Hi Mike and Emma Hope you are slowly but surely getting there... may I make some comments/suggestions that you may or not take on board, but hopefully it may at least give you some ideas/options... Going through a new build ourselves at the moment, and for what it's worth, here's what I personally think: A. Work with what you've got: - additional plumbing work, gas work etc may not be necessary and (particularly gas) can be costly when you're trying to work around existing walls, floors, etc, and as much as possible utilise the existing connections... after whatever you can save here and there, you can spend on nicer cabinetery, gadgets, finishes, etc :) B. Avoid unnecessry structural work: - removing the kitchen/living wall is a must (more space, light, etc) but removing the laundry wall is an unncessary added cost (may even require costly additional strutural support) - putting up a plastered wall on the other hand is inexpensive, allows you to redefine different zones and relocate doors/openings where required (*note: avoid hinged doors in small spaces as you have to allow for wasted space to open door - suggest cavity sliding doors, easy to incorporate in a new wall) C. Don't sacrifice functionality and natural light for design - love full height floor to ceiling cabinets, very much on trend... but they also tend to bring the walls in, which you want to avoid in an already small space... they will also block out more natural ligtht from the only window to the living and breakfast bench (meals area)... not to mention seated guests would be staring at a cabinet tower and fridge - on the other hand a walk in pantry (not that much of a walk in a small space) is also very much on trend, provides more storage and... as entertaining guests in open plan livings tends to happen more in the kitchen... it provides a good hiding place for unsightly items, including frigges... (an underbench bar fridge in the kitchen can easily keep those beers cold... though do consider that means sacrificing some cabinet space) - constantly wiping off the floors from dripping wet dishes across the kictchen from the sink to the dishwaser on the other side bench would personally drive me mad after a while... the dishwasher can easily be connected to the existing sink water and waste points through the cabinerty... any half decent plumber should be able to do that... ON THAT NOTE... or should I say those notes... I know I got a bit carried away :) ... if it were me, here's an idea of what I would try to achieve ...

YIKES

A lot depends on the size of your TV and the size of your fireplace insert. If you have a clever cabinet designer than an adjacent arrangement always looks good, but you have to know what you are working with. Check out Sculpt fireplaces for some freat in-built options. https://sculptfireplaces.com.au/collection-category/contemporary-inbuilt-fireplaces/ Best of luck with your research, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

I'm thinking on similar lines to oklouise , with a couple of differences . The front fence looks to be similar brick , but not identical , but the reason you notice that is because the house is almost all white trim , and the fence has a black cap . So I'd do that cap in white , and thats got that a bit more in tune . The iron railings , the white windows , the awnings , the squared hedge are all old-fashioned , but thats what you have . I'd change the awnings , paint the door white , get rid of the canvas carport . But rather than doing the garage in charcoal , I'd try and get a similar orangey red to the brick ( get several test pots ) . Its not going to be perfect , but neither is black or charcoal . To a certain degree , replacing the garage cladding with cedar stained natural wood in theory is even better , but I'm worried it may look too cliched . The gardens are okay , of course theres heaps you could do but theres nothing jarring there , but the final thing I'd mention is the right side fence . I'm not a fan of white fences , but with the reddish brick , the brown roof and all the white trim , I wouldn't try and bring in charcoal ( monument ) or similar , I would keep away from almost every other colour , so by a process of deduction , it would be white . Not even cream or beige or surfmist or grey . White haha .