I'd echo the other comments. A console table with mirror above near the front door for keys, mail, etc. I'd swap the position of the TV and sofa to allow a direct route from the front door through the living room. I'd soften the window with some sort of coverning, move the hat rack (or get rid of it completely and instead place some hooks on the wall near the entry) and put two small chairs near the fireplace to create a cosy corner (possibly with a small rug to delineate the two living spaces). I'd also add a large wooden tray (or bowl) to the glass coffee table to help it tie with the TV stand. Or swap the placement of the glass coffee table with the timber table which is currently near the fireplace.

Thank you everyone for all your help and advice! Yes, we live in an inland part of Southern Australia that is very chilly in winter and exceedingly hot in summer. So efficiency is a very important part of our build. From the picture you added Louise, I think a "coffered" ceiling looks like what I would call an "up lift". I'm glad to have a second on that option ;) The picture looked good, and could defiantly be an option over the dining table I think. Thanks jbantick I looked up "scissor trusses" and they look like a great idea as well. I'm just not sure how they would run. From the entry across the dining area (N to S) or across the whole length of the 3 zones E to W ? The middle of the roof line (running E to W) doesn't run in the middle of the living zones (if that make sense) as it stretches across a hall way on the south side. If it ran this way would it look a bit off centre? How did you in vision it? Thanks for your thoughts guys.

hi there thanks for the update. The one flaw in this beautiful bathroom? There's always one thing! Thank you for letting me know about this detail, because I was seriously thinking of doing it this way myself. In terms of your bathroom, I wonder if a very neat bead of silicone on the top only - of the join between the glass and the vanity - could help? This way the underneath is still fee to breathe and not gather gunk. But I guess then you don't get that lovely clean glass feeling from inside the shower.....

Awesome suggestions HACK Sarah 1. Without doing anything structural, you could always move the sink to the same counter as the cooktop. Freeing up island space. Add a mirrored splashback for light and to help the whole back-against-the-audience feeling. 2. A solution is to move the kitchen to where your current dining room is and seperate the lounge from the dining area by having a kitchen in the middle. 3. I agree with moving the door to the family room closer to the deck. there is a 4th solution that also allows your kitchen to service the deck area and dining and give it more light. You can move the kitchen up against the family room wall and put the entrance to the family room at the west side of the wall. This will allow your kitchen to overlook your dining area and lounge and your island can now service the outside as well. You can even add a glass window that allows you to directly serve food outside from inside your kitchen if that fits your lifestyle.