I see this is a very old thread , with lots of comments . I've just skim read them , but I haven't seen anyone suggest anything like my 'top-of-my-head' idea -- I love the wood , and the white contrast , but pretty boring . Whats your favourite colour , or what ties in with the other rooms ? It might be blue or red or yellow or orange or green , as examples . So paint the skirting board and around the door a pastel shade of your choice , and add a small 30cm x 30cm abstract painting featuring that colour as the primary dominant one , above ( or possibly below , or maybe even get 2 matching/complementary ones ) the control panel . One lighting crowd suggested glass shades -- I'd actually go for someothing large but wooden , in much the same shade as your floors and steps , with LED bulbs -- you can get some stunning ones around 80-100 cm in diameter ( sort of a star ball shape ) for $300-400 . Total budget then $500 plus a painter and maybe electrician , unless you DIY .

Hi 28! I would recommend having a sheet made out for them of as many things as you can think of everyday. We call it a punch list. They can check off each item as they do it and if they mess something up, you have proof. That said, tradesman can't be micromanaged. The need to be trusted to do their job but things like MIrror Placement approval, and color choices should be signed off on. One thing I have learned from a lifetime of experience is that often, something we feel is catastrophic to our design, ends up being very acceptable and sometimes even better with familiarity! That's not to say I still think I'm going to die if everything isn't perfect on a job, LOL! But in the end, perfection is boring and not really human nature at all. Happy mistakes rule! Your mirrors are fine ;>)

I had to settle for a shower for years and years because the place we lived in only had a shower although my showers are deefinitely not a three minute person, more like 15min ha-ha I too decided on a spa bath in our new build, one that is big enough to fit two people but is simply a bath shape and I'm finding it hard to get myself back into baths because of being used to a shower for so long but I don't regret it either. I used to read the paper in the bath back when papers were what was around back then and I do miss that ha-ha

If moving plumbing, etc is too much for your budget, why don't you leave existing kitchen where it is, open up the wall to the hallway and that bedroom that faces into the pool area. Close off a wall near the entrance/formal living room to replace the bedroom. Advantages are a) not moving expensive kitchen wiring, plumbing etc. Kitchen window still looks out into entrance to see comings and goings AND back to pool for informal living (maybe casual dining at an island seating area, casual sitting for pool). b) the existing dining, living room is a separate space (great when your kids are older to have two living options for noise isolation - adults in one, kids in the other). Both sets of rooms open off the entrance way, and that new bedroom can be the one you use as home office or guest (leaving other bedrooms for family).