Hi Paul In apartments, the killer for layout changes are always drains, then water supply, then load bearing walls. Before you consider doing any changes to the layout, I would advise you to locate the drains (pics would be good) as they will likely restrict you. The drains are important for obvious reasons but also important is the fall (ie downward slope) of any drain you wish to install in a separate location. It means you have to take into account more height the further away from the existing drain you go. It is likely that your existing laundry trough/basin has a drain going down to the floor, and this is going to interfere with the proposed ensuite entry location. Ditto if it is going into the wall. The big one is the new shower. It will need to have a 50mm waste (drain) in the centre of where your washing machine now is.... and the question is where is it going to go.... I would suggest swapping the vanity and shower over to access the existing trough waste if it is large enough. In a lot of these older apartment buildings, the waste sizes are down at 38mm, which is not going to drain fast enough for a shower. If your existing waste is that size, you will need to have a hob to the shower as it will fill up, and you will also need to check health regs to see if it is allowed in your state. To get the drain for the new ensuite vanity and new laundrette sorted, I would punch through the new kitchen wall and run drainage along the wall behind the new cupboards and around to the existing kitchen sink waste. This will give you plenty of fall and a place to hide the pipes. For the new basin to the existing, you will need to see if you can get it around to the existing basin waste in the bathroom adjacent by running it around and under the bath. Cheers

Hi AndrewJason, I love cavity sliders. they are there when you want them but not visible when you need the space open. Having said that they cost more, take a bit of wreckage to set up and in you WA case you will be wrecking brick walls to put them in which might be a stretch of mess too far. BUT you will need to weigh up if they are worth it in the end. I do not think the build will be too bulky in the kitchen/dining because it will be superbly practical on both sides and it maybe just a matter of what you are used to. Not sure about "Average Joe...…" we are all good at somethings, mine is plans, function, practicality, solar. Yours might be brain surgery, empathy for unwell folks, kinda or you make the best seafood lasagne in the world... we are all needed to make for a great world: and it really is that!!! Good luck with your splendid home: I think it is beautiful. And PS if you do make the best seafood anything I better have your address....!!!!!!! MK

Try caroma Luna for toilet. Great price. Vanity I have that size made by a cabinetmaker with a small recessed plinth to hide plumbing but looks like it’s hung. Plinth tiled as part of floor, but can’t see it. There are some 500 deep vanities around but you have to ring around the bathroom shops. Found some in the group east of mitcham in Melbourne

You're most welcome! I'm sure there will be some bathroom trade experts that will chime in soon that can give you a better idea of pricing - but it helps to have a concept in mind before anyone can provide anything vaguely accurate (can i even say "vaguely accurate"? lol). If you post an image with your measurements and a couple of photos, a few renovators will be happy to give you their 2 cents worth too. to get you thinking, these are the questions I would ask my clients before starting a project: What is the scenario for your mum using this potential bathroom? Have you thought about future proofing - as in, you may need to think about easy access for her down the track. She may one day have trouble negotiating a small, framed shower cubicle. What sort of storage does your mum need? Also, lighting and possibly heating? Also, will both doors be necessary? It looks like a decent sized space - guessing around 1.8 x 2.5ish meters? - but you will have more options if you can shut off the exterior door. I will post a really basic floorplan that you can show your plumber. This will give you an idea of the higher end of costs if you wanted a large shower. You can also ask about an in wall cistern to to save space, but they can be $$. But then again, You may not need it.