As you are only looking for ideas perhaps a starting point would be a modern, square style of entrance that you could get ideas from. I couldn't find what I wanted exactly for a photo, but I think if you took points from this photo and adjust to your budget it might suit?? Eg. I think if you can get a nice wide door with a bit of glass on either side, it would really present well. Raising the height of the concrete at the front door with decking tiles or stone tiles depending on your style could really enhance. Concrete pavers you could even make yourself! They can be smaller or larger and if scaled right to the proportions of the house can make it a little more formal. As you have the driveway on the side, I would put a screen on the left and emphasise the left column making a feature of it as in the picture. The column on the right does not align with the entrance, I would not emphasise that column? But perhaps hard to gauge from one photo. If you went for wood this might be an idea.

Always check with your council, they mostly like to get cars off the street in the city if the can. It is a great looking house and will be made to look even better when the car yard can be moved to the R/H dead side of your house. Don't do something because it's the cheapest, have a plan and wait until you do have a few spare dollars. It will add big value to your property With 4 cars it looks like you could call on some family man power to do some of the work, and if you have family or friends with trades required to do the job, throw a BBQ but no food or Beers until the works done cheers

Appreciated am coming in late to this conversation, but generally the ideas are there, but I'd be playing with it a bit more.......there are 2 big ones for me here. Firstly missing the opportunity with the master suite. The whole thing should arguably be flipped so the bedroom space is to the rear/outlook to the pool and the bathroom/robe amenity internalised. If you're going that far with extension works arguably a bit of structure/engineering implemented to support the upper level is worth the investment to get the layout working. Design decisions should always be driven from the experience of the space. and 2. Not that convinced about the flow from entry to main living through an internalised dining space. Its like the kitchen/living/dining relationship is similarly not functionally balanced,. It's like the dining should be aligned with the kitchen space and living then separated....How exactly is that living space intended to be furnished?? At this design stage furniture should always be on the plan. You have to design from the inside out, make it work functionally and then deal with the walls/windows/doors etc last What's you're budget? Has your design given you projected costings on this? You want to make sure you don't need up with a conservative design solution that ends up costing you more than you wanted, and you then spend the money anyway but miss the opportunity for a much better resolved, higher value option than makes sense spatially for the way the house will be used and experienced. Best of luck PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com

Hi oklouise, Thanks for your input again, and the recommendation of yourhome.gov.au. I had viewed this website some time ago, and the information on there is now much more comprehensive. A lot of articles I had read about housing in the tropics were coming out of India and other Asian countries. I really like how you've offset the two wings, and I think this will help with cross ventilation and directing breeze through the house. With the offset, the living wing would be able to look into the backyard, but could also have a view of the front gate (an idea advised by siriuskey). I'm liking the idea of a ground floor entryway and internal stairs, but I think I would locate it on the bottom of the living wing. I think we would park under the bedroom wing (carport, not garage), and then walk under cover of the deck to the entry. Internal stairs on the left-most side of the living wing, will lead up to the living wing in a kitchen/dining/living configuration (maybe similar to your previous plan). Cheers, Adnan