Hi Sobia. It is a tricky space w/lots of doors as you said. I take it you will place your couch on the long wall opposite stairway void? I see you like Scandinavia style. If you don't want a table and chairs for men to play cards, then would they play them at a coffee table? I think a smaller glass table and some chairs would work near the stairs void. Anyone sitting there could still see what's happening downstairs, and vice versa. Attached is a photo (first photo) I found on Houzz. If a coffee table will also fit in front of couch, I would go with a glass-topped one. Otherwise some nice side tables. Or, if you think a modern timber coffee table would suit, I can suggest some. The balcony view is crying out for a couple of armchairs and a side table between them, for you to enjoy your tea. They could be arranged somewhat facing the balcony, and the. Turned around when you are entertaining more people in the evening. See second photo. Does any of this sound like it addresses your purposes?

Hi Chris, why not keep it simple and the cost of extending down for when you are ready, you could just add a big room across the rear of the house, with or without any Verandah and even keep the two bedrooms as is and make access to the other Bed ? from the new rumpus room this would then make a great guest/study , This is all part of Stage 2

Thanks siruskey, I love this idea, I might use it for the future to creat a small ensuite for bed 1. I always thought about an ensuite but never knew how we could do it and with this you wouldn’t loose much at all from bed 2. I’ve been looking at the ideas from everyone and the space and I think changing the orientation to face the court yard with glass doors out that way and laundry/ toilet then along the back wall might be an idea. Like oklouise said a toilet off the kitchen isn’t great but without major construction elsewhere in the house it’s not possible and budget wise not an option now. My only issue with glass doors facing the court yard is we won’t get as much light in.

all the odd striped oblongs are to represent bookshelves or cabinets or shoe storage or bench seats etc to show how furniture can fit...there is a piano and bench seat in the lounge, the left wall of the dining room is a cabinets with desk/bench study nook with chair and wall shelves/cabinets for dinnerware, books, music charging station etc.. there is definitely a railing between dining and family room (you said the height of the existing stairs is about 1.5m so teh drop might be lower but will still need a railing... there is a void under the pantry (and the ens) similar to under the main house depending on the slope of the land and these spaces might be tall enough for garden storage for pushbikes, outdoor furniture, barbq etc and, depending on precise heights and angles of the new roof, a raked ceiling with tall windows with highlights will improve the backyard view from kitchen and dining area ...and my vintage CAD program would only give a very poor impression of 3D views .. the new rear of the house would look similar to the existing without the deck although, you and your professional designer might decide that the old deck could be relocated with the extension and the new family room could be a few steps up from ground level all depends on careful on site measurements of the available space