THe wc doesn't have a basin. Maybe pull the door frame slightly forward and pop a small one in.
In this day and age with continuous hand washing, I would assume that's got to be law now!?!

You don't want a cavity slider on wir 1?
Or on ensuite?

Hi @kiwimills! Yup, thinking of adjusting the wc and add a hand basin!

Hmmm, haven’t thought of adding a slider to wr1 but i think that’s a good suggestion. Thanks!

My husband is thinking of adding a feature wall on areas marked x. What do you all think? I think a feature wall along entry, master bedroom and family area is ok, but the two walls in front living area and master’s bathroom a bit too much? Could end up messy and confusing to the eyes with too many feature walls? He is insistent but what do you all think?

In paint...or wallpaper /mural/wood?
If in paint..let him go for it, if you hate it, re paint later.
I saw a great feature wall with wallpaper behind a vanity. Looked fab.
Just a small area was enough in the room. FYI..

@kiwimills Just paint. wallpaper behind a vanity sounds fab! 😍 But Will the moisture in the bathroom affect it?

I think it was a vinyl print. It was of a lot of flowers... In a show home.

On a whole wall, in a lounge etc would have been too much but it's a wall size like you have. Was very striking

Feature walls -Go for it. And yes wc must have a basin. Maybe move doors for bath wc and laundry to the main hall to give space in wc for basin. The short hall is a waste of space.
The wide opening to the hall from kitchen needs a door for privacy and sound control, I would reduce its width and add slider.
Do you need the window behind couch on western wall? What shading is there to these windows?
Kitchen doesn’t have a lot of usable bench space, can you move fridge or sink? I think you need a kitchen designer to have a look.
Also add skylights to kitchen, pantry and hall.

Do you really require the WIR2. if you delete it, it will give more room in the family room, and give more room in the hallway to extend the bathroom. The bathroom is compromised in size, especially with the angle door to enter.

You potentially have 6 people to use the bathroom, and it appears smaller than the WIR2.

You could replace the WIR2 with a Built in Robe.

And as @Kate has mentioned, what shading do you have for the home. It appears by the plan that there are no eaves at all. maybe you could have low horizontal windows on the west family and meals wall. this will let in the light but not the west hot sunshine.

example of low horizontal windows. This photo has two windows, but my suggestion would be for only the lower one. You could have green planting outside the windows as a feature.

@Kate Hi Kate, we actually prefer the house to have big windows. But now that you’ve said something about the western sun, it made me a bit worried. We are thinking of double glazing the windows though. You think it will help with the heat of the afternoon sun?

@dreamer We do love big windows. Now, I’m a bit worried. Don’t want to let go of the big windows but scared of the hot afternoon sun esp during summer. Do you think double glazing will help? What can we install outside the window that could help with shading the western side?

I do need the walk in robe. 😅 But i agree with the idea of extending the bathroom and replace the angle door.

Do you think it will work if the toilet door is adjusted forward to give space for a basin?

What do you all think of this small hand basin? Will water splash everywhere if the basin is this size?

If it fits, it's better than nothing.
Make sure the tap isn't too powerful!

My favourite feature in my daughters new home is the garage opens straight into the butlers pantry. No carrying groceries through the house.
Just a thought

I have a small basin of similar size in a toilet. I don’t notice any more splashes than the bigger bathroom basin.

Where are you, what is your climate? How close are your side boundaries?

Ideally if you want to reduce heat gain you stop the sun hitting the windows in the first place with external shading. Types of glass and internal window furnishings are not as effective.

Have your big windows on the western side if that is what you would like.

To keep the summer sun off those windows:

Plant tall shading plants.

or roller shutters on the outside of windows

or pull down external blinds

or shade cloth attached to fence line and gutter.

The trick is to stop the sun getting to the windows in the first place. The window will heat up if it is exposed to hot summer sun, whether it is double glazed or not.

It's no point having large western Windows, double glazed that cost a bit...to not being able to see out of them due to always having a curtain or blind pulled across. Defeats the whole purpose, unless you can prevent the sun going on to them like the suggestions above.
South Windows, big as you like!

@macyjean I live in Melbourne. The next house on the west is about 2m away. It’s a one storey house.

Types of glass and internal window furnishings are not as effective. -> even double glazed windows?

Double Glazing What are the benefits and disadvantages?

Benefits

The most obvious benefit of double glazed windows is the increased thermal efficiency. This means it is easier to maintain the temperature inside your house. This is important if you use air conditioners or central heating or cooling systems. Other benefits include:

• Energy-efficient
• Sustainable and environmentally friendly
• Reduces outdoor noise
• Durable with low maintenance
• Increases the value of your house
• Less condensation on your windows

Disadvantages

As double glazing is so efficient, any heat that enters your home during the hotter months is easily stored. This means you should take extra measures to alleviate the problem in summer. Two options include applying UV protective coating or using window films. Remember, these additional protective layers will increase the cost of your installation.

@raquel h

the direct access to pantry from garage may work for some.

But, if it is the only entrance from garage into the home, then this becomes a thoroughfare.

And I would not want my husband or children coming into the house, sweaty from a days work or a day running around at school through the pantry. It will also ( unless a lot of square metres available) compromise the size of the pantry.

A separate door adjacent to the kitchen would be better. In the design in this post, the door from the garage is only a short walk from the kitchen. Not that far to take groceries, but far enough not to be a health hazard.

So what is the big window looking out to? Are you planting a screen along the boundary?

The afternoon sun from the west is useful in cold winters, though the best solar benefits year round come from the north. You don't want anything that blocks that west side all year round so consider adjustable screening or deciduous plants.

I agree about access from the garage, it's a thoroughfare for everything in addition to bringing in groceries and it lets in car exhaust. There are reasons why people who can, put a mudroom / airlock in their plan.

fyi there is washable wallpaper. https://www.nattyandpolly.com.au/vinyl-wallpaper/
but these guys claim to be able to make any wallpaper waterproof.
https://www.remedialmembranes.com.au/wallpaper/
I do remember seeing in a magazine somewhere waterproof wallpaper that could be used in showers and as backsplash, but I can't remember where...

Showers... Wow.

This is elegant.

Very calming while bathing!