I'm sure there's plenty of confusion about the why's and wherefore's of house orientation. The reality, as I have recently discovered, is that if want to live in an area that is older, developed, close to facilities, you take whatever orientation the block actually happens to be and do the best you can with it. Unless you're out in the country, or buying something in a new estate, you may not get a choice of orientation: we certainly didn't. And yes, our garage does have the best aspect - because there was nowhere else to put it - it had to face the street - but we live walking distance to shops (think of the petrol saved on not having to get into the car), we've got clerestory windows on the west side so no afternoon sun issues, and we're assembling a collection of sails for the south side, where the deck is, to provide shade from the late afternoon sun. Oh, and skylights for the kitchen. No, not ideal. But the location is, and the designers have worked around the constraints of orientation. And that's reality for a lot of us.

Thank you Geluka and Margot, the breakfast bar won't be 2 level, the app we used to draw up this design doesn't allow a single piece of bench (to wrap around the support column) hence the split level look. We will have a glass door for our mud room/laundry entrance. Probably won't have a pergola as the courtyard will be quite small and narrow post extension. I am considering moving the oven tower to the end of the bench housing the stove top. Assuming a 900mm stove, 600mm oven tower that will leave 600mm clearance on either side of the stove top. Many thanks, Ee ;)

I would just like to thank all of you brilliant people too, as well as Karyn. I am I’m a similar boat with respect to only having fur babies and wanting in the future to have a home and not just a house , that meets our needs. Although my first decision will be whether to continue throwing away money in my current money pit of a home, where it is all about the land value and people - such as my new neighbours, remove the house and build oversized mansion for the block or alternatively buyers want to walk in and will pay $1.3 - $1.7 for the mansion that is already completed. Neither of which are within my means or suit my living needs .....pity my house is such a money pit. With all this rain, it has highlighted possible multiple roof leaks from tile roof - easy to see where there is no sheeting on ceiling. Anyway....... As well as being extremely impressed and actually touched by how much Houzz users are prepared to help another stranger ....kindness of the human spirit.....Karyn, I have been reflecting on how much you are teaching many people about the ‘process’ of buying a turnkey house and land package. Don’t underestimate how much you are helping others who may consider venturing down this path and are naive to all the constraints associated with this type of build etc....particularly when one has the additional stress of being otherwise alone on the journey and overwhelmed by the things one has to consider.... Wishing you the best of luck Karyn with both the process and the outcome. and thank you houzzers for your creativity and generosity to strangers....

Um, why? Looks difficult to clean, difficult to access, and impossible to safely bath kids. I would avoid at all costs. No prospective real estate buyer ever said "I love the combined bath and shower arrangement" as they are generally universally hated, especially if there are toddlers, or elderly in the household . If you do go with this dangerous proposition then make sure you have plenty of well anchored grab rails so you don't knock your teeth out when your head hits the floor. Have a look at the Posh Domaine Shower Bath, which has a flatter, squarer base, rather than your traditional bath Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits.