I have an open plan home too but mine looks a bit larger. I would open the space instead of trying to make rooms using the furniture. If there is no other wall, you could put your couch where the tv is and place the TV on a smaller table on an angle where your gas connection is. I would also lighten and brighten the furnishings with chair covers, cushions and maybe even a stretchy lighter couch cover (good too as you can wash so keep fabric on couch clean). I would add some drama and frame the windows with ceiling to floor side drapes leaving the rest for natural light. You can easily do yourself with some cheap cotton fabric and some curtain hardware (as they are not functional, you just need to hang and drape on sides). Id turn your dining table the other way and get some nice stuff happening on your fence outside to draw the eye to the out doors. You could grow creepers, ivy or hang some trailing plants in a row from the fence. There are some great pots that hook onto the top of fences for this so no drilling required. You could also combine fake trails with real until the real ones grow for instant green. Amazon have cheap fake trailing ivy etc. Or, Put some ficus or other trees in pots along the fence. Id repeat some green indoors too ie a pot here and there in corners as you have so much light. Id also get a washable rug to cosy up the tiles and make it look less stark ie one you can throw in the washing machine! I just bought a soft one from target for $25! Alternatively, buy an outdoor plastic one as they can be hosed. I use one of those too and as I have pets, tits great. They have some cool designs too. Chair covers will update your dining chairs and are cheap on sale at places like spotlight and kmart. Lastly, Id look on gumtree for some cool lamps or a hanging light for your dining area. You can be modern but always balance with some natural elements like wood so maybe a wood based lamp or a couple of wooden ornaments. :)

Hi Blufitch, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. The four coffee tables are lovely, but I would probably opt for one of the two top ones. That being said, check the measurements first as these round tables might be significantly larger than your existing Ikea table. Re the potted plant, a taller one would be better, or you can put this one on a plant stand or even on a ceramic stool. But if you feel a mirror would be too much due to your mirrored splashback, leave the plant as it is and hang a framed print above the plant. It doesn't need to be big, but it's important that it s not too small so it doesn't look too "lost" on the wall. It's hard for me to judge the size from here, but a 70x40 frame might be ok. You could have only the yellow canvas above the couch, but you would have to bring in a few more brightly-coloured cushions or throw onto the couch, to compensate for the empty wall. Alternatively, you could also hang a large mirror above the couch. If you decide to do this, I think it would be best to move the canvas back to where it was, and hang the mirror in front of the window, so it reflects the natural light around and gives more depth to the room. The large Ikea Stave mirror (in white stained oak) is very reasonably priced and would work great. Just double check it fits first (it's 70x160)! Tell us how yo go! All the best, Nelly / Twinkle and Whistle

Dear Mary, a track on the ceiling with S-fold heading would look good in this room. It would be terrific as a sheer, but remember that at night people can see in when the light is on - during the day, it will be private. As KK1000 said, a blind in the reveal will make the area private when required, or have lining on a separate track. The fabric doesn't need to be plain, it can include design in the colours you already have in the furniture, rugs or artwork. There are fabulous coarsely woven sheers at the moment and a few samples follow: Most curtains at the moment are falling from the ceiling, as it makes the room seem larger and the S-fold looks good from the outside, rather than gathers - just look about in the meantime, you will see what I mean. Pelmets are making a come-back, but might look like an apology with your leather furniture, unless they are relatively straight and fit up to the cornice.

Well, I had a structural engineer come to the house yesterday at a cost of $600. I thought I would get drawings or something for that price but this is what he said.....(oh, before his visit, I cute into some of the plaster of the dividing wall between kitchen and lounge and the brick wall goes all the way along the wall). Structural engineer said that the wall is load bearing because he think that it provids support the support rafters (or what the horizontal beams that are at the bottom of the cathedral ceiling). Those horizontal beams that go across the house (each one from back to front of house) and partly supported by the brick dviding wall. He said that if I totally removed the overhead walkway, I would still need to leave a post or some of the brick on either side of the current dividing wall , as well as a support beam between them. He said I could cut out a window into the wall, but the bigger the window the bigger the horizontal support beam would be required. He said he didnt like working with brick because it was not like timber etc, where you can calculate what load it takes. He said there can be a lot of variation in a brick wall. He said that I should contact a building designer (someone who can give an idea of design whilst also consdiering loads and being able to draw plans...he said normally, those people will ask his advice on something). I hate tryin to do renos, because you can spend a lot of money and not really get much from it, and also go in circles about knowing who is the best person to contact. I know I do need someone to help give me an idea of design, but someone who also takes into consideration comparative costs including structural elements/loads etc. When I said to him ..so I shouldnt see an architect, he said that he often sees things from architects with no technical drawings...just design only. I really would like to be able to see the view at the back from anyway in the house, but I am a little bit reluctant to move plumbing, as I imagine with a concrete floor, the costs will start to rise significantly if plumbing has to be moved. I tend to spend most of my sitting outside time, at the back of the house, looking at the lake...even though there is only 1.5metres from the back of my property to public land (and that I have to put fencing up there to keep my dogs in). It is only me and my dogs at the place, but I do want to make sure that any changes that i make are family friendly and AirBnB friendly. The exisitng laundry seems to have heaps of wasted space in it and because the current windown is so high in it, it seems to be very segregated from the outside pool and not in the best place. I dont know what to do with this place.