Second attempt was with Windex and same paper towel, which cleaned the two honed surfaces up pretty well. The lighter Raw Concrete seems to have been easier than the Sleek Concrete. And finally, to get rid of that pot scratch I used a non-scratching Scotch brite pad (what we usually use on dishes) with some diluted Soft Scrub. This one took a little more elbow grease but I'm satisfied with the results. My opinion is that comparing the two surfaces (honed vs. glossy) there is a marked difference. That being said, I currently have tile from 1978 and grout lines that are so deep and narrow I have to scrub them out with a toothbrush. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. We decided to go with the Raw Concrete after all, and like others have said, just expect that it'll take a little more work and show a few more stains. But then again, isn't that the whole point of concrete? That it looks industrial? I hope this has helped someone. If anyone is interested I'll try to post some more photos and real life feedback in a couple of weeks once ours is installed.

Just to confirm I have taken the great ideas presented here as advice only and have no intention to do some dodgy diy reno's. With the exception of a couple of quirky exposed timbers as you can see in my pictures there are no other exposed beams. As you can also see from the pictures there is a large roof space on the right (east) side of the house but the ceilings themselves are flat with a slight dip on the north wall. Based on my own personal experiences I would have to agree with Two's Company that there is a tendency towards rendered brick in WA (although there are still many exposed brick houses in my suburb) while double enclosed double garages are also highly desirable. I would also agree that toilets within the main bathroom and non traditional laundries may be considered unusual by many (but not all). Ensuites with toilets however are still very common. Also due to the nature of our work we would prefer the laundry separated from food/kitchen area. For a 4x2 house it is only around 155m2 excluding carport/alfresco which makes the rooms feel quite cramped, hence the desire to open up the family room. However, as Two's Company suggests we will need to first get a builder/eng in to check load bearing walls etc as this will undoubtedly affect what we can achieve within our budget. Having said that I still excited by many of your ideas and with luck hopefully can work some of them into the budget. Cheers all :)

Eltham is cold in winter so any heat/cooling help the environment can give you will be free and appreciated! I agree with living there for 12 months first. I thought, up stairs, to open up the study area as it will let light and sun into the whole open area there. I like the idea for the robes in the front bedroom (tho you have not said how many people will be living in the home) Down stairs: I agree with living/ dining on the north side might be more welcoming for everyday living and I would be adding more windows along this wall to aid the solar efficiency. Adding doors to the rear too from dining. getting the eave length right for winter sun and summer shade. Powder room/mud room great idea I would add a shower for pool, broken leg or other convenience!! Leave laundry where it is but arrange it better with no dead corners. Is it possible to build a walk in pantry under stairs: even if you have to add plaster to the arc of the stairs (and the robe above become a walk in?) it is a great opportunity! I like the idea of the open kitchen to dining, meals with tall storage under stairs or that side. I don't like the idea of knocking wall out family to entry but cavity slider 1 or 2 would be handy (Make sure of furniture placement b4 grabbing the sledge hammer!). The fire you are more likely to enjoy in evenings, it will only be efficient enough for that one room or heat becomes a draft up stairs. access thru sliders nice but close it off for intimacy & warmth too. Hope all this ramble helps too! Cheers Margot

Hi laddie93 It might be helpful to first establish the style of bathroom you want to create. You can do this by taking into consideration the style, age and location of the home in combination with styles that appeal to you. This might help you design a bathroom that you will personally love but also fit well with the rest of the home. Then look for colours to compliment that style, you can include textures and materials too. Compile these ideas into a design mood board and colour palette for the room. By having an idea of the overall style and colour pallet, you will find making the choice of individual items will become easier. Remember to also enjoy the design process, get creative! Exploring finished rooms on Houzz might also help guide and inspire you. If you're looking for extra reassurance on your individual choices, you can involve others by showing them the look you're after and if they think your individual choices will help you create the look you're going for.