I agree with Brandi Nashi Hicks on timber and colours - think about providing colour with things that are simple to change like cushions, artwork, rugs and other accessories while keeping the basics of your home neutral - this way you can quickly, cheaply and easily change the look of your home as new trends or your tastes change. Don't worry too much about storage for when children come - the way you actually live in an apartment can vary drastically from how you think you'll live in it so put in what you need now, and then adapt your apartment to your family. Babies and small children don't need a lot of stuff - especially if you share cots, prams, clothing with friends and family so that you've got only what you need at that particular time - this works until they're at least school aged and provides a win/win solution to you and friends on storage and cost of little ones. Your future home looks as though it'll be a beautiful happy place to be a family and I hope you'll be very happy in it.

That's a beautiful sunny room. You could put in a chase lounge where you have the lounge currently. This can accommodate quite a number of people. Add a couple of swivel chairs near the glassed area so they can move around to be included in the living room and also capture the garden view. (See photo). Putting in a second, heavy set lounge against the glass will make your living room look smaller and cluttered. The chairs allow light to filter through. Adding a rug will warm the room and tie all the pieces of furniture together. If you go fairly light, it will make the room look bigger (try a little pattern so you dont see too much dirt). You could wall mount the television and this will also make the room look larger. Sorry, that's my two bobs worth. Hope it helps!

Blue Gum floorboards how could it not look beautiful!! and yes wheelchair friendly although if we were in a wheelchair I guess we would have to move closer to town and transport and shops as this house was going to be in the country talking of moving... husband has caved and said we can move to the Bay of Islands whoop whoop! he still wants to go to France for 2 years but he said we could build or buy before we go so that changes the type of house now because we were building near a school and families this will be more a beach house that we can leave for the kids to enjoy and various friends who want it while away so I have swapped the master over to be away from the laundry garage door and hot water heat pump which is quite noisy and the guest rooms now have a Jack and Jill bathroom I haven't changed the footprints at all it's still the same size just changed the layout a little bit The bunk room would have a sliding door outside which means you could access that part of the house privately without coming through the front door or the bunk room could be a small kitchenette /come dining room / come lounge room (very small ) and rent it out as a 1 bedroom self contained apartment Once we live there full time ... will upload a photo in the next Post

Thanks oklouise. Agree..downstairs will eventually be for guests.. 2 bedrooms and extra living flowing out to garden . We intend to add 2 story extension..garage underneath, master suite, maybe another bedroom and bathroom/powder room , thinking entry and stairs could be incorporated there also.main views are from east elevation and nice garden views else where. Plenty of room ant the back of the block for extension and garden east elevation is front of the house and west elevation is at the back of the house..but where guests and family arrive. I. The very immediate future we want a great upstairs living/dining and kitchen..downstairs a master bedroom, maybe 2 guest rooms and bathrooms.