oklouise, curious as per your comment "professionals don't seem to offer the clients time to test their own ideas"...........from our particular perspective, to professionally execute design (properly) there's actually/indeed no significant need for "testing" of anything - rather it's about confidently resolving a solution for people and we execute the service/process with confidence that mitigates the biggest risks with this game which are 1. not getting what you want (for various reasons/on various levels) and 2. budget blowouts......Testing this idea and that is a somewhat random process and it doesn't make sense, particularly when put into a cost/time structure, when its possible to work it all more effectively by filtering relevant information towards a particular end result.....And so, we think rather, it's about experienced, effective and targeted management of quality resolution of solutions..... and for practicality/cost reasons (for both sides) we (have to) implement a structured design process in that ideas are controlled, honed, focused and consolidated, rather than (expensively) experimented with and tested arbitrarily. The way we do this is by first firmly establishing and clarifying the variables, requirements and constraints BEFORE then working through developing an appropriate solution......this avoids the all too common situation of people going round in circles, aimlessly "testing" random ideas, hitting dead ends or pursuing paths of false economy........The information gathering is built into the process, but it's effectively/relatively quickly achieved and certainly contained. You then get the right/necessary information all sorted frontend, and coupled with knowledge and guidance of the most effective order of decision-making and truly the risk (of paying for a relatively open-ended process that I think you're referring to) is significantly mitigated. Perhaps it's just our way or doing things and that we're operate at a certain level acutely tuned into the design process, and client conscious & results focused, which more often than not, when you deal with the lower end/basic drafting "professionals", there is actually no "design" process happening at all, which is of course in that case is obviously not good value.... For the record, you clearly have capacity and talent for visualising 3 dimensionally and your skill demonstrated here is mostly/more limited by the (limited) information your working with.......before we offer any (professional) suggestions or advice, we endeavour to clarify & establish the context and constraints, and people's requirements and priorities. It doesn't make sense otherwise. Only then can we really begin to work through specific spaces/configurations/layouts one way or the other to best achieve viable and balanced solutions.... All the best PD :)

Start by spending a portion of your budget on the various dream feature items that are relocatable and can be used in your final design anyway. e.g. Buy the firepit you really want - it can become the focal point of your future garden. Test it outside in your backyard for a few months. Are heaps of mozzies annoying you while you're sitting outside around the firepit? If so, then you'll know that you're going to need a gazebo with flyscreens as well as privacy curtains so you can really enjoy lying outside in your hammock year round. The hammock is another relocatable part of your design. First, lie outside in your backyard on a swag or a rug for a few hours. Is it too windy? Is there road noise? Keep experimenting until you've found the perfect location for the hammock. Then buy an inexpensive hammock and suspend it from a couple of sturdy RL4 poles. If it's working, then this is the place where you should build your future patio, that's going to shelter your hammock. Keep testing inexpensive versions of your other ideas out. Trial tea candles or a string of inexpensive white Christmas lights as garden lighting. Do they create the feel you want or do lights just attract moths or unwanted insects? What about relocatable solar garden lights? Or a portable floodlight from Bunnings? Where's the ideal place for your garden table and chairs? Test it out with inexpensive camping chairs - or chairs you already own for a few months to be sure. Then invest in the perfect outdoor table and chairs. Same with the water feature. Start with a wine barrel with a waterlily or a second hand pond off Gumtree. Can you hear the trickling water in the garden or do other noises crowd it out? Keep in mind big goldfish need deep water and space to swim. To help you in your choice of plants,look around your immediate neighbourhood. What purple, blue and scented plants are thriving in your immediate area? Who has the best garden in your street in your opinion - and why do you think that? Do you always see a particular neighbour passionately working outside in their garden? That's the person you should strike up a conversation with to get advise about suitable plants for your immediate area. Chances are they will not only give you heaps of free advise but they will probably give you plants and cuttings as well. Markets are another source of perennial plants that grow well in the local area. Plant these smaller plants into large plastic pots and garden bags and allow them to grow for a year or so. Consider herbs as filler plants - many are highly scented, can be used in cooking and often have interesting foliage e.g. choc mint, fennel, rosemary etc. After you've been using your backyard for at least a year and you've experienced all of the seasons, then invest in your big ticket items like your gazebo. Buy or build a structure that's truly practical for your local microclimate - incorporate glass, windbreak fencing, shadecloth, mozzie mesh or whatever you need to make your hammock shelter ultra comfortable. Build this structure where you've tested it and know it will work - not where a stranger who designs gardens thinks it should go. Spend the remaining money on the things you know you need and want - the stones, plants, irrigation, a birdbath, etc

No-one seems to have brought up what , to me , seems like the second most logical suggestion ( admitttedly , without knowing the planning rules ) . The logical still seems to be to sell . Failing that , I'd look at extending the study , taking in the courtyard , alter the internal door ( suggestion - a single door on the 'right' side of the existing study doors area ) , add an ensuite ( relatively easy as the existing bathroom is just through the wall ) , and make that room your master bedroom with en-suite . Move the ranchslider , or add a roof to floor window , to get natural light into the new master , and possibly add a skylight or two above the dining room , as it will lose the ranchslider . Not perfect , but if you go up it will be costly , there are engineering issues , matching materials , new roof , all sorts of logistical problems . 'My' suggestion cuts down outdoor space , and may exceed the building to land-size ratios , but its so much easier building , engineering , roofing , plumbing and materials matching wise , gives you all or most of the space you are after , so IMO way more bang per buck . Having said that , only you know your priorities , budget and what you are happy to give up to gain .

Hi Sue, I thought I should toss some other options at you. Consider the Master in the old kitchen using this plumbing for the ensuite. This room opening up to both North and West views it would be best if the whole fireplace along with chimney is removed which would mean a vertical support beam would be needed to support the ceiling (engineers decision) The small extension for the shower room to have a glass slopping roof, you would also need to add a pergola on the western side of the Master (Vergola pergola) The new kitchen moved into the old office and ensuite once again using this plumbing for the kitchen, opening up walls between these rooms should be easier than others in the house. Large sliders off both the kitchen and "The Great Room" to take advantage of the western views out across the pool Depending on structural load bearing wall I would like to open up the wall between the kitchen and "The Great Room" for an amazing space with abundant light. I have shown that wall with 2 x 1m openings (there's already one doorway to make use of or open that wall to whatever the engineer approves. The Kitchen is now within easy access to the pool and BBQ, plus bathroom facilities. The room next to the new kitchen to become Mudroom/office/WIP. I notice that there's a driveway that ends up behind this room, is this where you mostly access the house from?