Ok will add in measurements and indicate where north is. Only the roof & slab has been complete for the extension. We just need to put the walls up and windows and doors in. Then will knock down the existing wall to open it up and connect with the new space. I live in Brisbane.

has the plumbing been installed in the slab for the new kitchen ens laundry and toilet and have the original bathrooms been changed yet?

No plumbing has been done for the kitchen or ens though we do have to raise the level of the concrete on extension to bring it in line with the existing house floor level. Hopefully we can use the existing plumbing for the laundry. Original bathrooms haven’t been changed yet.

thanks for your suggestions girlguides, if we didn’t do the single toilet, do I have any suggestions on how we could get a single toilet near the main bathroom

My rough ideas, and I would keep the 3rd toilet as a powder room for guests and family, Take the access to the WC and storage back into the lounge you would have half of that storage in the lounge and the other in the laundry, possible space for hanging drying rack next a window. WC opens from the laundry side and could have a sliding door between the laundry tub/ washing machine and the linen storage cupboard

Move the pantry in the kitchen which could be bigger and then center the cook top. cheers

Thanks Hayley, I defiantly plan on putting storage all around my bench only having one end for the stools. I’m thinking of blocking of the entry point into the laundry from the kitchen to gain even more kitchen space. I really want to make sure this kitchen is dramatically bigger than my current one. Hard for me to tell from these plans how big it is really going to be. So the entry into the laundry would be through the hallway near the lounge and the door to go outside would be at the end of the hallway (which is where it will be anyway, architect needs to fix) or alternatively using part of the laundry as a walk in pantry. We are also concerned that the lounge room will be too small

That passage way to lounge is a waste of space and can be added to make the lounge bigger that's why I had the access coming from the laundry with or without a WC

Do you have something with clearer measurements that we can actually work with cheers

Another very rough idea, drawings can be done if measurements are supplied.

Bay windows might suite the Amercian climate but sliding/stacking doors work in Australia to open up the house to the outside

Sorry you said Brisbane United States as you address

I’ve asked the architect to give me more dimensions on the plan as I’m u sure on what measuments he went with. I can give u some rough measuments to go by? As soon as he send them I will post. Thanks Hayley for ur suggestions, bay window does sound nice however I think for the lounge we were planning on using it more as a cinema room so I will put a fairly large window that leads out to the backyard to keep it feeling open by conscious not to create to much light.

That would be Brisbane, California, USA

Brisbane Australia

Hi Jay, yes you are from BNE Australia but Haley Martin is from BNE California USA cheers

?

I’ve attached hopefully a better copy of the plan. I didn’t realise the measurements were cut off the copy I uploaded. I have also indicated which way is north with my very dodgey drawing. My husband would prefer not to have the 3rd toilet but have a single toilet next to the main bathroom. I e looked at it many times and can’t see how it would work in the space without creating a poky main bathroom. Ideally I would like it to be a standard square shape if possible to fit a nice bath etc. we are still very undecided on what to do with the laundry. If we should make the lounge room bigger as my husband feels it’s too small and put the toilet (if we decide on the 3rd toilet) and laundry in the current laundry space we already have. This would make the lounge space bigger but then may lack storage. Ideally I wanted a little storage area behind a wall in the entrance where you can hang bags etc which is hidden. Being a family of 4 with young children, we end up with shoes and bags everywhere with nowhere to put them. I also saw an idea at ikea today using part of the Butler kitchen (which is kinda what our laundry is at the moment just not very organised) as storage/hanging space. Ideas are welcome. Thanks to those who have helped so far!

a few more ideas for consideration: the bathroom could have the wall between the vanity and bathroom or not and have access to the separate toilet from the hallway and lose the linen cabinet and the wide vanity should have plenty of space underneath for storing linen with a mirror doored wall cabinet which is also good for keeping things out of reach of small children but but the separate bathroom areas are much better for older children and visitors (NB there seems to be a discrepancy with the measurements because there isn't enough space for the window in the family bathroom, regardless of which bathroom floorplan is used and this needs to be double checked with the designer)...the 3rd toilet and the sliding door for the laundry are optional and the alternative arrangement for the master suite has the entry storage built in to the dividing wall (and uses some space off the master bedroom) but allows enough space for bedside tables a more generous wiw and plumbing is grouped together for ens, laundry and kitchen...Eastern windows to the family room and lounge need to be carefully planned with external blinds? to avoid overheating but the home should be very comfortable for family living

My advice is to think about the working/function as you need it for your family. Prioritise that (as a starting point) and get that happening somewhat free of a "box" shape extension and see how that all sits - it's like you're trying to squeeze it all in to a specific shape and then struggling with certain details....you're suggesting/entertaining ideas like a functional laundry/bag drop zone etc which 100% is important/relevant for a busy family of 4. The problem seems that there hasn't been true clarity on the function/requirements before the design has been proposed. Is it too small? Well it depends on how exactly you intend on using it - how many people need to be able to sit at the table or on the lounge etc..this will dictate scaling - whether or not you'd like a butlers pantry or not. Is the 3rd toilet needed? Well ultimately nobody can tell you that one way or the other - you will know whether functionally that is a requirement necessary for your family - all these are questions you will have (or need to establish) an opinion/position on one way or another and then (should) be able to work through (more effectively) & resolve with the architect whom you've engaged.....you are obviously staging the project which can be logical/necessary, and given this there may in fact be alternative and arguably more cost effective design options available for you (such as a 2nd stage "clean" extension for a master suite), but realistically that involves greater understanding/information of the site/context and your particular budget in order to provide specific advice/suggestions as to how best to achieve your goals...Good luck :) PD

Hi PD, thanks, we defiantly know what we want to suit our family, the problem is fitting it in the space we have. We have already extended our house and yes it is small but after the extension it’s bigger than most in our area. We do have a tight budget and don’t want to over capitalise. My husbands a tradesman so we will be doing a lot of work ourselves as well as friends in the trades. We are trying to get the most out of the space we have by utilising it effectively. Being our first house Reno, we wanted to get as much advice as possible before we did anything drastic. Cheers