I have just turned a double internal garage into another room and turned the existing driveway into a courtyard. Swapped the drive to the other side of the front garden and built a Stratco pavillion as a carport. Best decision! Our garage had a 2.5m ceiling so it actually steps down from our hallway opening. I like the idea of integrating the laundry into a large pantry in the kitchen, will be doing the same next. original picture

Hi Jasmine almost impossible to give you accurate guidance without room measurements. However a layout similar to below could work with the right size furniture & the TV mounted either over the fireplace or close by. If you got 2 backless bar stools at the kitchen bench this would give you added seating as people can turn around & face the lounge area & be a part of the conversation. This layout also keeps the walk way free to the deck area. A rug would anchor the area. However again I can only say that without room measurements it is difficult to give you the best advice.

Maddie, it looks like a lovely, large and generous family home with lots of potential. However your floorplan hasn't reproduced well so it is hard to see the room names and dimensions. I think with a 1960's home an important factor is how the rooms relate to the landscape, and there is no information - which side faces north? Open-plan living can be a double-edged sword and it really depends on your household size and ages, so consider the needs of your household carefully, both now and in the future. I would be engaging a local professional to visit you to fully realize the potential opportunities that are within your budget before embarking on alternative concepts. Are you in Australia? Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Hi there! What a lovely home - we would agree with bigreader, rugs would definitely help soften those hard surfaces and can add another element of colour to tie the room together - one under the dining table, or one in front of the lounge, or both! If you're trying to avoid adding warmth, try to avoid rugs that have a deep pile and opt for low pile woven or tufted options. Another thing to consider is the materials of the rug - soft fibres like bamboo and silk are cool to the touch as opposed to materials like hemp which have a "warmer" feel underfoot. In terms of colour, I noticed you have accents of green in your chair upholstery and artwork - try to keep to cool greens or blue/greens to offset the warm wood tones. A few suggestions: https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/catherine-martin/black-pearl/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/hare-and-klein/etched/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/catherine-martin/night-bird/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/catherine-martin/rhapsody/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/hare-and-klein/shadows/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/house-of-heras/waratah-wonderland/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/glory-days/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/classic-handknots/fleur-ivory-blue/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/classic-handknots/fleur-green/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/mystique/majesty/