If budget is a consideration. I would look at the costings for the first against second design, with first a more involved roof plan. Also, what size is the space marked living. In both designs, It is a thoroughfare to the other rooms…how would you furnish?

The double doors in first plan to bed 1, will be a pain. Have one door only.

Yes you’re right, the size is 4300 along alfresco and 3800 dining side for example.

Also in both plans, I would delete the laundry from the minor bedroom area. I would delete the powder room from entry hall. I would create a laundry and powder room on the west side of garage, between the living and garage walls. This gives more privacy for toilet users, and give less noise issues in bedroom area. With internal access from hallway and external access for pool users. The clothesline can still be tucked behind the minor bedrooms in the south west corner. By deleting powder room from current area, it would give more room for bed 1 ensuite and WIR.

Opt 2 is simpler but the access to bed 2 is terrible off living. I think the bathroom needs changing but will leave that to OKL if she has time '

The success of any home is dependent on the practicality of its design for those living in it. Conversely, how you live on a day to day basis will be affected by the design of the home. For me, the light in the kitchen on Design 1 is far superior but it is less well situated acoustically, the living being a walkthrough is problematic and I’d recommend soundproofing the laundry wherever you situate it. But you may be living with animals that need to be excluded from the sleeping area, you might not watch television or you might have several kids / really dislike visitors using the family bathroom, so need a third toilet. All that to say, walk through each design, imagine yourself and your family getting home after work / school; cooking Sunday breakfast, down to where you keep your skillet and how easy it is to have 3 cooks / helpers in the kitchen all trying to access the bin at the same time; doing a mad dash because house proud Auntie Sarah just called to say she’s on her way and the place is a mess etc, etc. All the things that relate to you and how you live now and into the foreseeable future. The house that works best is the best option and if there’s something that rankles in both, then planning stage is the best time to catch it. No such thing as a perfect house, but if you can get pretty damn good for us, you’ve won

I live on the Mid North Coast if I can be of any help

Well said, Jan Dobson.

Both plans have merit, but it's what works for you and your family. Having a pool I worry that there's no consideration for laundry toilet access

I grew up with a pool. 6 kids toilet was accessed through the rumpus room and down the entry hall toward the kitchen. Now mum and later us could have opened the laundry door on side of house to access the toilet which was nests to laundry but that never happened. Yea family of 8 2 toilets, one up one down.

Love that Christine

Hello Tara, I like plan B because the roof will be far easier (read cheaper) to build. But I would make a few changes. Firstly I like Christine's idea of swapping master and garage to have sun in the master and the access to the pool area too. I do not think you need the pwd third toilet... surely guests can use the main bathroom. I like the laundry beside the bathroom on the south sided as Christine suggested too: far better use of plumbing and northerly aspect for the bedrooms. There seem to be lots of restrictive set backs to the site so it is good they could fit all this onto the side! Looking good: Enjoy! Margot