Forums Archive Home Home Reno ideas - layout improvements

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Hi all O.P.

Just bought a 3 bed, 1 bath BV home on a good block but it is pretty much original condition. We
have a young family so thinking long term we will need it to be 4 bed, 2 bath 2 living. Big unknown
though is if we will extend or rebuild.
At this stage we are thinking we will try to bring the house into the 21st century by doing oors,
painting, lights and new (but aordable) kitchen.
Have never done a Reno like this before so want to put it out there for ideas. We have a couple of
trades available through family and so am open to knocking out walls, shifting rooms etc. Main
problems at the moment are size of kitchen/meals and not enough ow between indoor and outdoor.
Any immediate thoughts?

http://3.1m.yt/EUCRS.png
http://3.1m.yt/V8ngTHQ.png

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBbL posted2017Jun5,2:20pmAEST

Junglelaw WhirlpoolEnthusiast

really comes down to what you are prepared/able to spend.

knock down rebuild might cost $400k? extension (obliterate the meals, laundry, deck and extend)
might be $200k, and will not be quite the same.

currently considering the same thing and wary of overcapitalising and spending too much.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBcO posted2017Jun5,2:27pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Thanks for the input. We want this property to be our long term ppor. As such, we are happy to O.P.

do things in stages. Initially the goal is to maximise what we have, without spending too much,
that will satisfy us for 5-7 years max, with one eye on the future (eg, don't put in a new kitchen where
potentially a staircase for a second storey extension might be.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBec posted2017Jun5,2:36pmAEST

sindri WhirlpoolEnthusiast

There are a few options that could be done while keeping things like plumbing etc basically as is
(depending on load bearing walls of course).

1. Move main bedroom door into the hallway with the others

2. Remove wall that runs from entry, along lounge/dining room and kitchen. Also remove wall
between dining room and kitchen.

3. Place an island bench roughly where the wall was. You could use this for the oven and hob if
needed and use the current hob/oven space for the fridge.
4. Remove breakfast bar in kitchen.

5. Glass doors from meals area to deck if not already. Personally I'd go for oor to ceiling glass along
there to let in light and garden views.

6. Not sure on your car situation but another idea would be to move the carport further up the
driveway to about level with the lounge and add another covered deck/garden area outside. You
could add more windows along that wall and massively improve the views, light and feeling of space
in those rooms.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBeH posted2017Jun5,2:41pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

All great ideas,thanks. Had certainly considered moving the bed 1 door seems to make perfect O.P.

sense to me.

Only concern with removing the whole wall was that you would then basically walk straight into one
big, but quite long and skinny living/kitchen area that isn't really broken up into sections. Particularly
awkward is that you would essentially walk straight into the island kitchen bench from the front door.

Big concern is that width of the meals area. Once there is a 6 seat table in there, it will be snug and
awkward getting in and out from the backyard sliding door. I had considered knocking out the laundry
to widen it up (keep bit of the wall so that the toilet and bathroom doors are still concealed.

Had denitely looked at moving the carport too so that is starts with the front of the house (no
windows for the rst 5-6m along the east wall so it won't be seen from inside. Then maybe long-term
install a new garage/large shed in the very back north-east corner.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBgE posted2017Jun5,2:53pmAEST

csomole WhirlpoolEnthusiast

Get a decent architect and ask for just concept drawings.

This still gets the left-eld ideas that good architects would contribute, at a low cost.
Then use a draftsman to make the nal drawings.

Admittedly 13 years ago, but this extra stage cost us just $7000 but improved the nal product
incomparably above what it would have been just based on our ideas.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBhT posted2017Jun5,3:03pmAEST

sindri WhirlpoolEnthusiast

Chris writes...

Only concern with removing the whole wall was that you would then basically walk straight into one
big, but quite long and skinny living/kitchen area that isn't really broken up into sections. Particularly
awkward is that you would essentially walk straight into the island kitchen bench from the front door.

You could close that door o and use the one in the lounge room. If you wanted to add some privacy
use a moveable screen or bookcase to block views into the room from the door.

Big concern is that width of the meals area. Once there is a 6 seat table in there, it will be snug and
awkward getting in and out from the backyard sliding door. I had considered knocking out the laundry
to widen it up (keep bit of the wall so that the toilet and bathroom doors are still concealed.

I don't think you'd get a 6 seater table comfortably in either rooms currently so personally I'd use the
expanded dining room as the main eating room and put either a small table or run a bench/bar along
one wall for the kids to have breakfast and do homework etc.
I'd think very seriously about cutting too much out of the laundry. As someone who has just moved
into a house where the previous owners cut a chunk out to put in another toilet, I hate it. I have barely
a metre between the tub/machine and the wall. Try manouvering a laundry basket full of wet clothes
in that!

