Without being sure of what those windows are from, it might be worth considering creating a flat roof/ deck on that single garage and replacing the first window with a sliding door to access it. Continue he same balustrade as your fence with have and create a terrace. Slatted balustrade might provide the privacy in screening, and a nice place to stand out at evenings. I think a colourbond roof would modernize this home in the right way, it's low pitch is suited to doing so. As for the windows, I personally like timber awning windows for this style home. Although I think a louvre window would look amazing where that long narrow window is, and if it happens to be within your stairwell, it would create a fantastic breezeway and vacuum the hot air upwards and outwards. The main structure of your garage, I would create post and beams that jut out over the entrance path not a covered roof, just the beams, which would be the joists from the garage roof/ deck. This would tie into the architecture and soften the boxiness of the exterior facade. Also it will direct you through an interesting entrance and lighting and landscape details could really wow you.

I'm sorry, you live and learn! I feel your pain but the new plan using steel beams (can be rendered, won't look ugly) would probably cost the builder more than making the garage in the original plan size. The new plan will need to be engineered, I assume will cost more in labour and materials. Add 500mm to a single garage would be so cheap! You would only probably get the cost of the bricks and 2hours of labour if you work out a ratio. If the builder has already ordered the bricks for the original garage size, there will be an excess of bricks that you could utilise later. I know it sounds more like you would have preferred the storage space rather than the money side of it but when you think about it you are not losing much at all - 50cm isn't much. Have you seen the suspended garage storage? The cabinets are up high on the wall and the car bonnet actually goes under the cabinets, it's made as a space saving concept. I'd move on and not be too upset : )

Hi there, I agree with a lot of the suggestions above. Consider the textures, colours and finishes of your furnishings and artwork and think of the pendants as an opportunity to reiterate some of these. So for instance, if you have some black metal in the coffee table legs, you may bring in some of that in the kitchen pendants and look for say glass pendants with black fixtures. Coloured pendants are fun but they can date a lot quicker - bring in colour in the room through artwork, cushions and accessories.

Hi Doug Sorry, but my first question is why are you commencing construction without the engineering a) resolved and b) approved? If it has been approved then it is a variation and you are quite within your rights to question the engineer as to why the changes are now being put forward compared to the original approved drawings and what are the alternatives. If he has made a change to the original approved design then there needs to be a very good reason he hasn't issued revised drawings to both you and the drafty before sending anything to the fabricators. If he has sent revised drawings then I would be asking some very hard questions of my drafty. If it has not been approved and is being done on the fly then this method of construction is fraught with danger both from an approval and $$$$ perspective by proceeding without a fully resolved design. Your draftsman should be integrating the engineering into their drawings and discovering any clashes BEFORE final drawings are released for approval by the local authority and working around any issues. If there is an approval in place then there has to be engineering drawings around. Additionally, I certainly wouldn't be sending any drawings from an engineer direct to fabricators without them having correlated with the architecturals and without the drafty being in the loop. There is a breakdown somewhere that needs to be fixed otherwise it is going to cost. If i recall correctly, this is a floating concrete cantilevered floor? I would be surprised if anyone on here is going to be able to offer an engineering solution without seeing the whole design and/or loads. In truth, I would be having a chat with your engineer and see why the change or engage him to find a solution to what you now have. I would also be putting aside the design priority and focusing on what is going to work from the engineering perspective. That is the priority for this type of build. There are always ways to accommodate protrusions by making them a feature or covering them with a false facade/beam. Would need to see elevations to offer suggestions. As to the height I would suggest you post some sections of the whole room with elevations. Cheers