we can't read your plans...please enlarge in sections to make sure that we can read the writing and include all room dimensions

If north is to the lower left, why not put living zone on that end? Are you moving garage or tree? Moving a tree takes time

In sections

We'll remove the tree to build garage in it's place

Answering to Kate the reason the living is on the south is because of a bit of view, the block slopes down so it's elevated compared to the south neighbours and it feels airy.

Would it be better to swap guest and theatre where dining and living is and viceversa?

If the guest room is going to be reasonably well used it would be worth reworking the powder room to include a shower.

I'd link garage to laundry.
I also don't love the way people entering will turn right into your kitchen. That strikes me as an odd flow.
I'd still think about living space in North side notwithstanding your comment about view to the side.

This design has your kitchen acting like a hallway. I would reverse design of laundry to put door next to hallway and consider if you can rework hall/garage/laundry access to rationalise doors & walkways. This then stops walking through kitchen to laundry & island can move towards scullery to give more room at congestion point of hall/kitchen/island/fridge intersection.

HI there, I am always twitchy when the northerly aspect is lost. Passive solar with heat your home for next to nothing that makes a huge difference to the long term running costs as to make it paramount. I do not know where you are but the further south the more important it is. I am going to cut the plan into 3 bits and put 'em down quite differently: But I do leave the bedrooms to the west where they are. I personally would prefer the laundry there with the bathroom as that is where the most of the washing is generated. Next I would flip the master, ens, guest and theatre into the centre with the master enjoying the view. Then too the theatre will be nearer to the family room: great for a party or larger group of folks. Next to the front and east put the kitchen, din and family so as the north sun will be warming WHERE you live all the time...FREE heating!! This arrangement also allows the bedrooms more privacy. Social rooms to the front and can still enjoy the rear views and space too. Cheers Margot

I didn't realise you had views to the south obperth2014.

Your situation is almost identical to that of some of my relatives. A block that slopes down to the south, with views to the south.

The house they bought is designed for the views, with no thought about orientation or the path of the sun.

It's a double storey house, living downstairs, bedrooms upstairs. With expansive views over bushland for as far as the eye can see.

The views are lovely, but comfort levels are not. It's a very cold home, that sees little sun. I've always dreamed about what could have been achieved in this block with good design.

What I envisage, & think would also work on your block, is a split level, multistorey home.

Essentially one level at the front (to the north), split to two storeys to the rear (the south).

The front, northern single storey occupied by the garage, the entrance, possibly a guest bedroom or second living area.

Central stairs to the south up to the living area, or down to the minor bedrooms (& maybe a rumpus).

Both these south facing levels will have south facing views, the best in the upstairs living area. But importantly, as the living area is split higher than the entrance level, it will also have north facing windows. Lighting the living area, & heating it in winter.

Depending on space, there's a few options for the master. North facing at the front, for a light filled bedroom. Downstairs for a cooler darker bedroom. Upstairs, adjacent to the living area, where it could have views to the south, but also light filled to the north. This third option would be my preferred option.

Of course this would only be an option if you find stairs acceptable. Which possibly you don't, as you've only been looking at single level designs.

A multistorey home will have a smaller footprint, which may be an advantage in a sloping block, especially if the home follows the contours of the land.

Though obviously this type of home won't be acceptable for people with mobility issues, or looking to age in place, unless they're happy to install a lift.

Not sure if this layout makes sense. I'll draw up to simple, quick sketch, if I have time.

Thank you dd. I wish I could do a split house but as houses are getting more expensive to build I have to stick on single storey. The most we'll be able to do is few steps. Yes it's a difficult one have views on south, never came to mind when we bought the block. Another design actually other 2 I have but not sure what is the better option for solar passive. Unfortunately none of them seem to be working with orientation

To Kitchen and home sketch. Thanks for the comments. I don't understand what you mean for master ens guest at center. Can you please explain?

Now the powder room will have a shower! Thanks for the tips

Plan 2

Plan 3

Put vanity into powder room , it is awkwardly placed in entry to b2. Reorientation study and bedroom so study can have a window, could be accessed from kitchen,

Thanks Kate. What do you think about the master where it is, like ventilation, positioning of wir, ensuite etc. Appreciate your comments

Can you post a full plan so I can put it in context. Personally I don’t like to see into the en-suite from the bed, but if you have a barn slider or ranch slider then you can make that a feature, but I would close it off gives you more options if you want to put in a dresser or tv.
His and hers wardrobes get the larger on the correct side for you. I sleep on other side of bed :). I’d Make them even. And yes put a door on the wir so you don’t see into it from lounge or through the windows as easily. I guess that assumes you close them.

