After I had finished my Archi Masters I was working for an architecture firm who also did a small amount of work for a volume builder. They were actually a pretty good quality builder and at least got the orientation of their 'pre-designed' plans correct. We had the ability to make minor changes to every job and it pained me to see so many simple to implement passive options not being incorporated. Had most of their clients known that they would be saving MONEY over the longterm by making a few minor changes to suit their site, they all would have done it. The problem is unless someone can sell this idea to them as a financial/lifestyle choice, many just think it is about saving the world. It is a no-brainer if you have in interest in it, but for those who don't know, there is no-one there selling it to them, especially on the lower end of the market.

Besides the fact that it isn't my style (and thus I agree with oklouise to sell on ebay...), the first thing which strikes me, is the crammed working area: stove/ sink/ prep. How can you operate in that space? Other side appears to be too far away to be practical? Then the fridge! If you have an expensive and very ornate kitchen, you can't have a free standing fridge! One way or another your fridge has to be integrated, which brings you back to the style question. Either you like the style and just want to i.e.white wash it (liked that option, if you are into beachy, country), then you need a matching door made up (I'd calculate 2K) and buy an integrated fridge (A$ 2-4K) or you don't like the deco, lay-out, impractical space and want to replace it all, then you can possibly get away with a free-standing fridge in a much less ornate kitchen. If you basically don't mind the kitchen and can work well in the crammed working area, or your budget doesn't stretch to a new one (think about $ 25k+), I agree with the white wash solution and taking off all the excessive ornaments and trims, putting in a flat SS or glass range hood. Also install rails with hooks next to cook top and hang your utensils, you need every square inch on the counter! Microwave to be incorporated perhaps under oven and off benchtop. Maybe spend the money and buy a matching Miele microwave, will look nice with the oven. Look into brightening the gloomy kitchen (on top of white wash) by changing the black bench top and splash backs with light ones. It might save $$ if you just get the ex one covered ( I guess about A$ 6-7k). If it was my kitchen I would definitely sell it, before spending all that money on bench tops, fridge door, integrated fridge, m/w integration, removal of trims, painting, splash back etc. and still end up with a mediocre and impractical kitchen. Would be very interested to see more of your actual style. Can only make out an Ikea shelving unit on one photo... Your decision has a lot to do with the longevity (and cost) of a kitchen, your actual style and the practicability of the ex kitchen! If you can afford it, think long term and maybe save up for THE kitchen you want. If you want some tips on how to keep costs in check and still get a great result for a new kitchen, just contact me. Good luck.

Cute house, these little cottages are really great little homes mostly. They are just little. For best value for money I think you could make gains here.... Remove the awning. Change the verandah roof so it's more sympathetic to the house. If budget allows change out the carport skillion roof for a nice low gable. Paint the trims the same colour as the rest of the house. In a house this small keeping trims neutral will help it appear more substantial rather than pokey. Put a new rear deck on that goes all the way across the back of the house and is at least 3.6m wide. That will increase your living space dramatically in summer. Use a cafe blind or louvre roof to allow full sun in winter. The cafe blind will be cheaper overall as you may not need a DA for the deck without a hard roof structure. Depends on your area and council but in general certain decks without solid roof can be exempt development. Of course if it's a high wind area louvres will be better. Use freeform and oval garden beds in the front yard with a path that winds in between them to the front door. Adding informal interest to the garden will make the house appear more substantial and add interest and detail. The home is fairly plain. Use any style of planting that appeals, architectural foliage, floral, low maintenance etc. Just ensure you have nice varying heights and interesting foliage colour. A tall shrub or two would be good. The backyard is already quite shaded so either create a woodland garden or perhaps have some of the tree's out the back pruned to enable more light. Plan out your outdoor spaces, veggie patch, relaxation zone, fire pit etc and define them with plantings. Gravel paths are cheap and effective. I would also be inclined to create a euro laundry and steal the existing laundry space for your kitchen.

Always Renovations are always time-consuming, the actual joining of the new build to the existing can't be estimated accurately, until after work has commenced. SPECIFICATIONS of CONTRACT Quality versus Cost.. Completed work 20 + years OR 7 years ( warranty period ) Many times, a reputable tradesman, builder, after submitting a quote, using timber sizes, LVLs concrete MPA he would use in his own home...etc ( with around 27% profit margin ) is confronted with " I will go with Joe Blogs, he is cheaper ", the reputable person knows the cheaper quote will use timber, to minimum sizes, min MPA concrete, minimum standards, longer finish ( cheap has many jobs on at once ) It really depends on whether the homeowners. 1) Check ABN or ACN 2 Check Department of Fair Trading Licence Number, ( if this is not on any correspondence between you and builder, run )