just like to share what i have done so far ... i made a new feature wall, with wood wall panels, 3 different colors japan black, japan brown and coal.. painted the ceiling Natural white and walls are White duck quarter skirting boards Natural white semi gloss.. and planning to have floating floor boards undecided what color.. i.m thinking light color.. my second picture is with new fan and down lights

On closer inspection I've determined the north facing windows (30º west) don't need extra shading, but the easterly kitchen & laundry need exterior vertical drop blinds, the morning Queensland sun has plenty of bite. The south & south-west bay windows need partial angled exterior blinds, but will include the south-east bay for symmetry. One westerly Master window sharing a corner with a southerly ensuite window I considered a small shade sail, but as there is a garden bed there I think maybe a horizontal slat panel as a frame for climbing plant, hinged for maintenance access & climbers rooted at the hinge side(s). Finally a fixed decorative screen outside a westerly garage window near the front door.

It might be worth looking further into breeze / besser blocks. This company in Melbourne - http://www.breezeblocks.com.au/ or this one in Sydney - http://www.besserblockcentre.com.au/bellevue_hill_blocks.html create custom blocks. The pool safety requirements have certain dimensions to follow, so maybe you can have your dream feature wall while still abiding by the regulations. For example you could have blocks with a vertical or other pattern that did not allow for foot or hand holds. For example:

Well now after reading all these posts, I have a dilemma. We would like to maximize the practicality of the deep and soft closing drawers. Corner drawers, the under sink u-shaped drawers etc. Thirty five years ago (yep that's right 35 yrs) when our budget did not allow us to buy new, we bought a dismantled u-shaped show-room demonstration timber kitchen. For years it was blonde pine. Solid pine benchtops, re-sanded and stained a couple of times. Then my husband painted all the solid timber doors with antique white USA marine paint which has worn well. New satin knobs (that have not worn as well) Now it's becoming a little 'shabby chic'. We thought of a complete reno. But we have no space to enlarge on the 3x3 metres. and new 'plastic' kitchens somehow seem less durable than our existing old one. Sink, stove and fridge in the recommended triangle floorplan. So what to do? Our pantry is in the corner with shelves that items at the back of are inaccessible. The microwave is the perfect shoulder level. The cabinets allow me to display favourite tins, crockery and vintage scales. Being a split level house I need the broom cupboard and ironing board stored close at hand.