The bath tub looks uncomfortable! One would need to be short in stature to have a relaxing soak in a tub shaped like that. Looks nice, but looks don't do it for me. Pity...the bathroom ambience is spectacular! Don't think the designers of these half- egg-shaped tubs and others like them gave much thought to practicality. I'm always glad of my big old plunge tub from years ago, looks lovely newly resurfaced....plenty of room to stretch out, nice wide edges to sit on if needs be, 1/2inch thick enamelled cast iron that keeps the water warm, wide ledge at the rear for easy-to-reach pamper products.... Think I'd rather have a larger version of the lovely vanity basin you've had installed as a bathtub rather than your half egg shaped one. Nevertheless, hope your new bathroom with a view brings you many relaxing hours.

Michelle, I'm not a builder but am building with hubby, a single storey limestone home. Our daughter built a two storey limestone home just down the road, that hubby also built for her and the extra foundations she had to install would be at least twice more than we have for our single storey, not to mention that there were allot of short walled founds leading off the perimeter of her home to assist in less likelihood of wall roll out and the inspector called it. Cost for you, will depend on whether you have adequate foundations to carry a second storey and usually that is never the case. All the lower walls will need double the support and it usually has to carry on down to the foundations, depending on whether you have a solid concrete slab or concrete stumps that are accessible. This would mean most of the plaster being removed and hoping that you find no nasty surprises as far as the condition of the existing frame in the home, the builder would as I mentioned, have to add structural supports to carry the second storey. Most often, second stories are built with a hardiplank type exterior and certainly not brickwork as you would then difinitely have to have extra foundations in for such a reno and you would have to start asking yourself if it isn't better to demolish as this type of reno can be extremely costly. You might be lucky but probably highly unlikely, to have adequate structional integrity to be able to add a second storey, without everything I have mentioned to be skipped in any way. I hazzard a guess that such a reno would cost you $250,000+ and maybe more. Would love to know what you finally decide to do and your builders estimate. Good luck. Cheers, Barbara

Thank you oklouise those drawings have given us some good thoughts. The front door to the house is bottom left corner of the drawing and will swing against the Master Bedroom wall where it is thickest otherwise the door will swing into the lounge room so we'll have to get creative with the Master Bedroom sliding door location. Attached for reference. Gallifrey The ghosted wall you mentioned is the original wall before the renovation. It will be taken down so there won't be any wall in the bedroom, we were hoping to have an open plan Master Bedroom and Ensuite. LesleyH Good point, we'd love a nice large shower. We've had a bathtub combined shower for 20 years and it's on the narrow side.

Basic rules should always be considered when making these types of decision. North facing windows are the preferred option for passive solar design. Yes you may need to adjust a few things but if you can place your glazing to the north it is best. A vanity and mirror should always face the entrance to the room. That's why it's called a vanity, because it appeals to your vanity, makes the room feel bigger and presents much better than a toilet or shower. Mirrors should have artificial lighting at eye /face level so the light reflects off your face into the mirror and back into your eyes. High level lighting gives you a Herman Munster look around the eyes etc. Daniel Lindahl has done well with the placement of the vanity and mirror. Could you move Danniels vanity forward 1.0 m and tuck the WC and a shower back to back in behind the vanity. It might be tight but it would hide the shower and toilet. We have done this in larger ensuites and it works very well. You will need a minimum of 3.3m to achieve this.