You know, Alipetecampbell, I think a lot of good could be done by simply not allowing houses to be built unless they're designed by a qualified architect and signed off by a qualified engineer, and built to minimum standards that ensure proper passive climate control (insulation, glazing, orientation etc.) and social linkage issues - let's ban the food desert and the nappy valley. Developers have a vested interest in building cheap, and those rubbish houses sell because (a) there's not much else on the market and (b) superficially they look okay. You'd argue that what I'm proposing would raise housing costs, but let's stop making billionaires of developers, let's stop councils from charging silly money for planning fees (eminently doable if housing is professionally designed) and, as I have said above, use less land for more housing AND more greenspace too, and the cuts in cost these measures would create could go towards making all houses better.

I love all this feed back - thank you ladies & gents :) I do think the light and flow would probably work better like oklouise's first post - I concede you are both right. My concern was the depth of the shower - we have a very pokey one at the moment but think I see how to rectify that - tell me what you think? Also I want LOTS of storage and think keeping the storage in the activity with the entrance now up the other end would limit the furniture layouts so I would probably keep that in the entrance hall and still use the nook as is - no doubt they will sit there to do their makeup as the light will be amazing BUT i can imagine the mess will not - haha! I LOVE those doors siriuskey- so grand and impressive but my husband is a lay in bed TV watcher so that would possibly take up too much wall space for his liking - again I giggle ( you have to right?)

Hi We've done automation where just about everything opens and shuts (eg 10 TV's) for $100's of thousands of dollars in a multi million $$ home to simple lighting /aircon and AV in homes... There is no right or wrong answer, as it depends on both your appetite for it and your budget...but here is what we tend to do... We do lighting with preset scenes only now as we've found most people still prefer to use a switch, even if it is a simple dimmer press switch. Those scenes include all off controlled by the bed side in master and at the front door as you go out, to evening mood lighting, to passage only (to eg kitchen) at 20% on movement sensor at night so you can see where you're going on the way to toilet/get a drink, away mode (lights come on and off to simulate someone home), theatre preset (lights and projector/tv set)... Where a lot of big money is spent and systems become unwieldy is in the level of programming required at the switch itself vs the board and how many commands it needs to do a simple action. We've tried all sorts of systems but generally find the simplest wins all of the time as it is more user friendly. At present, we are trialling the simplest system we have found so far which is Amazon voice activated service (Alexa) with off the shelf light switches from Belkin (available in eg JB Hi Fi), portable music systems and aircon integration. As it is mostly plug and play wireless it is so far making the hard wired systems we've used before seem overly complicated and expensive. It is also expandable and once you see what Amazon has in store for us here in Oz re services you can order with it, it can be quite amazing... If I had to suggest a minimum automation, do scenes that resonate with you for lighting, install SONOS (we do it in EVERY property even if it has no automation), link your aircon, do a scene/macro for the home theatre if you have one and get good internet over Foxtel cable.... Cheers

I think I have gotten my head around everything , now I am definitely no designer but this whole design seems like it was done by someone stupider than me ! Downstairs you are going with 3 metre ceilings ( slightly higher than standard ) presumably to get an airier feel . Then you ( or your builder ) want a relatively narrow hallway ? Go slight luxury there IMO . The study has already been discussed , but one thing no-one mentioned was the 'slash' /bedroom 6 there -- a study with a bed ( even a single or bunks ) needs to be bigger . So surely the 'answer' is to make it bigger , push everything back until you get to the dining , and guess what -- yes , the split ceiling would not be a problem ! As Dr Retro says , turn the dining table around , make the alfresco a bit smaller . The alfresco has a ceiling -- it is under the roofline . You have lots of sliding doors . So the temperature and outdoor feel between the alfresco and the dining area is neglible -- I'd go for a bigger dining area any day ! In fact , even if you are BBQ nuts , you could presumably have the BBQ and even some seating 'outside' ( I tried to check the length but gave up , but I assume you have a back garden ) . But heres some other weird things . The garage almost certainly needs a window . Minor I know , but why not ? Then , without seeing an actual impression , the front seems weird . There looks to be columns , and a wall on the other side , a metre and a half or so in front . Its job -- to hold up a balcony . The front entrance is set back , but doesn't seem to have much , if any , weather protection ? And then the other side , in front of Bed 4 , has a large window but no balcony . Now I know the stairs would need a tweak , but why not move the whole upstairs 'back' by the metre and a half , lower the kitchen and dining to 3 metre ceilings ( a 4 metre ceiling in a kitchen may look great , but that top metre will be a pain to clean , and basically unusable -- cupboards , etc will be too high ) . Then you could have the balcony ( or 1 balcony right across , or a roof above the entrance , or even a bigger , more roomy entrance -- and yes I do realise it is double height , but make it a longer , wider , double height more lux entrance ) set back , more space front or rear if thats a priority ? Basically , it looks like someone has taken a template , added some bits , and gone 'there you go' , without considering the overall picture .