Loving your space and flooring. We recently bought a white unit 2400 long. I had planned to have a cabinet built in at a later stage taking up the whole wall but have now decided that I like the option of having space at the ends for decorative pieces eg: the plant and accent chair. Also there is plenty of storage with the existing unit. I went for white to blend in with the walls to make the floor is more of a feature and I could then add colour accents in the room without it all being too much.

I'd say there's not a lot you can do with the garage, overall height limits and ceiling height to garage perhaps? Limited info and unfamiliar with site, etc. so just really guessing here. The stairs however could be changed as could the balcony, etc. Can't see issues here why it can't be amended to suit your requirements. You never mentioned the issues with the designer but perhaps stay with them as redesigning through another may not be ideal either! Some won't touch another designer's work and will start from scratch. Give them another chance to explain why it is all done this way. Allow them the opportunity to amend it and depending on your council, use a SECTION 96 if possible. Council will soon let you know if they can accept it. Remember they've been submitted so I'd have to presume you were happy with them beforehand. Clients changing their mind or have difficulty making decisions happens regularly as its all quite new to them. I too have had clients that love the plan's, get submitted then decide that want to change something that has been there from the beginning.... Windows and doors are usually what my clients change. Frustrating for client and equally if not more so for the designer as it affects the whole plan set and documentation in many cases. I do know many designers will railroad their clients into decisions based on their own visions but this is never a good thing. It's a collaboration between client, designer, council, engineer, builder, etc. and sometimes a bit of compromise by all parties.

You're welcome Jen. I think it was $70 shipping Australia wide. All feature herringbone tiles I'd looked at were so expensive and I found theirs for 65/ metre. I ordered extra and I'll use them for the Landry too.

Congrats on doing the planning and thinking about how you will use the space, absolutely essential even if you don't do a lot of cooking. A well planned, functional kitchen will make your life easier and add value to your home. I am an avid cook and long time renovator so have done many kitchens in my time. Looking at your space and how I personally use a kitchen I'd suggest two sinks. A small prep sink on the stove side and a large double bowl sink on the island, with dishwasher underneath. I think your hotplates are in the right location as long as you have at least a 500mm or more of bench on the wall oven side and then ideally approx 2m (if you have it) from the hotplates to your prep sink. This divides your kitchen into zones, prep, cook on the back wall and clean up, serve on the front. If you tried to put everything on the back wall it would be too crowded and not work. Think about a desidng that allows for two people at all times to be in the kitchen, you do this by dividing your kitchen into zones. Prep, serve, clean up and think about how you entertain or liaise with the family whilst you are in the space. I hope this helps and best of luck with your new kitchen.