@Emma I, What you're suggesting is a pretty bold move and irrespective of whether you are permitted to do it in the end by your respective shire and other authorities, I can't stree enough that for all the money you are thinking of spending on this project and the lengths to which you are intending to go with removing windows, dig a huge hole for the pool etc... that you use some of your finances to employ an architect as suggested by EmileECLC to make sure that this massive transformation becomes everything you dream it will be!! You must be absolutely sure of regulations surrounding pools like mentioned by mazgardiner about not being able to directly enter a pool from the house for example. Hubby and I are building our own home and we decided to have an indoor pool. We were originally having a sliding door leading outside of the pool, only to find that we were not permitted to have this access from the pool outside and I expect it was the sliding door, as with mazgardiner that was the issue, as it would be far more difficult to make it a self closing and lockable door. Fortunately we had already decided to change the slider to an awning window instead and just as well. The access into the pool from inside the home is a hinged door with a self closing mechanism and has the handle positioned at 1.5m from the floor. Furthermore, we were told by the window manufacturers, that any glass near a pool area had to be safety glass by law, so your stacker doors or any other windows that form part of the new pool area, will need to be upgraded and be much more expensive just so you know, about double the cost of a standard window. Another safety feature with our awning windows was that the wind out chain could only open to a maximum of 100mm, again law, just like the bars in a safety fence. Our building inspector tried to tell us they would not be allowed and that we would have to have external bars fitted and have the windows permanently screwed shut but further contact with our state building commission deemed the 100mm gap to be safe and adequate. Don't just accept something that seems wrong, if need be, take it higher as we did and succeeded, so again another reason to have a professional helping you through the maze of regulations.

The lower brickwork stands out too much. If you painted the balcony in a darker colour, either picking up the lower brown or a darker green version evident on the fascia boards, this would help to unite the colours better. And the garden needs to be considered. If you retained the steps, removed the garden beds and then just had trees in the lawn, this simple concept would then add considerable value to your home. Don't render the bottom area - instead work with it. And keep all changes simple to offset the pattern in the lower brick.

Yes to much larger rug and accent cushions in var,hinge colours, sizes & textures. Love the white sheers, striking floor lamp and large plants in raised pot stands. I also would be inclined to swap out the existing coffee table and side tables for glass-topped ones, a large circular & gold for coffee table, and either round or square side tables. I'm guessing the furniture is angled to take advantage of the view? It isn't welcoming as is so I would experiment with different arrangements. Where does that small pocket door lead? What is the room right behind the living room (where large door opening is)?

I would suggest that you get professional advice from your council's building surveyor regarding the current (and future) regulations. It looks to me that the horizontal rails to your side boundary fence are on your neighbours side, which may make your boundary fence easy to climb over from the neighbours side. Your building surveyor will be able to confirm after an inspection, and you can discuss how the design and spacing of your additional vertical battens may overcome this risk. With the regulation of pool fencing becoming more regulated (with registration and inspection, of all pools in Victoria, and possibly other states, just around the corner), you are better off getting an inspection and professional advice on such an important issue, rather than the informal advice offered in this forum. Don't charge ahead and do what you have explained above, as you may be forced to take it all down and build a new fence, if you don't get the proper advice first. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls