Liz, You have beautiful cupboards. I love your integrated dishwasher, and the designed space for the microwave. It should fit your new oven perfectly. But here's the thing: the thing that makes your cupboards beautiful is the timber doors. As wood mellows, it would be hard to match in new "door" elements - you could tell the old/new. If you are basically happy with the layout, then refreshing the benchtops and a new stovetop doesn't need a kitchen company. You need to work out your new stovetop, as you need to know your cutout. Then get some graph paper from the newsagents, and measure up. You can go directly to a local stonemason for a quote, or use a refurbishment company to overlay your existing top (e.g Granite transformations). (A new sink is relatively cheap and works wonders to update the kitchen!) A good handyman (or even better, a builder who just wants a bit of work on the weekend) can rip out the existing cupboards, mount a new range rangehood, and would probably be willing to take a hammer to break your connection to your dining room. Most plumbers (if its gas) or electricians are willing to connect in a new stovetop and sink for a reasonable price. It sounds to me that the only really "new" add -in is your new pantry area. You might need to be a bit clever to make that blend, even if you can't get a 100% match. If it's a full length pantry, one option might be to consider an off the shelf "door door" or even bifold, with a similar profile, so that it's sympathetic . You could then stain, or paint, or varnish to either blend in or make a contrast. Best of luck!

prioritise what does and doesn't work for you in your old kitchens, decide what equipment is essential for you and how much space it needs and cull everything else, don't waste money and space storing things you don't need, make sure there's a dedicated convenient spot for garbage bins, dust pan and broom and storage of food scraps, consider shallow in wall storage perfect for cans, jars, bottles and packets. Group supplies and equipment according to expected use eg enough cups and glasses for the occupants and regular visitors near the sink and kettle, everyday dinner plates stored near the stove and extras stored elsewhere. Even with very careful planning and very specific written instructions my kitchen cabinet maker put the cook top in the wrong place and 3 m of counter had to be replaced so don't assume the cabinetmaker agrees with you and have your plans scrutinised by HOUZZ to ensure that you consider all the best options for your new kitchen!!

Hi Sarah, hope you enjoyed your travels last night, that's something we have spent our lives doing plus living in different countries. Do look into the attic room/s they are lovely and the Velux skylights very unobtrusive, look great and if positioned correctly take care of venting any hot air, as I mentioned ours were pivoting ones and could be locked open in several positions. I much prefer these to dormer windows, you don't really notice them. The stairs were built off site and lifted into position and installed, built in. At the time we did ours a very good friend a builder did the same but just completely opened the whole ceiling space right out towards the gutters into a large bedroom play study area for his daughters, also using Velux windows. Glass ceilings, like Velux windows have been around for years, believe me I know, we're both getting older. Velux windows can be used as glass ceilings in opening and non opening configurations. I would love to see you keep the outdoor loo as well and updating the old shed into a new connecting space to the house, perhaps a glass breezeway. I will have another look at your plan again over the weekend. I love your front iron gate as well, auto sliding driveway gates work really well and would really fit with your carport. My brother in law put in a tall timber sliding gate at his last home, lovely cheers

it's a gorgeous home with lovely garden and well worth upgrading but your proposal adds about 25 sq m of extra floor area but will lose much of the valuable original charm without creating much more usable space eg converting the front verandah would be more expensive than adding a new room of the same size because the old floor, walls, ceiling and roof would have to be completely replaced, the office is too small to be called a fourth bedroom and reduces useable living area and etc...my suggestion includes a simple 36sqm extension with matching wall cladding at the same floor height with a skillion ("flat") roof matching the height and angle of the front verandah and includes two bedrooms and a bathroom..the existing master bedroom is opened up to the old dining area and the backyard, the old living area is a separate lounge or private dining room, the existing baby's room becomes a (small bedroom sized) office... add a new carport (recycle the old carport?) with tall posts to be higher than the kitchen window and towards the rear of the house with covered access through the laundry and the original front verandah (with repairs) and the fabulous palm remain unchanged...despite being a bigger renovation than planned, this extension will be a much better investment, will look more original and can be completed in stages as funds allow ..discuss with builders and real estate agents for quotes and opinions this is a very rough image of the extension from the front