Here it is

my concern with most of the plans is that the roofs are too complicated so my suggestion has a simple building placed parallel to the western boundary (with optional rear yard access east or west?) northern windows and a courtyard off the master suite, northern windows for master and theatre with family living, theatre and alfresco looking towards the southern view, there's direct access from the garage through a mudroom, separate pantry, generous laundry and a compartmented bathroom with separate powder room shared by the three smaller bedrooms..total floor area is 252sqm but there's options to reduce or enlarge the basic design depending on personal preferences and there could be a small split with steps down from the family room to the bedroom wing, the alfresco could be built as a simple deck with transluscent roofing to improve daylight inside, a ventilating skylight would be good for the kitchen and/or dining area and subject to precise setbacks a bigger front porch could be worthwhile

thank you heaps!! I like your design, it's simple and functional. I did like the idea of seeing the bath from the master but still having a sliding door to master

when needed to be shut, do you think that can be accommodated? I like the games where it is with opening doors to alfresco. That can get lots of light right? I was thinking the alfresco with those ceiling

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panels that can be open or closed depending of the time of the year

. How would you put the appliances around the kitchen (stove, fridge, oven/s etc). The idea of having the kitchen behind mud a nd scullery would it help with the harsh summer sun right? On your opinion where would you put a fireplace (wood)? thanks!

I would love this in the kitchen as ventilating windows but It is very pricy (i think they call it the box)

you mean those below inserted in the ceiling right?

You would not place those windows on a west facing roof but they do look lovely whilst clean!

In terms of your plan if master to be seperate from other bedrooms then it should be at front. I wouldn’t like my kids up at front by themselves. And it’s a long way to check on them.

swapping the bath and vanities in the ens will allow the bath to be seen from the master bed and a highlight window above the vanity will be the most private, a wood fire on the south side of the family room to heat the whole living area (with doors to close off bedrooms and front hall) and access through the laundry to collect wood and removes ashes ..but, although the theatre should be warmed by winter sun all the glass doors will make it hard to keep warm on cold nights so a small electric heater or reverse cycle AC might be needed if you want to be able to close off teh theatre from family living areas... kitchen arrangements are very personal but i would avoid stove and fridge on the north side of the kitchen to keep kitchen prep away from traffic area.. using glass sliding doors between theatre and family room as well as from theatre and family rooms out to the deck/alfresco will allow a direct line of sight from kitchen sink to the southern views...although it does look interesting the "box" windows aren't suitable for your roof shape and if you want to use a VERGOLA roof outside it would probably be better to consider a separate deck instead of an enclosed alfresco and inside a skylight or ventilating roof windows should be on the eastern side of the roof not western side with or without a raked ceiling in the family room, kitchen and theatre although several Solar Skylights would be much cheaper and can be installed after the building is finished when you decide if and where you need extra light and they're not affected by orientation ... mudroom, pantry laundry and bathroom should have smallest windows and will help protect the house from hot western sun but most important will be deciding how the house should be sited on the block to minimise wasted garden space, allow for drive through access and the slope and you previously mentioned long term plans for a granny flat and that should be included in the design even if it's not built till later

Fireplace. The central location you have appears to be in a thoroughfare. It is not visible from lounge and not a feature to sit around. I would plan room around the fireplace. Where is sitting and other elements like tv, dining, storage etc. This may effect windows. You can’t just add a fireplace last.

Talking about a complex roof design, yes that will increase costs.

It will also be a nightmare for solar PV panels (which should be an important consideration for all homes nowadays). Not only will the complex roof increase the complexity & cost of solar installation. The results will look pretty terrible too - if that's an issue - as rectangular panels don't fit well on triangles & trapezoids.

One reason for the complex roof - other than Australia's love of hip & valley roofs - is the complex floorplan. A complex shapes footprint will lead to a complex roof.

Talking about trying to keep costs down, as you've started, a complex footprint not only results in a complex, costly roof.

Complex footprints will increase building costs in other ways. They'll result in a larger external surface area. As external walls are more costly than internal walls, larger external surface areas increase cost.

Each corner will increase cost. There's a lot of corners in this building. There's unusual angles, which will also greatly increase costs.

On a sloping block a large footprint will lead to much more cutting & filling, much more retaining.

I'm not expert, but I'd weight up the costs of a large single storey home on a sloping block, verses a much simpler shaped rectangular home, with a much smaller footprint, double storey at the rear. It may turn out that in this case a split level home - with increased comfort & far more northern light to living areas, & views to the south in many rooms - may be worth an additional investment.

In any case, is be looking at reducing the size of the build, of costs are an issue. It will be much better for the environment in any case.

Looking to utilise multi-purpose rooms, such as a home theatre that doubles as a guest room. Limiting hallway space, dead space in some people's books, removing the scullery (I personally hate these things).

I think good design is far more important than having a home that is larger than needed.

another variation.. slightly bigger but still has view of the bath from master bed, better connection to alfresco and views and theatre is more a night time room ..always so many options but a much better roof and use of the site than any of the angled plans

Hi there. Thank you all for your tips, a lot of interesting comments quite true. I've got another design from the same builder that I hope will be the best choice. It's getting drawn now so I hopefully have it tomorrow unfortunately has lots of roof bits but I think fits block better.