oklouise, thank you for taking the time to pull together such a comprehensive and thoughtful design. There are lots of elements we like, and there are a few things we feel will be problematic. The reorienting of the house towards the East doesn't sit well with our vision of our living areas facing into the back yard. I love the courtyard area (screened room) you've created, but would prefer something like that at the back of the house, not the side. There is insufficient room to make the NE side of the house the 'back yard'. I like the storage you've created in the hall way but I still see the need to remove the old fireplace in the old kitchen, if it's cost effective and structurally possible. We'd like all bedrooms of a similar or standard size, so I'm not too sure about the smallish bedroom remaining the same size (the one with the toilet cut out of it). We'd like the front room to remain the main bedroom, and thus include an ensuite and WIR, rather than pushing the main bedroom to the back of the house. We don't want or need a third bathroom - just unnecessary and more room to keep clean!! Plus, there's no room for guests, LOL. We definitely want the garage to sit at the left hand side of the house, but probably a double carport moreso than a garage. We also like the idea of a built in desk/study that can be closed off - without building a whole study (room). So much to think about and your plan has provided some really different ways of thinking about the floor plan and orientation. Thank you for this. The parents outdoor retreat is divine!

This is really a job for a professional, as there are so many implications for town planning, fire and acoustic separation between dwellings (covered under the building regulations), legal (are you on seperate titles, or is it strata titled), front setbacks, and structural implications. I haven't seen too many houses that have been subdivided into two units that are on two seperate titles in recent times as the complexities are so challenging with the current planning and building regulations. Your project will need a lot of research and careful management of the bureaucracies, depending on where you live. Your best bet would be to start with a local professional who is familiar with the local planning laws and council requirements. You will find it a lot easier to limit your new work to the existing building envelope. Best of luck, Dr Retro

I'am late but would like to add the following I would try to keep the original house along with roof .Adding a new space from the left boundary if allowed if not start at set back 900?. This would include a Master suite Kitchen with WIP and family room. This space can be resized to better suite your budget. The carport to the front for easier access and better use of open space ( driveways are wasted space and log narrow ones are horrible to navigate ie: reversing) The carport with a rear solid wall creates a garden courtyard and provides a lovely outlook for the Master suite. Guests entering into the large living MFR extra light comes from the new sliding doors out to the new side courtyard. The old entrance becomes a separate WC/shower room with a hand basin not shown. Keeping the family bathroom and laundry insitu with a powder room within that space to service family and guests internally and externally. Any of these changes would need a local professional to approve. The addition could also be done as a separate building with narrow breezeway/s connecting both old and new

By the plan , I'm guessing 60's or 70's build ? I'm also guessing wooden floors ? All of that would make matching everything more difficult than a modern build , but not impossible . The back section doesn't look huge , assuming its roughly to scale , and the garage is a further problem . I'm lazy , so I'd sell , put the $200k towards your new ( even if its old ) place that is bigger and has most or all of what you want . Knock down/rebuild would be a lot more than your budget . Amything else I would put in the not practical/too hard basket -- I suspect if your plan and layout is accurate , you'd either need a 2 storey extension ( expensive and hard to successfully do that era easily ) , or maybe dig under or jack up and add a basement . My head hurts at those though . . . . . . . . . . . .