Thank you everyone for all your help and advice! Yes, we live in an inland part of Southern Australia that is very chilly in winter and exceedingly hot in summer. So efficiency is a very important part of our build. From the picture you added Louise, I think a "coffered" ceiling looks like what I would call an "up lift". I'm glad to have a second on that option ;) The picture looked good, and could defiantly be an option over the dining table I think. Thanks jbantick I looked up "scissor trusses" and they look like a great idea as well. I'm just not sure how they would run. From the entry across the dining area (N to S) or across the whole length of the 3 zones E to W ? The middle of the roof line (running E to W) doesn't run in the middle of the living zones (if that make sense) as it stretches across a hall way on the south side. If it ran this way would it look a bit off centre? How did you in vision it? Thanks for your thoughts guys.

Hi Amanda, Storage is a huge issue in every house and my personal take is that for the amount of time spent in a laundry we dedicate to much real estate to it - I'd rather have a bigger kitchen space. I also think that school bags go to the bedroom the second kids get home - a hall table for keys is brilliant but you dont want to end up with a heap of clutter as you walk in the door. I'd do the 1.5m extension, I'd leave the laundry where it is but put it behind cupboard doors in the kitchen area (removing the wall between the laundry and kitchen and part of the wall between your current pantry and laundry on the plan) - this way you gain floor space (how frequently do you do laundry while you've got visitors?), this then allows you to keep your panty size but put it behind bifold doors. I'd also and have the ensure that I had a stacked washer/dryer set up so that I had more space for a broom closet. Regarding the covered deck - it'll depend upon which way it's facing - if the western sun will hit the back - then you'll be very glad of the covering and possibly want more. If you're concerned then look for coverings that will suit the area - ie louvered outdoor roof area might be a way to go. Good luck!

Hi Dim91, a slow Monday public holiday, so I have been sketching. This would be a full home renovation and extension. Above your budget, but food for long term thought. Front bedroom would become new entry and storage, through to brand new extension which include living, dining, kitchen all assuming facing north. Study becomes the new walk through into new bedrooms and living area. Kitchen becomes bathroom. Laundry stays as is. Car space stays as is. Current front door filled in as window. This is just my thoughts on paper. As you haven,t given measurements it is completely my interpretation. But, as others have said, an architect would give you information on the potential of your home, as you have the land space to extend.

I'd make sure I had probably 3 'zones' or options . It is just crying out for a big industrial style centrepiece on 3 or 4 heavy chains , maybe even with 15 or 20 candles . Just as I'm writing this , I'm even wondering how difficult it would be to get 15 shorter stubbier candles and drill out the middles , and thread a cheap 12 volt LED through each one ? The local electrical supplier charges something like $12 for 10 -- you'd have to wire them , but its low voltage so a soldering iron and heatshrink tubing would do wonders . look way more authentic than those cheesy ones with flickering 240 volt bulbs and fake melted wax on shiny plastic bases ! Anyway , that would be my centrepiece , even if you had to use a transformer etc -- drop it to the ceiling line height . Then I'd do a seperate zone -- probably single LED spotlights ( prob in black ) . at least one each beam , some pointing up , some across to the other 'slope' , but also some pointing downwards , because you'll need to look for dropped coins or handkerchiefs or phone chargers every now and then haha . And the 3rd zone would be wall uplights and downlights , because I can almost guarantee there will be times you want light , but you don't want or need to emphasis the height . If its not too late , I'd have them maybe 1.5mtrs from the floor , and the covers in an aged copper or similar panels , and that would match the style of the centrepiece light too . I'd have the spotlights a completely seperate style though -- more modern and plainer , but not ultra-modern , if that makes sense .