I have to put my hand up again I love builders and they are the to go to guys to build things but designers they are not, if they are given a plan already designed they have the know how to make it happen. My problem with your house is that when the last extensions were done the family room ended up in the middle of the house surrounded by other rooms, this could have made everything quite dark and closed in. I have removed bed 2 for this reason so that the space can be opened up for more usable area plus a larger entrance and more light inside. Bed 2 can be replaced with a much better master suite using the living and dining to allow an ensuite and WIR, this to be done when needed and money allows for fit out of the ensuite but until then it's a wonderful Master bedroom. For now the existing dining can be opened up or not to the narrow passage , to be used for kids play room/study or guests. Changing the entrance to a bigger wider one gives great street appeal and easier access whether it be by stairs or ramp. I prefer the laundry where it is close to the bedrooms, this can have another much needed WC and even a shower using the existing plumbing from the bathroom next door. This laundry bathroom should be setup with possible wheel chair use in mind, The washing machine and dryer stacked and installed into a cupboard using one of or similar easy ducting systems which uses a 6" flexable tubing up into the ceiling and across and out down through the eaves. cheap and easy, no expensive dryer required. Also the current access to the bedrooms is in the wrong position making it a hike from the entrance and kitchen to the WC, changing it to the other end makes for better access. Importantly the kitchen to remain in the same position but removing walls to open up and adding a 1800 x 900 x 3 x 600 pot drawers for great storage, The 600 Pantry will double it's storage by simply adding drawers. plus so easy to find things Try to re use as many doors and windows as possible and making them as large as possible in the family kitchen space. Lovely sliding doors from the current living room verandah adds a special touch for either living or bedroom, with the entrance moved that verandah is now a usable space for chairs and small table. Your builder is the one to deal with any load bearing wall situations and I'am hoping by retaining the dining room wall or part there of will still work cheers

Hi Judy, I may be a bit late but the first thing I would ask you is how many people in your family and is storage in general a problem for you. Also do you have a rough budget? Kitchens have come along way, you can redo the kitchen using the existing layout but making it a lot more efficient as well as more visually pleasing. As soon as you start moving walls and plumbing it becomes a lot more costly and involved. Not to mention messy. Would you live in there though that sort of reno. Bare in mind moving the wall will mean new flooring as well. I personally don't a butlers pantry unless they are primarily for the storage of things you don't use often. If it will be your actual pantry then you are making yourself walk a lot further each day to get your pantry items. Thus making meal prep take longer. I think the best place for your everyday pantry is next to the fridge so you can easily pack away after shopping and easily access what you need. If storage is a big issue then yes turn your dining room into a butlers pantry / storage area. It is a great place for a second freezer as well as small appliances and general family storage is set up properly. I don't think most people really need a second sink in the if it is mainly for storage. I would be careful putting in an island as ideally you want 120cm all the way around it for easy flow. Also bare in mind the work triangle, if you want an island they make the bay window a bench seat don't leave the sink there as you will increase the amount of steps you take. If I were you I would download the IKEA kitchen planning software and have a play around. You can input your measurements and put cabinets in and see different layouts and style combinations and it will give you a indication of price. I would put in as many drawers as possible and do all tall cabinets on the wall that currently has the fridge. I would put the fridge, the pantry and a tall a cabinet for your oven and microwave together. The only tricky thing is the angles if you go with standard size cabinets. You may have to have a small voids at your angles. You could probably redo the kitchen using the existing layout with updated more efficient cabinets with stone bench tops and installation for close to $10,000 if you install it yourself then you can save more. I think you need to take a step back think about what you want and what you need. Not just for the kitchen but for your home in general. Once you identify the problems or issues the you can start to fix them. A kitchen or far that matter any space in your home has to be not only beautiful but practical and efficient. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how pretty your kitchen if it is not practical. But a practical kitchen that is not your style can also be a downer, you have to both if you don't want a kitchen that annoys you. It has to be a space you want to be in and work in. Good luck

Strong geometry, cool blue and glass and a plain lawn background. to fill the diamond with bush is going to cancel out its strength. But something different to the slightly sterile design compilation … if the finance is there, get two or three massive raw rock slabs and one spectacular architectural tree. resist going vertical .. layer them horizontally to slightly overlap or break the hard lines of the diamond, but not to obscure it. Then choose you vertical with a sculptural tree. There are vertical cherry trees with spectacular autumn colour which would contrast with the rocks (texturally), and be floaty like the water in the pool…. whatever the tree, lift the foliage up from the soil level, and underplant with jut one kind of tight low ground cover, even moss (if your climate can support) or ground hugging juniper that you can train inside the diamond. This combination of elements is rich for the eye, softens the geometry, and adds interest which is lacking right now. The place for shrubs and grasses and palms is to border the lawn.

Hi Douglas, great house, love the steps and your renovation is great, you could do something a bit different with your porch cover, screens could look fabulous and they would give a beautiful ambience to the area, timber slats would look great also, you could add clear sheets of laserlite for weather protection also if required.