Wuff, that's how it should be...unfortuntely things are hardly ever as they should be and mny people these days haven't a clue about ettiquette....that applies to some adults in particular. I agree that fine dining restaurants are not suitable for children...unless of course, as you describe, the children hav been schooled in proper behaviour. One restaurants I've been taken to on specil occasions actually has a policy of "no children"..but in order not to breach discrimination ettiquette they have a special chidren's dining room with waiters dressed in colorful uniforms. There's also a fine dining children's menu. The children are called 'maam' and 'sir' and have their chairs pulled out for them....they have their non alcoholic drinks served in lovly glases as if it were champagne or wine....it really delightful. They also have themed evenings. There's a dining etiquette that the children are expected to observe..and how to hold and use the cutlery. Parents are given a little booklet about it.. I thought it a good way to instruct the adults under the guise of instructing the children. It works well and the restaurant owners are to be commended for such a novel approach to...well, it "manners" isn't it? And not many know the mening ot the word these days. The children come away from such an experience feeling important..and I think some parents learn a few things too. There's nothing worse that not being able to go out for a dignified meal because other people don't realise that some places are just not for children..especilly their chidren. Its one thing being well-to-do and completely another having manners. My dear old Mum was the eldest of 12 children...their Dad was an Engine Driver, but he insisted that each and every one of the children learn manners.. As disadvantaged as they were, they "dressed" for dinner in their best always clean, pressed, starched clothes,,, darns, mends and all, and he'd inspect them all before they were allowed to be seated. Mum's Aunt Laura taught her to..."be a lady" and educated her about the arts, taught her how to dance, how to set a table for a three course meal, how to dress, how to be polite, and..how to cook and manage a home...so she would be able to "mix it with the best" and not be thought out of place. How things have changed...its all more relaxed. Manners and respect for others seem to have..."Gone With The Wind"..regarded as outmoded and old fashioned. Pity! Wonder how we can get a gracious, respecful society back?

Hi LouieT, answers to your q's - Side Windows - not too fussed about them but we'd need windows whether they are the existing ones or new/enlarged I guess depends where they end up. In the current floorplan the one in the toilet is a small window which is boarded up atm. The one in the bathroom is a long/tall louvre window - works quite well in the bathroom - not so sure about how it will go in winter though. Plan with WC in laundry - its 965mm to the window so should fit, however I don't think a WC in that position would work for us as it means people needing to walk to the back of the house to go to the toilet - and I could imagine our ensuite becoming the default toilet if thats the case. Moving laundry - I think we'd probably need a window. Losing large storage - i think we're resigned to losing it. However I think if we can maintain the current laundry or a reasonable portion of it we can owrk in some more storage there. Having had a look at the 3 I think the first one (where current laundry is maintained) is the best. I had a play in sketchup with my measurements and I think your first 3D plan and the first of the three can fit with a few tweaks. See below...

Hi Duncan, A substantial project you are looking at here. First point is moisture control is always manageable/able to be addressed with the right (engineering/drainage) solution/management and strategy - yes sure it can cost money and depending upon the specific situation and potential outcome/benefits the answer to whether or not it's worth it requires balancing the outcomes to costs....... But first things first, a project of this nature and scale is significant, has some inherent complexity and thus logically requires a professional (design) hand to help you properly resolve a solution that achieves your various needs.......have you spoken with a designer or architect yet? There are various aspects of complexity here with the site fall and negotiation of existing layout etc..... I may be off the mark but I'm going take an (educated) guess/stab at what's happened here is that you've had a go at working this out broadly/conceptually, you're thinking budget of say $300K give or take, and you've then spoken to a builder who's thrown around numbers least double that based on your concepts pegging potential moisture management as the reason why you "can't" do it.........A two level extension of this scale + renovations + Landscaping/carport etc done well tying to a property like this will hit $600K+ any day of the week. Want to know how to sort this out? Realistically you should seek advise from design professional who is experienced with renovations and extensions on projects of this scale and nature. The way we regularly worth through this type of thing is to take clients through a properly structured process to effectively hone in on a logical and suitable solution. Firstly we need to assess/understand properly the existing conditions, then clarify people's specific needs/requirements and most impotently define the budget. THEN with full understanding of the situation, (including any relevant planning restriction etc) we move on to considering viable options and stack proper projected costings up. Typically the options that meet the needs perfectly will blow the budget, and the options that meet the budget require some form of compromise/paring back of the "wishlist". The process then moves in the finding a suitable balance somewhere in the middle that makes sense on a number of levels What you need to do on these projects is make sure that you are making logical and sensible design decisions for both (a) your needs and (b) the property/investment. For example, a turning bay for vehicle at the rear of a lovely property is arguably a big a waste of prime private external space - this should/could be resolved better...... Happy to provide further comments but really require further data/information and have direct conversation about various aspects/thoughts/opinions/goals from your end. Whilst I understand your dilemma & can sympathise with your frustration of not knowing what direction to go with your project, if you want some solid answers here, practically this requires some design investment and a professional process to achieve. Hope this helps steer you in the right direction in your journey. Cheers PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com

A few points. 1. Although the top of a hill seems like the ideal location you will be buffeted by winds on the peak. Better to site the house about 100m below the crown of the hill. You will still get the views but importantly be sheltered from weather while still being situated out of the cold valley. While wind may not sound too bad, you'll be surprised how much more difficult this will make gardening especially in the environs around yass. The earth there isn't very water absorbent so all your watering is going to run off leaving your garden dry and then the wind will be extra dehydrating and harsh. But siting on the slope, yes you will need to terrace but you wiill also benefit from runoff further up the hill. 2. With a drive that steep you are going to need asphalt. Compacted road base and gravel will just wash away in the first heavy rain. A dirt road will also be suspectible to erosion and minor land slips leaving deep fissures in the shoulder. 3. You are going to need proper runoff mitigration as soon as you cut a path up the hillside you are simultaneously creating a way for water to gain velocity and force from runoff. I would consider gabion reinforcement on the embankments or at the very least plants of either lomandra or vetiver (deep rooted grasses) to slow water down as it traverses the hill side. These grasses will also capture leaves and other debris preventing it from becoming dangerous in a storm. To be honest it will be worth you engaging an engineer to design your drive including run-off management and whatever other reinforcements you may require. If you wait until you have a major storm and your drive becomes unpassable it will be far more inconvenient.