We've just renovated and have 3 bathrooms. no baths. Large walk in showers. We did, however, do the plumbing for a bath in the largest bathroom in case we ever sell it. We don't take baths, so no need to be cleaning the dust off it constantly.

Hi, what colour matt were you thinking? Matt black is the most common colour to be used in this context at the moment, black marks more than any other. Even in gloss finishes, fingerprints etc on this colour will show. If you choose one of the many other available colours out there, the marking element will reduce. See GLOBO for an example of how much freedom you have with matt finishes available. Please contact me should you want to know more about the products we offer in colour finishes.

ok, here's the new floor plan, I've taken your advice and did some adjustments. with the bathroom I'm very happy now, thanks oklouise, I've just done a few changes to better suit the way we live. moving the guest bath over gave me more room for the pantry, although on paper the entrance/pantry area looks a bit awkward now so I'm hoping for some more of your great ideas (ps siriuskey, I know the pantry corner in the kitchen is a bit of a space waster, I just fell in love with a picture or two, so if I just search enough I should be able to get my head - or rather heart - around a more practical solution ). I'm not sure about moving the kitchen door to the left as it's the main access also for the living and dining room and would direct traffic through the work zone. and oklouise, you asked for an overall vision of our house, so here it is: we live in a beautiful valley with no close neighbors and most of our lives happen outdoors. it will be only my husband and me living there with occasional overnight guest. while we build we'll be living in a granny flat so one spare bedroom will be enough. the living, dining and master bed windows will face north towards the view and the sun. as we spend so much time outside we want our house to be a cosy home with the occasional big entertaining happening outside. our plan is to build a strawbale house with open post and beam, I love the combination of warm grey and timber. just not too rustic and heavy, think scandinavian lightness (I'm from the north of Germany and spend most holidays in Scandinavia) and add some cheerful south American accents (where my husband comes from) we like to cook together, that's why we need a good sized kitchen. and it's my dream to come inside after work into a beautiful bathroom, where I can enjoy getting fresh and clean instead of trying to get out of there as quickly as possible ok, that was a lot, hope I haven't lost you half way through but I'm really grateful for your input and support

Hi How2Girl, I appreciate your follow up! The Reece document is good - thanks - I wish there was something concrete in the Standards though. Worth notiing is that a shower over the bath needs the same wall-sheeting details as if it was a shower base. Also wall framing in the bathroom needs to be done to AS 1684.2-2010 Residential timber-framed construction - Non-cyclonic areas (Which the James Hardie 'wet area design book' is based on) Very frustrating that the Australian Standards are not readily available - ie FREE- or at least, latest copies at local libraries. How are we meant to build to standards when they are inaccessible. Another factor in determining the overall quality of the Australian construction industry Also what I've found frustrating in this instance is that other trades in my small town are unwilling to agree that the work is of very poor quality - there is an unstated 'brotherhood' at work. So Im going to have to engage an independent Building Certifier, probably from out of town. Of course,the cost for this will come off the builder's fees on a pro-rata basis for below-par work