They sound nice! Try looking up Florence Broadhurst fabric online if you like a botanical or geometric look, very elegant designs in black and white.

It's a little hard to judge without seeing more of the home and garden. However, a dark grey or charcoal would visually recede the home and allow the garden and additional plants to 'pop'. Instead of painting your home a light colour, which attracts attention, a darker colour will allow other aspects of the home to shine. Are the doors red cedar? I'd leave them natural but coat or stain them to bring out the wood features. Add a couple of large pots with trees, such as a Lilli Pilli or Plane Trees depending on space, so the foliage will frame the doors.

Hi Siriuskey, thank you, that is really a great option. Floorplan-wise it makes sense and makes use of the hallway space (hallways being somewhat redundant). Also makes use of the radiant power of solid-fuel heating to heat the bricks up. I would estimate around $7K to do the structural work, just cant do that right now, but I may keep that up my sleeve for down the track. I think you 'get' the sense of scale, by not putting any cupboards on the wall it's a good way to open the space in this reno The more I get into it I realise the difference between renovation and restoration. Probably been edging on the side of restoration (ie heritage focus) but am getting more pragmatic. Thanks again, cool layout

Another thought with a large picture window to the view from the bath. I think the powder room will be your husbands choice over the loo in the ensuite. A couple of other thoughts if you haven't already built. I would change the entrance to the Media and in particular not have it directly opposite the doorway into the powder room, I also don't think it necessary to have a another door within te powder room. I have played with the access into the kitchen making it more open and also allowing for a simpler access to the pantry, you could even swing the fridge sideways so that it faces and opens into the pantry space The Laundry, family bath and porch changes so that coming in off the property gives easy access to both spaces, just my thoughts