Thank you so much for your kind words, everyone. Houzz never ceases to delight, I am so glad I began this renovation even though it was an incredibly stressful journey at the time!! Here are a few more pics taken over the last 2 years.

We also just started construction. So far, it's just been the fencing and site cut and fill. We were considering asking a friend who is a commercial builder to recommend someone who could conduct inspections at the following stages: Pre-slab (to ensure all the plumbing, etc is in the right spot), slab, frame, pre-plaster (to ensure that the plasterboard doesn't hide anything), lock-up and final. But, it will ultimately depend upon how expensive each of the individual inspections are. We'll also do our best to monitor the work, at least up until lock-up stage as we'll then be unable to enter the property. Here are some resources which I've found helpful: http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewforum.php?f=31 http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing-and-accommodation/building-and-renovating/checklists/during-construction http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing-and-accommodation/building-and-renovating/checklists/when-building-work-is-complete http://www.anewhouse.com.au/ http://www.anewhouse.com.au/tag/construction-stages/ http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2014/05/how-many-construction-inspections/ http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/11/using-a-building-inspector/ http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2014/01/using-your-own-building-inspector/ http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2013/12/building-certification-inspections/ http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/ http://www.inspectionangel.com.au/checklist http://www.abis.com.au/handover-checklist Good luck!

Extending out to the side was also our initial idea but we thought it might be more cost effective to relocate areas within the current floor plan. An architect friend of ours also thought for the space we would gain with a side extension it wouldn't be worth it. I think if we were to extend to just past the first set of french doors it would look like the photos you have shared. Love them! Now you've got me thinking of extending again, hehe. My husband really wants to unite the split stairway and I fear that will be quite costly.

Townhouses, Multi Dwellings Design & Documentation & Approvals, Sydney-wide and also regional/country NSW. Hi I’m IBRAHIM CONLON Registered Architect (#10042) located in Sydney and heading ISC Design. We specialise in detailed design, documentation & approvals for townhouses, multi dwellings, apartments, units, low-rise, medium ride, high rise. Multi Dwelling Design, Townhouse Design, Apartment Design, Duplex Design. DA/CC Documentation for Council & private certifiers. Site research, site feasibility studies. Council Pre DA meetings attendance & negotiation. S34 LEC Court attendance As a registered Architect we can prepare SEPP65 design verification statements and competently design for buildings 3-100 stories. All Sydney Councils. Let us research your site and advise the development possibilities. Kind regards ----------------------------------------------------- Ibrahim Conlon M.Arch (UTS) B.A Arch (UTS) ADAD (CIT) AICOMOS Registered Architect ARB NSW 10042 Associate Member ICOMOS 1512 ISC DESIGN; Australian Contemporary & Heritage Architecture Documentation, Representation, Administration Office Address; Suite 1, Level 1 115 Auburn Road Auburn NSW 2144 0404459916 ibrahim@iscdesign.com.au www.iscdesign.com.au