Hi Katie. I've just finished a reno in a bathroom approximately this size. it looks like the toilet is currently on an exterior wall. if this is the case it can be costly - or not possible to relocate the plumbing. Yes, I know cisterns can be installed in the wall. My plumbers are wary of these ....try fixing a fault without cutting a hole - or holes - in the wall! If you are restricted to the outside wall, I would install a sliding door (gives you more space in the actual room). Leaving the bath and shower where they are saves $$$. if you move the toilet further to the left and install a wall-hung vanity under the window, you could also add a 'half-wall' to the toilet area for privacy. (Wall-hung vanities open the room up. This plan would give you great space on the left hand wall for storage and/or laundry hampers, You could of course switch the bath to the opposite wall, and move the toilet to the current bath area. Moving the door to the right AND installing a slider, would allow this. (BTW I just installed a 1700 bath - 1500's are available too.) Hope this is not too unclear! Enjoy the process!.

Thanks Wild Heart for the feedback. I think ideally we'd like to keep the butlers pantry as it just gives that extra area to keep things out of the way when guests are there etc. Especially things like kettles, toasters etc. In terms of the fridge depth I hadn't noticed this, I've just looked at our current fridge and with the space for ventilation its 740mm deep....... We'll need to come up with something as this will look ridiculous with the fridge coming out at least 140 mm. I'll post up the rest of the plan for the lower floor but really wanted that open living and dining area flowing into the alfresco area. So I think realistically, based on the feedback provide above (which I really appreciate!), there maybe some more pressing issues. Should we keep the 900m gas and then look at the following: 1. How to increase depths between island to 1000mm 2, Where is the better placement for the dishwasher 3. Look at the opening on the butlers pantry door and if we need a door on there at all 4. How to better place the fridge so that it's not sticking out nearly 140mm Thanks again for the feedback everyone, kind of raised more questions that answers!!!

Sorry, I can't send photos at the moment as we are having our kitchen renovated and all the lounge furniture is stacked and covered. Our house was built in 1960 but everyone thinks it is a seventies house because it looks just like them. We have been progressively renovating and the kitchen is the last thing to do. We actually bought mid century modern style furniture from the Modern Furniture shop in New Farm/ Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, and a parker dining suite from an antique shop. (My partner hates clutter.) The area in our house that is the same as the one where you have your TV actually has had a set of internal stairs cut into it going down, and we have a piano in the remaining space with our buffet up against the balustrade. We did have our dining suite in the same space as you have yours, but it is an 8 seater, so we swapped the dining and lounge furniture and put our 2 seater sofa, 2 armchairs and oval glass coffee table against the wall opposite the kitchen. We use both more now because the dining space is bigger and the lounge space is cosy and inviting. We have a large area downstairs which we have turned into a combination mancave/TV area/ entertainment, casual dining and summer living space as the concrete floor keeps it cool and comfortable. What I love about a big space like this is that you can change it around if you find it's not working for you as it is, or if you just feel like a change. Having to keep to the TV points reduces that flexibility a bit, but maybe you could consider swapping around the dining area? It's just a matter of figuring out what works best for how you like to live, and trying out different configurations might help you do that.

Hi oklouise, Thanks for your input again, and the recommendation of yourhome.gov.au. I had viewed this website some time ago, and the information on there is now much more comprehensive. A lot of articles I had read about housing in the tropics were coming out of India and other Asian countries. I really like how you've offset the two wings, and I think this will help with cross ventilation and directing breeze through the house. With the offset, the living wing would be able to look into the backyard, but could also have a view of the front gate (an idea advised by siriuskey). I'm liking the idea of a ground floor entryway and internal stairs, but I think I would locate it on the bottom of the living wing. I think we would park under the bedroom wing (carport, not garage), and then walk under cover of the deck to the entry. Internal stairs on the left-most side of the living wing, will lead up to the living wing in a kitchen/dining/living configuration (maybe similar to your previous plan). Cheers, Adnan