I have been looking online at similar tables - most of them are honey coloured; one or two that I have seen have darker legs, but the paler coloured top and skirt. A few are described as different tops (eg cedar) and legs (eg blackwood). I am thinking I will get the other leaves and the skirt stripped back to match, at least; if the legs are the same wood I will get them done also, otherwise they can stay as they are. Thank you everyone for your help and advice, much appreciated!

You could go wider but it depends on what type of dining furniture would want to use and how many you will be catering for. Bench seating tucks underneath and when it is being used you aren't so worried about the other space. You could always turn it around the other way [ perpendicular to the house] so the width is less of an issue as 10 metres is a decent length deck. I think even an extra 30cm would make a difference and not doing it may cost more in regret than the materials. You could go wider in the dining area only but it is a bit hard to judge without seeing the space. Find some furniture you like online and map out a plan for yourself - use newspaper for life size modelling. Good luck

Hi anzella, loving the new table and chairs, because you live in North QLD I wouldn't worry about a rug under the table, apart from you climate I find rugs under tables can become very annoying . If however you do decide to have one down the track, Sisal Rugs are great for your climate, you can even make your own to whatever size by buying the sisal and edging it yourself or getting a carpet place to overlock the edges. Some years ago I made two very large rugs and edged them with a wide black tape, I stitched them by hand, loved them in the dining and joining living room.What a shame you can't have the hanging lamp in the picture over your table, not sure if it would fit between your ceiling fans. cheers https://www.dealsdirect.com.au/product.aspx?saleID=1774c795-993e-4615-afbc-f53a2e1dcab3&productID=ojiuDsjunkG1Vz9n7zBrLQ&sc=7&c=12&mkwid=siJYklREw_dc&pcrid=189771976719&pkw=&pmt=&product=ojiuDsjunkG1Vz9n7zBrLQ_6xX6Gc4vLkKMpQtba7S3jw&gclid=CjwKEAjwoLfHBRD_jLW93remyAQSJABIygGp4cKCQmlURqkE4IbUxZFOwwVQKSQHTM9Fx7Xllv1FvRoCWqrw_wcB

Hi Sarah, hope you enjoyed your travels last night, that's something we have spent our lives doing plus living in different countries. Do look into the attic room/s they are lovely and the Velux skylights very unobtrusive, look great and if positioned correctly take care of venting any hot air, as I mentioned ours were pivoting ones and could be locked open in several positions. I much prefer these to dormer windows, you don't really notice them. The stairs were built off site and lifted into position and installed, built in. At the time we did ours a very good friend a builder did the same but just completely opened the whole ceiling space right out towards the gutters into a large bedroom play study area for his daughters, also using Velux windows. Glass ceilings, like Velux windows have been around for years, believe me I know, we're both getting older. Velux windows can be used as glass ceilings in opening and non opening configurations. I would love to see you keep the outdoor loo as well and updating the old shed into a new connecting space to the house, perhaps a glass breezeway. I will have another look at your plan again over the weekend. I love your front iron gate as well, auto sliding driveway gates work really well and would really fit with your carport. My brother in law put in a tall timber sliding gate at his last home, lovely cheers