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBh1 posted2017Jun5,3:04pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Thanks O.P.

I know a shrunk laundry could be annoying but I guess I'm thinking that for now a larger meals
area would be nice with maybe a big sliding door from the enlarged are to the outside, and then a
new laundry could feature down the track as part of an extension.

I hadn't thought about changing the front door location actually, might work. How do you think you
would layout the new expanded dining lounge? What might go where the current front door is
(assuming it gets bricked up, or new smaller window only installed?

ref:whrl.pl/ReVBjq posted2017Jun5,3:14pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

My other alternative was to turn the lounge into a master bed and open the kitchen up to bed 1 O.P.

so there is lounge/kitchens/meals in a backwards L shape. The meals would still be small but the
kitchen bench would look out onto the lounge. The dining area could either be a walk in pantry
(maybe with euro laundry inside so I can open up the current laundry space, or an ensuite for the
master. That way I could extend out the back in the future to maybe just include another bed and a
second living space.

Image might help

http://4.1m.yt/E1GZh5w.png
posted2017Jun5,7:32pmAEST(edited2017Jun5,7:37pm
ref:whrl.pl/ReVBVY AEST)

one WhirlpoolEnthusiast

Firstly, there is no way you are going to easily make that a 4BR, 2 bath without an extension (as you no
doubt know). So if you want that longer term, you need to plan for it before you make any changes.
You don't want to spend $20,000 on a new kitchen now, only to have to rip it out in 5 years.

So work out what you want to do long term now, whether it be a rebuild or extension. If it is an
extension, see if it is possible to do some of it earlier to (for example) give yourself a modern kitchen.

I like the design you've come up with, however it does need to be part of the bigger master plan.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVCik posted2017Jun5,10:12pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Yep, i agree. Will need to discuss with a designer/architect at some point what can be done as a O.P.

'masterplan' long term, and then try to incorporate some of the updating as rst steps of that.
EDIT: this was my VERY rough draft of a possible extension....
http://4.1m.yt/wRScoCs.jpg
posted2017Jun5,11:44pmAEST(edited2017Jun6,12:08am
ref:whrl.pl/ReVCqx AEST)

2 Fast WhirlpoolForumsAddict
 Chris writes...

Will need to discuss with a designer/architect at some point what can be done as a 'masterplan' long
term,

Youll need an engineer too, so all this will have to be factored into your budget and feasibility.

Looking at your last two drawings, to create that open plan living, youll be knocking out load bearing
walls where the kitchen and bedroom corridors used to be, that central strip. The result will be very
long spans for a beam, so a fair bit of design from engineer and architect will need to be put into this.

Note, just be mindful you may not be able to achieve full open layout if a column or two is needed or
you may have a really deep beam and bulkhead. All these design and engineering considerations
would need to be discussed between all parties and work with your architect.

Another thing to note is whether or not your extension would be two story or stay the one, as you did
mention something about stairs. What you want to do on second storey will come into play now,
(youll need to make a decision) rather than in the future when you want it, as you dont really want to
be mucking around with the house structure twice, which will just add on costs for you.

Ie create open living now, then have to re engineer the walls and beams to in the future to
accommodate a whole new oor. So if i was tearing the inside out now, engineer and design it with
the two storey extension in mind.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVCFZ posted2017Jun6,7:49amAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Yep,my concern with a second storey extension is cost. By all reports even if you only want 2 O.P.

beds, a landing living space and a bathroom upstairs,you are looking for at 250k and are probably
better o building new.

Certainly will require an engineer/builder to look at the load bearing walls and as you say,may either
need a new level beam, or maybe a colour or two. That's likely to be the big cost unknown

ref:whrl.pl/ReVC56 posted2017Jun6,10:54amAEST

sindri WhirlpoolEnthusiast

Timeframe is going to be the biggest factor in just how much you do now. If you're thinking max 5
years until you need to expand to a 4x2x2 then I wouldn't be doing much more than cosmetic
changes such as painting etc. If you're more on a 10 year time line then I would go ahead with a
slightly more extensive renovation but with the long term plans in mind.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVC7I posted2017Jun6,11:04amAEST

Grovin Participant

Hi there,

A lot great suggestions there just to add some more food for thought:

Is enclosing the carport an option? (depending on its design new carport in front of it, enclose &
break through wall/window to connect it to the house)? It would be an extra room, a lot cheaper than
an extension.
Is there a patio over the deck? Maybe make it a sun room.

Are you looking for more rooms or more space (not always the same thing). More space is obviously a
bonus but if what you are after is peace and quiet from growing kids, you might want doors and walls
in between and not open living.
E.g. I wouldn't like the master bedroom just next to the kids' ones (if the kids are very small that's
great, once they are older, I'd prefer distance).

