If you're trying to be true to the 80's build of the house - they'd work, otherwise there are great outdoor tiles that replicate stone that are timeless. If you go with a sandstone look-a-like you'll get the warmth from the honey/brown colours but you wont be set with a look of a particular era. I would avoid natural sandstone as they're a lot of work to keep looking great.

Just trying to study your floor plans which unfortunately I can't read so can only guess at the room use. I have no idea of the room sizes either, but I'm just wondering if you have actually done furniture layouts for each room to scale. This is really important. It seems to me like you have some great ideas you have picked up but then tried to make the rest of the house fit around them. How many people do you intend having live in the house? You have a lovely generous ensuite with a private toilet area for two people, but then have a main bathroom for how many people, jammed into a space almost half the size of the ensuite. Even the toilet is in there with no privacy whatsoever meaning that entire space can only be used by one person at a time. If you are planning this for kids, that will translate into lots of fights and arguments. If you want to create a really luxe and practical space, create a separate enclosed toilet, the shower and bath in an enclosed space and the vanity open for use at any time. This would be more in keeping with the standard you have set in the ensuite and balance the house so much better. These sort of details have a major impact on the overall value and attractiveness of your home. I don't know what you plan for the open space upstairs, but with a window along one wall a passageway the other side and only minimal wall space your use of this room will be severely restricted. Similarly the room under it will be very limited in its use. All the more reason to plan furniture to scale. I have seen master bedrooms done with the double doors which look very grand in the right sized room but in the wrong sized room, it just looks ridiculously pretentious to fling the doors open with a flourish, take two steps into the room and fall over the end of the bed. I'm sorry if I'm sounding harsh here, just trying to use my years of experience to help you create an amazing house. I've seen many pitfalls and I know how easy they are to make. You obviously intend spending a lot of money and you have some great ideas judging by your Ideas Books. Create more Ideas Books to cover every room of your house, then go talk to an architect, show him/her what you want, your Ideas Books will be invaluable to understand your likes and tastes and let him/her create something unique and special for you.

Firstly, thank you all so much for your thoughts. Will answer in turn. Vy... That is definitely something I had considered too. Given that our current apartment master bedroom is next to the nursery and we wish now that there was some separation. Will definitely ask the designer if they can move things around at all. The reason the master is at the end (or far right when looking at the plans), is that the views to the right (or North West) is a key feature as it overlooks a lake. This was the primary reason for the L (or T) shaped house. Hopefully the designer can move around the rooms to add some privacy but keep the master at the end. Daryl... Firstly, your plans are great. I am building within a few km's of you too. What a great place to live :) That's a great idea with the removal of a hallway and have the spare room accessible from the breezeway and through the bathroom. It could definitely save us some room. Also this could allow me to make the office slightly larger too, so it could be considered an extra bedroom for resale value. The only problem I can think of is that if someone wanted to access the bathroom from inside, they would need to come through the office. My office is always a bit of a personal space (pretty messy for guests to walk through), and if I'm working in there I wouldnt want to be interrupted. I guess people could just go outside and walk around. Will run it past the designer anyway. I also agree with the entry gate. This was something we definitely wanted to change as it looks a bit awkward and not quite fitting with the angled roof etc. Will see what other options they come up with. With the fence planned where the (current) gatehouse is, do you envisage the fence just hitting a right angle there and then running along the decking to that further set back entryway you suggested? Kjs.. Reasonably hot summers in Northern NSW. The back deck probably wont get used too much. The deck facing the pool/North will be the primarily used deck. The views out the back are just quite nice (looks out on to bushland) and this is where the kids play area will be, so thats why we wanted windows looking out that way. I can't quite picture what you mean with the moving to an L Shape to avoid the sun. Have you seen a similar design somewhere you could link? Would be great to look at some different options. Great suggestions re the pool/bathroom connection. Perhaps with Daryls suggestion for the bathroom being linked to outside (with two way doors inside) this will be achievable. Cover over entry gate if the entry gate stays is also a great idea. Some excellent suggestions guys. Keep them coming! Cheers

Bit of a circle thing, the engineer will have trouble commenting on what you plan to do without drawings of the existing and proposed. Never met an engineer who could not work their magic on any structure, but there will be simple and cheaper methods and then there can be some super expensive ones. Builders and engineers should be communicating as well. If i were you, i would have identified a builder, get a good architect to work with you, your budget, the builder and engineer, and town planner if this requires DA approval. Overshadowing is the shadow your structure casts on the neighbors property. Overlooking is when they can see into your property, some councils have means to prevent this and the last to build normally has to screen their windows to prevent overlooking, some require only high windows, not all councils and not all property sizes will be affected. If the architect draws in a 3D package it is a simple matter to show you where the shadows land at any time and day of the year, based on you address. If allowed to build that top story, they can show you if you shade your pool. This is a big investment from you, most likely you would be living with the results for years, i would imagine that you would want the best outcome for your family, and to engage professionals would be the way to achieve those outcomes. Thoughts and ideas from forums like this are great, but sometimes they are not aware of the outcomes of comments which might affect your whole project, and councils around the country all have different requirements. Check and check again. What is allowed in Brisbane with height and upper floor window sizes on smaller blocks, will not be allowed in Melbourne, or Sydney councils. Shadowing while really not an issue in Brisbane, will be a huge issue in Melbourne, so get a local team. Ros