Thanks again to all. Last week's meeting to thrash out some ideas led to this revised rough sketch... This gives us: -- more coats storage near the front door for visitors -- good size linen storage adjacent to laundry -- a 'drop zone' adjacent to kitchen (near the door into bedroom) -- 1800mm high wall between ensuite shower and toilet, to eliminate overspray (and provide location for future grab rail) -- possible bathtub in a great location, although I think we'll go without it, and have an internal rockery/fernery at the southern edge of the the ensuite shower recess in lieu, combined with skylight overhead (I love the fantasy of feeling like I'm showering 'outdoors') -- revised kitchen/dining/living arrangement that still gives room for BIG island bench -- possible ramp access, although still need to figure out best configuration/location -- move electric golf cart to standalone 'shelter shed' located to rear, to allow more usable space in garage

its ot easy to remove that brick pillar. 1. load bearing 2. power comes through it - i have to cut the concrete floor to chase the power down or need to leave a small post there. 3. would make a big mess knocking down all that brick, attaching new steel beams etc, then it wont match the ceiling and cornice, just too many works with council plans and permits, the cost outweighs the look i believe. i could just cover it with something nice and hang some photos, put a notice board, reminder board etc. to answer the above, only planning to put 2 stools in the island. can we please focus on the design, i mean the drawer and cupboard sizes and its positions, placement etc and lets not discuss more about the pillar. Few things 1. The kick boards are 100mm high as opposed to 150mm to give more space in drawers 2. Cutlery drawers are 100mm high 3. Bottle/spices/plates drawers are 200mm high 4. Pot drawers are 380mm high 5. Fridge over heads are 350mm high i believe any wine/liquor bottle will fit in that height 6. Other overheads are 350mm high and 350mm deep with push open doors 7. kitchen bench to overhead height is 580mm, cooktop to rangehood height is 780 7. total kitchen height is 2400mm 8. pls check the wine rack spacing 9. there is two open shelves under the overheads to put small glasses and some plates for quick access 10. pull out bin near the sink 11. 860mm single bowl sick with add on bowl and drainer etc 12. fully integrated dish washer 13. cupboard next to it 14. microwave and cutlery drawers are in the island opposite to fridge and cooktop 15. push open cupboards under the island where the overhang is. 16. There is not dedicated pantry in the design, my pantry consists of 600mm deep drawers, a bench and 450mm deep over heads, bench to overhead height is 430mm, plan is to put the small appliances in the bench. wife doesnt want it to be closed as she doesnt want another door to open everytime she needs to access a toaster or so, or putting a big door will expose the internals of the cupboard when we access the toaster, in her terms just exposing the appliances by itself is better than exposing everything in the shelf. To summarise i have 100mm high drawers in 2400mm length(cutleries) 200mm high drawers in 7800mm length(spices, places, biscuits, other small bits and pieces) 380mm high drawers in 4500mm length(mostly for pots, pans and other long bottles) 180mm high drawers in 900mm length floor cupboard in 3800 length 350mm high overhead cupboards in 4500mm length 5400mm shelves in the pantry 10000mm bench space.

My gut feeling , as a complete amateur , is that you have 1 room too many crammed in to that space . Lose 1 bedroom , or the Alfresco , or cut down the front lounge and just call it a study . Or add a couple of metres to the end . As far as 2 passages , you effectively have 1 toilet , and the 1 in the ensuite . By adding that seperate passage and trying to create an illussion of a seperate bedroom wing , as soon as someone needs to use the toilet , you spoil that illusssion . That is most likely to be your closer friends . So you are losing 8 metres by 1.2mtrs to impress people you don't know ? There will still be 4 or 5 doors either side down your main passage , just suck it up , have a couple more down the left side , it then is way easier to find the WC , you can add to a couyple of bedrooms and bath , OR realign a bit so that you can pick up an extra metre on the right side of the passage , and guess what that does -- yes , hey presto , a bigger WIR , maybe a bigger pantry if you want , a bigger dining , maybe even a bigger alfresco . You said about the easement , but thinking a bit outside the box , if you move the alfresco to that side of the house , MAYBE you can have an open pergola or even part clear covered , near or up to the boundary -- I have no idea on your rules , and what is classed as permanent structure , but just a thought .

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions. In response to some of the questions: the original part of the house encompasses the bedrooms. they have extended from the bathroom / dining back the original house has a pitched roof, where as the extension has a flat colourbond roof, so removing the walls I suggested would require a beam or reinforcements - unfortunately the ceiling is quite low in that extension and also not quite flat (builder measured 2.3m at lowest point). I’ve added a picture of the back section for reference only two walls are plasterboard - the wall between bed 3/hall and laundry/dining it is a fireplace under the skylight (I suspect closed up the original living room to make an extra bedroom) only a car spot at the front of the house (in front of bed 2) alfresco floor is pebblecrete we live in the inner west of Sydney, so quite a moderate climate Lots to think about and consider !