everywhere), we now use silicone spray on all our windows in our 1930 home and the windows glide across with one finger before they used to tilt when trying to open them. I would place the door head up to line up with the others and one thing you might consider is placing a window seat, (rebate the bottom channels into the window seat) and have the window seat in and out, place a cushion over the entire seat, should be fantastic and if the deck is built, than no balustrade is required. If it is a stacker slider, i would do the seat for the entire length. So instead of looking a bit funny they will think it was supposed to be like that. We should all think outside the square more often. RAM

If moving plumbing, etc is too much for your budget, why don't you leave existing kitchen where it is, open up the wall to the hallway and that bedroom that faces into the pool area. Close off a wall near the entrance/formal living room to replace the bedroom. Advantages are a) not moving expensive kitchen wiring, plumbing etc. Kitchen window still looks out into entrance to see comings and goings AND back to pool for informal living (maybe casual dining at an island seating area, casual sitting for pool). b) the existing dining, living room is a separate space (great when your kids are older to have two living options for noise isolation - adults in one, kids in the other). Both sets of rooms open off the entrance way, and that new bedroom can be the one you use as home office or guest (leaving other bedrooms for family).