@ deanli14...the problem is that the neighbours don't want the tennis court fence as it is..more they want it lowered...thus depriving johnmcintyre of his privacy and the local Council is dictating what can and cannot be done....its not about planting for privacy...quite the reverse, the neighbours want the view! I've had an idea that might help. It is my understanding that today anyone wanting to build or alter any structure can employ a private building surveyor/inspector to approve the plans and then the final structure...and I understand that this applies everywhere in Australia. So there is a way to by-pass all the nonsense. The Council does not have to know about or approve anything. You are employing (paying) a private building surveyor/inspector to help you get what you want on your own property. I think its all got beyond a joke. Just by-pass all the red tape and the neighbours! I've extended my house to incorporate a very large semi enclosed veranda, I've had a large water tank erected on a tall stand so it gravity feeds into my house..and have erected several 3m tall greenery covered screens along my fenceline adjoining the neighbours.. for reasons of privacy.....all without the local Council even knowing about it because I employed a private building surveyor for it all from start to finish. You would be paying him to be on your side and get you what you want and he does not have to submit to Council, he is his own boss and your client. You'd need to get a draftsman to draw up the plans to start with...then it should be smooth sailing.

Are you able to install a window on that back wall where the washer is at the moment? I know you said there is a hot water unit on the other side, but if its to one side of the wall and not in the middle, maybe you could install a window on that wall which will bring light into the room. Also I would change the washer and put in the corner of back wall and the external wall, so its facing the sliding door, this will allow you to put cabinets in a sort of L shape and install the laundry sink next to the washer on that back wall. This will give you cabinets all along the other wall, extra space and storage. The external doors you can make them open outwards and all the way back against the wall, all you need is the right hinges. So when you speak to your carpenter let them know that you would like it to open outward completely and up against your external wall. I would also swap the door, so that the hinges are on the other side, so as you open the door outwards it will open to your right as you're looking at the picture and up against the wall not the bathroom window.

I suggest the colour of your gutters & window frames (if they are the same colour?) i.e. a darker colour. Light colours, especially Surfmist, tend to stand out and block the depth of view. The viewer will look "at" it. Dark colours recede and you tend to look "into" them and they are more inviting, They also add warmth. Keep in mind any colour significantly different from the render colour will stand out and become a dominant feature of the total house appearance. Hence why custom doors are gaining popularity as the styles can be one colour and the infill panels can be a myriad of colours and textures. Having trouble choosing from the standard Colorbond range of colours? Consider getting a Dulux powdercoated colour. They cost a fraction more but deliver a whole range of colours. They also offer better fade & corrosion protection especially if near coastal areas. You can also get the tracks on the inside powdercoated in black which looks neat. Custom spray painted colours or a vinyl/rubber "wrap" similar to the trend used on changing the colours of cars is emerging as an alternative. Don't get an embossed pattern on the panels that is either rectangles or squares. They are dated designs. Also, a smooth finish will show up an imperfection in the metal. The Cosmopolitan or Wide-Line styles (www.asapgaragedoors.com.au) suit rendered house finishes. Solid wood doors are a lot of upkeep (to stop fading and weathering if not sealed properly), are very heavy, and require a stronger motor. Colorbond colors Caoba and Cedar wood-look metal doors like all colours fade over time and can look daggy especially the Cedar. Custom doors are expensive. Be aware that many of the polycarbonate infill door panels (see-through & opaque) can get condensation in the hollow inners which eventually becomes mouldy. Sectional (panel) doors have many moving parts which need to be regularly serviced i.e annually.

Unfortunately the door had to swing from that side due to light switches having to be a certain distance from water (shower). Plus I’d rather have the first view be of vanity and bath, rather than shower and toilet... Solution was to go for a hidden control arm (Glynn Johnson 410 series concealed overhead door stop) at the top of the door that bounces door back away from shower screen. Can’t see it when the door is shut. Plus didn’t interfere with water proofing/tiling.