Progress, our laundry is becoming a laundry bathroom and sink is in and washing machine working a big relief when you have 3 children under 6. First photo can see washing machine sink next to external door, I was planning to mount dryer above bench but have found out my dryer is not able to be mounted on wall..... oh well I don't use it very often it can live in the garage maybe more overhead cupboards Second photo new external door where window was ,,, am loving the extra light and the direct access to the clothes line. You can see the existing toilet area. The old broom cupboard now has a window for light and ventilation and plumbing for shower Third photo the opening for the new cavity door into spare bedroom yet to be completed. The plumbing showing hole in wall as we have put an outdoor shower both hot and cold, taps for washing machine and sink. We also had to put water and drain in for shower. In answer to the costing $5500 for the demolition, doors windows and all plumbing. cabinets $1500 $500 for the fittings taps 2 showers etc Still have to tile and paint We are happy with the way it is looking

Hi Jacaroo Bunny, I would start by choosing a new floor tile or vinyl plank (possibly less expensive) and then select a wall paint colour that coordinates with your cupboard paint, floor tile and bench top laminate. If they're all completely neutral it might be worth considering a splash of colour on the walls, such as a pale, warm yellow or cool blue. I personally really like Porter's Paints Limoncello (yellow) and Attic (blue). To give the room more of a refresh perhaps you could consider painting the doors, architraves, skirts and ceiling in varying lustres of the same paint colour you used for the cupboards. I'd also remove the window treatments and replace with simple roller blinds - but only if you need them - for sun protection or privacy. Replace the wall shelf with a floating IKEA Lack shelf in white (again, colour permitting), and add a cute wicker laundry hamper in the corner. It's tough to offer advice re: room unseen, budget and design aesthetic unknown, but best of luck anyway. :)

Michelle, I'm not a builder but am building with hubby, a single storey limestone home. Our daughter built a two storey limestone home just down the road, that hubby also built for her and the extra foundations she had to install would be at least twice more than we have for our single storey, not to mention that there were allot of short walled founds leading off the perimeter of her home to assist in less likelihood of wall roll out and the inspector called it. Cost for you, will depend on whether you have adequate foundations to carry a second storey and usually that is never the case. All the lower walls will need double the support and it usually has to carry on down to the foundations, depending on whether you have a solid concrete slab or concrete stumps that are accessible. This would mean most of the plaster being removed and hoping that you find no nasty surprises as far as the condition of the existing frame in the home, the builder would as I mentioned, have to add structural supports to carry the second storey. Most often, second stories are built with a hardiplank type exterior and certainly not brickwork as you would then difinitely have to have extra foundations in for such a reno and you would have to start asking yourself if it isn't better to demolish as this type of reno can be extremely costly. You might be lucky but probably highly unlikely, to have adequate structional integrity to be able to add a second storey, without everything I have mentioned to be skipped in any way. I hazzard a guess that such a reno would cost you $250,000+ and maybe more. Would love to know what you finally decide to do and your builders estimate. Good luck. Cheers, Barbara

@jmm1837, My appologies firstly to the author for being off topic. One house I lived in didn't have plaster anywhere, just pressboard for walls, the stuff notice boards are made from, so we wall papered as paint soaked in by the bucket load. then lived in a caravan and now a little relocatable cottage, a glorified caravan without wheels I say but now hubby and I are building our dream home, I have no decor or design education and have simply done my best with the plan and now the build. Great advice about making the home, warm, comfortable etc...and I'm doing what I want and not following trends BUT unfortunately at times I am truly paralized by indicision, too many choices of everything from interior colours to simple door handles and when I put my head down to sleep, my mind goes into overdrive, sleeping at times only a few hours a night ha-ha Still enjoying the process but it isn't that simple to follow your suggestions!!! I'm sure as the home progresses, with less decisions to make, it will become easier.