So many good suggestions and ideas, thank you everybody :) partim I actually had the lounge room exactly how you described to begin with, I know it's hard to visualize through just seeing the photos I've put up but it didn't work as the couch coffee table and tv unit were jammed in together leaving little walk through space and there was a lot of unusable wasted space in the corner where the tv is. I contemplated getting a corner lamp table at the time but what we really need is more sitting space than table space. I changed the room around to this and we liked it much better as the window wasn't obstructed as well. the walking space between couch and cone lamp hasn't been a problem. The absolute last thing after rugs etc will be to move the bigger bookcase that's next to wood heater to another room and put an armchair there :) that will require renovation of the other rooms first. our records are all in alphabetical order and I love them but wouldn't display them any more than I have already as it's not a huge focal point. decoenthusiaste I love the idea of putting the small bookcase on its side behind the couch and could do this if I put a finish on the top and the base! unfortunately it will no longer be able to hold the records if I do that as the shelves are an awkward shape. (Smaller shelf is better for holding records to keep them in separate categories and keep them standing up than the bigger shelf) redpoint, I know! I've always been a timber floor person. When we moved in I was set on putting wood floors down in future. Although these tiles lack character, since living with them I must say the practicality of them outweighs the aesthetics of wood. I can move furniture around without scratching the floor and know I'll never have to ever sand and re polish the floor from wear and tear and they feel cool to walk on in the hot, dry summer. I'm leaning towards getting a sandy coloured slate put down one day. That should add more character to the place :) and my future tribal rugs will work either way. The view is fine, it's just a neat suburban street. I feel too exposed for now with the curtains open and would like a privacy screen put up with a nice garden bed as a view when we get around to re paving and landscaping. It's a southern view so the winter sun now shines through our front windows, which gets a bit bright at times. The brown rug was given to us as a stop gap for absorbing sound and catching the walked in dirt. If I moved it in front of the couch the "brownness" of it would hurt my eyes while I'm trying to relax in my little living space hehe I would consider cutting up the wall hanging or doing something else with it yes, good idea :) Zag Built LLC, I like the idea of a round or oval coffee table! Thos. Baker, a new piece of art would be nice

We have a similar home in a sydney beach suburb. We are in a different position where we have bought ours as a downsized but are just about to restore the old 50s beauty to its former self. We have quotes of around $400000 to gut and change the floor plan which includes 2 bathrooms and a new kitchen and also add internal stairs to the garage and a large deck off the back, lift some ceilings and replace gutters, eaves ect ect ect. Attached are my inspiration boards and what the house looks like now, hopefully in about 4 months I can update you.

I took into consideration your new Fridge pantry alcove when I designed your kitchen to get you the max island and still being well placed within the kitchen. If the island isn't attached to the fridge wall you would need to leave a 1m space between them which would reduce the 3m Island as I have shown, the dotted wall shows the length of your kitchen, and how the island fits into that space, you could extend the island further into the dining if you wanted, I can redraw that for you. As I said with both of your plans drawn differently Both OKL and myself had a differnt result

I'm just trying to work everything out , and what happened when basically . The front seems quite nice , but I'm trying to work out the original floorplan -- I'm wondering if it was originally a 2 bedroom cottage , with the left side of the house ( looking from the front ) as a lounge and maybe kitchen/dining behind , then an outhouse ? Looking at the pictures and the floorplan , where the kitchen is now is in part of the fibre cement 'addition 1' ? It doesn't look old enough to have had a lower kitchen on a concrete slab -- that slab was generally a step down , and often on one side or the other , but I guess it could have been at the rear , but then it would have been likely to have been in brick too . You say the kitchen is 'falling to bits' ( well , not quite ) -- basicaly , I did wonder about 'just' recladding the rear , maybe demolish the rear lounge and laundry and rebuild that , maybe a bit bigger/deeper , and maybe even step it down , so then you could have sliding doors and a larger terrace , even if it is 150mm lower again ( I'm not a fan because of trip hazards , but some designs are better than others ) . BUT to throw a spanner in the works , how about demo the rear , rebuild kitchen/dining/lounge/terrace 30 or 40cm lower , maybe even on a concrete slab , BUT do a couple of bedrooms and family room/office/master and ensuite / whatever upstairs ? Or maybe 2 more bedrooms , ensuite , bathroom , powder room , study , laundry , whatever you want downstairs , and then kitchen / dining / lounge / family upstairs to get the views ? Basically , a character front and modern rear , maybe match some design elements -- I know you've said a forever home , but value wise in your area you'd probably get your $$$$ back and more -- only problem is it won't be cheap . Its like saying that $1 million painting is sure to appreciate -- thats good in theory , but if you can't afford to buy it , it doesn't overly matter haha .