Tiara60, Can't speak from a personal point as we are going to have concrete, but to go 80mtrs x 1.8m mtrs right around the house and of course us doing all the work like laying the rio screeding etc... is about $3,000 I think it sounds like allot but I know Merbau can be expensive, I'd certainly do some comparisons for your own peace of mind. Our daughter used Merbau, very dissapointed as the timber distorted over time, not to mention all the upkeep, that's why we've chosen to concrete our veranda's instead. Hubby and I are well over 50 and I wanted the least amount of maintenence possible, so aluminium windows and doors too, I still think it will look lovely. By the way, you mentioned ramp/walkway, try to avoid steps if you can, as a ramp only will always allow for pram or wheelchair access, we too have steps at the front of the home we are currently building and a ramp at the back of the home.

Hello Tanya, oh dear did the pup do that? He/she looks a little like "wasn meee!!!" Could you extend or add to the timber platform to create a safer entry platform, say bring it out along the wall & then steps up/down? The door & old glass window might be nicer replaced with a combined door & window or door & louvre unit depending on your privacy/budget requirements. Or a double door opening to a full width platform & then steps if you like. This could possibly be angled too for interest & with plants, water feature & platforms rather than stairs could be an interesting way to deal with the "oh dear, wasn meee!"

Just trying to study your floor plans which unfortunately I can't read so can only guess at the room use. I have no idea of the room sizes either, but I'm just wondering if you have actually done furniture layouts for each room to scale. This is really important. It seems to me like you have some great ideas you have picked up but then tried to make the rest of the house fit around them. How many people do you intend having live in the house? You have a lovely generous ensuite with a private toilet area for two people, but then have a main bathroom for how many people, jammed into a space almost half the size of the ensuite. Even the toilet is in there with no privacy whatsoever meaning that entire space can only be used by one person at a time. If you are planning this for kids, that will translate into lots of fights and arguments. If you want to create a really luxe and practical space, create a separate enclosed toilet, the shower and bath in an enclosed space and the vanity open for use at any time. This would be more in keeping with the standard you have set in the ensuite and balance the house so much better. These sort of details have a major impact on the overall value and attractiveness of your home. I don't know what you plan for the open space upstairs, but with a window along one wall a passageway the other side and only minimal wall space your use of this room will be severely restricted. Similarly the room under it will be very limited in its use. All the more reason to plan furniture to scale. I have seen master bedrooms done with the double doors which look very grand in the right sized room but in the wrong sized room, it just looks ridiculously pretentious to fling the doors open with a flourish, take two steps into the room and fall over the end of the bed. I'm sorry if I'm sounding harsh here, just trying to use my years of experience to help you create an amazing house. I've seen many pitfalls and I know how easy they are to make. You obviously intend spending a lot of money and you have some great ideas judging by your Ideas Books. Create more Ideas Books to cover every room of your house, then go talk to an architect, show him/her what you want, your Ideas Books will be invaluable to understand your likes and tastes and let him/her create something unique and special for you.

Hi everyone, thank you all so much for your comments- each one has been really helpful & thank you to those who have complimented the work. I still fluctuate with whether I love it or not, but as jdublya says, i think its just a mid reno freak out! My original colour choice was a dark brown, but unfortunately following other suggestions, it ended up being black. Anywho I will continue to push through with all the other plans- light grey walls, white door frames and doors, and black handles. Then have a think about wall art - frames etc. Once all of that is done i will post an update and let you know if we decide to change anything with the stairs. Also thought I'd mention that the colour of the flooring on the first level has come out a lot more red than it actually appears in real life. I am quite excited to finish the project but of course with limited funds, 3 kids, 2 dogs and a kitten it takes a lot of time! Sit tight, will update as and when :) Thanks again all, your encouragement is encouraging ;-)