So many good suggestions and ideas, thank you everybody :) partim I actually had the lounge room exactly how you described to begin with, I know it's hard to visualize through just seeing the photos I've put up but it didn't work as the couch coffee table and tv unit were jammed in together leaving little walk through space and there was a lot of unusable wasted space in the corner where the tv is. I contemplated getting a corner lamp table at the time but what we really need is more sitting space than table space. I changed the room around to this and we liked it much better as the window wasn't obstructed as well. the walking space between couch and cone lamp hasn't been a problem. The absolute last thing after rugs etc will be to move the bigger bookcase that's next to wood heater to another room and put an armchair there :) that will require renovation of the other rooms first. our records are all in alphabetical order and I love them but wouldn't display them any more than I have already as it's not a huge focal point. decoenthusiaste I love the idea of putting the small bookcase on its side behind the couch and could do this if I put a finish on the top and the base! unfortunately it will no longer be able to hold the records if I do that as the shelves are an awkward shape. (Smaller shelf is better for holding records to keep them in separate categories and keep them standing up than the bigger shelf) redpoint, I know! I've always been a timber floor person. When we moved in I was set on putting wood floors down in future. Although these tiles lack character, since living with them I must say the practicality of them outweighs the aesthetics of wood. I can move furniture around without scratching the floor and know I'll never have to ever sand and re polish the floor from wear and tear and they feel cool to walk on in the hot, dry summer. I'm leaning towards getting a sandy coloured slate put down one day. That should add more character to the place :) and my future tribal rugs will work either way. The view is fine, it's just a neat suburban street. I feel too exposed for now with the curtains open and would like a privacy screen put up with a nice garden bed as a view when we get around to re paving and landscaping. It's a southern view so the winter sun now shines through our front windows, which gets a bit bright at times. The brown rug was given to us as a stop gap for absorbing sound and catching the walked in dirt. If I moved it in front of the couch the "brownness" of it would hurt my eyes while I'm trying to relax in my little living space hehe I would consider cutting up the wall hanging or doing something else with it yes, good idea :) Zag Built LLC, I like the idea of a round or oval coffee table! Thos. Baker, a new piece of art would be nice

Consider combining the concept of console with shoe storage. Check out this cabinet for example. http://www.mattblatt.com.au/Credenza-Storage/Bakbo-Tall-Cabinet.aspx?p19566c17#19568 It has a mid century modern feel and comes in both blond and walnut timber. While this style of cabinet is a bit taller than the average console or buffet it is still low enough for a mirror over the top. The advantage is it's a stylish piece of furniture that has shelves for shoes, hidden behind doors. Although the entry/hall is long it is already full of doors so try not to fill it up with furniture. A single cool looking piece of furniture on either walls #1 or #3 with some fabulous artwork on wall #5 and whichever of #1 and #3 doesn't have the cabinet on.

The boat is quite large , maybe it would look better on a longer console table or a buffet in the living or dining room. I would turn your cabinet to face the door, it is bed Feng Shui to place mirror opposite entrance door,living in Asia you are probably familiar with that belief. Nice painting would work. If you have kids get them to complete a large puzzle then frame it and it would welcome them every time they walk through the door . On the wall behind the door you could have just a large plane mirror from the window down to the floor so you can check yourself out before you leave and maybe a modern umbrella stand in the corner. The tall cabinet could probably go somewhere else. I love the mirror you have there but may be more suitable for bedroom or above sofa or fireplace, mainly because you have to admire it from the distance.

my suggestions include reducing the "ins and outs" to make construction simpler and adds a little extra space including a porch off the laundry, the downstairs living area and dining room size feels comfortable with your scale sized furniture and the small lounge is a good size for watching TV, the door from the garage has been rearranged to separate the entry hall from a narrower central hallway, reduced the length and widened the pantry to make a separate storage room (or this area could be used for a childrens' computer nook)..the short door under the stairs from the lounge will be impossible to use without moving furniture..upstairs has all minor bedrooms a similar size without any western windows as every window should include emergency exits and extra brightness can be added with solar skylights that don't overheat, the new bathroom is more spacious and has more storage in the generous vanities as well as tall storage in the bathroom and hallway, the retreat is bigger and ens and wiw more spacious but all the windows need rethinking as upstairs east and south facing windows can also overheat and why have a sliding door off the guest room at the front of the house and the shallow balcony could be substituted with French balconies off the master bedroom and retreat.. and the X shown in the master ens and laundry is the only suitable location for a laundry shute my rough plans add up to a total floor area of 372sqm without any allowance made for the extra thickness of external walls