you can't beat white, it goes with everything, clean and crisp looking, my choice would be fridge top and freezer bottom, better still two separate side by side, if there's room, keep a thermometer in both to check on temp, as the ones in the appliance are usually not accurate,, and check the lights, mine are always flickering on and off when i open the door, buy one with wheels so that you can pull it out to clean

Hi, I know this is a long time after your first notes but I can't help but comment. I love the idea of the shallow wall that goes to the ceiling with a ladder. We lived in a home where the refrigerator was outside on the porch due to lack of space. With very few cupboards, I did a couple shelving units built between studs like that. I measured the height of each shelf away from the one above it with my canned foods. Turned out great and it is amazing how much those 2 little shelves could hold. I also want to say that I don't know building codes in your country but I agree that you should get at least 3 other quotes. With a concrete wall you can put electrical in that area. You can just have them use metal, electrical conduit. It does show (toe kick works, too!) but it is very non-invasive and should be cheaper. I really love the kitchen that Edith Martins posted. It is such a little gem. I can just picture myself working in that lovely place. Go slowly with your renovations. Listen to all thoughts and suggestions. In the end, this is your money you are spending and your home, so be sure to do what makes you happy. Lastly, there is NO box that you have to work within. Look online, watch Tiny House shows, go to architectural websites for ideas. Do YOUR thing. And, please post pictures when you are done! Best.

There's a move away from gas to the extent that new suburbs where I live are not even being provided with gas mains. Evap cooling when we researched some time back required some windows open and I remember people complaining about that during last summer's smoke. Regardless of which systems you choose, I could not agree more with oklouise, start with good solar passive design and insulation, that's the most efficient way of reducing the reliance on and cost of heating and cooling systems.

I see no downstairs bedroom, so is the downstairs shower for a swimming pool? If so, I'd try to include a door to the outside, even if it means making the shower smaller. The upstairs bathroom would be a lovely luxurious ensuite, but as a bathroom it has drawbacks. There is the downstairs bathroom but needing to go to a different floor because someone is in the bath should be an avoidable inconvenience in such a generous house. How many people will be sharing the bathroom? Will Bedroom 2 be permanently occupied, or will it be something like a study or guest room? The wall between it and the master bedroom should be soundproofed. The upstairs linen cupboard definitely compromises the functionality of the leisure room. I'd put a cupboard of some sort in the area to the right of the master bedroom doorway, which is otherwise just an oversize thoroughfare. I love the mudroom concept, but having to cross a corridor to get to it when coming in somewhat negates its purpose. It looks like a useful storeroom but something just inside the garage door incorporating a dropzone and shoe bench and whatever works for you is a more practical version and the storeroom can be for things less regularly accessed. Where's the fridge? Is that the fridge next to the bar? It's too far. A kitchen, a butlers pantry, an outdoor kitchen, and you still have to walk to yet another room just to get items out of the fridge, that's bizarre. I mean I get the potential usefulness of each zone but they need to function with comfort and convenience. I do find it sad that efficiency is still not a thing, even as we approach COP26. For starters unless the house is in the tropics it should be easy to tell where north is.