Looking at the design, I'm pretty sure the large bedroom walls are at least partially load bearing, so it
might be more complicated to remove them than e.g. the walls at the entry. However I would prefer
an open living space there and close o part of the original living area for a master bedroom (or use
the enclosed carport with the meals room the new parents TV room)

Overall, before you go too much into making plans, check which walls are load bearing and which are
not and can be removed easily.

Planing is half of the fun... :)

ref:whrl.pl/ReVDnY posted2017Jun6,12:35pmAEST

greenhawk WhirlpoolForumsAddict

sindri writes...

Timeframe is going to be the biggest factor in just how much you do now. If you're thinking max 5
years until you need to expand to a 4x2x2 then I wouldn't be doing much more than cosmetic
changes such as painting etc. If you're more on a 10 year time line then I would go ahead with a
slightly more extensive renovation but with the long term plans in mind.

+1

OP, if going to go the second oor approach, you need to get the engineers in now to see if it is
possible (based on the building foundations and which walls you want to pull out).

If going to be only for a short period of time, then anything more than painting, new bench tops, new
handles is going to be a waste of money.

If going to be the forever home, then best look at house plans you like to see what you would get for
the extra money. Not to mention that to do a pull down/ rebuild the banks will have a large say in this
process as they want to be covered if you stop half way through for some reason. If you do not have
enough of the place payed o then they might say no.

Any major renovations are best done when not living in the place, otherwise trying to do renovations
that interfere with a normal daily life can be quite stressful. Enough to make a stay at home mum with
a little bub want to move back home with her parents while waiting for the tradies to nish (as baby
can not sleep during the day). It only gets worse when you have to keep a 4 year old on a leash so
they do not walk through the construction site/areas.

As to ideas.

master out the front can work, the middle bedroom into a lounge can sort of work (smaller), but
taking down the wall between that bedroom (come lounge) and the toilet/bathroom is a bit no no. No
one wants to see people walking in/out of a toilet, let alone any possible smells escaping into a eating
area (or next to a eating area).

The greenhouse on the left, is that worth having as it looks very narrow. is it going to stay or be
removed?

The new WIR/pantry/master en-suit, what is the building's ooring? it concrete adding piping can get
expensive. more so when you need to water proof all adjacent walls.

The top left bedroom, cutting that down to add a passageway is probably one option, but it does
make for a smaller bedroom. Taking 1.5m meters or so will make that room possibly too narrow to be
much use (2.2 x 3.5 ?) as a bedroom.
Looking at the house plans, the property layout, I am thinking your best bet for a reasonable and
extension might be to take the existing toilet, make that into a passage, and head out that way to add
the extra bedroom/ensuit.

The toilet then could be somewhere were the current bathroom window is (so need to install skylights
for the bathroom) and that would keep most of your plumbing in one area so having the new
ensuited backing on to this area as well. Then wraping around that a WIR and the new bedroom (or
two).

It just makes access to the green house harder (if wanting to keep it).

Any decking/veranda in the road can be removed and used to extend the current one out deeper into
the garden (where the decking steps currently are located).

of course, if you do the passage through the toilet approach, the extension does not need to be part
of the main house but it's own self contained area that connects back via a glass passage way (or
similar). It might make building permits easier as you are not changing the outside shape of the
existing building.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVDvZ posted2017Jun6,1:10pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Thanks for the detailed replay greenhawk. O.P.

I think realistically, if we spend anymore then 20k now, then any extension will be minimum 7 yrs
away. So was thinking maybe spend 50k odd now, then wait 7-9 years when our oldest will just be
starting his teenage years.

I hear your point regarding the bathroom but am not sure we have a lot of choice. If we open it up but
leave that wall to conceal the bathroom, then the lounge will be very skinny. Maybe it could remain
but with a walkway on the left hand side (so knock it half out) and keep the privacy to the bathroom.
Maybe we could put the toilet in the bathroom when it gets redone down the track to improve 'odour'
but sometimes I think people get uptight over nothing. If we had some friends over, people just
understand everyone has to go sometimes, and we tend to entertain outside more anyway....just a
thought. The greenhouse is barely that, and I am happy to build close to the left and keep the rear
and right side of the backyard more open

ref:whrl.pl/ReVDE0 posted2017Jun6,2:00pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

I don't mind the idea of the extension coming up to the toilet position though, might shrink the O.P.

backyard that little bit too much though..

What are people's thoughts on a bathroom being internal and so having no window..how does
ventilation work..?

Also,the house is BV on stumps with a pitch tile roof

ref:whrl.pl/ReVDF9 posted2017Jun6,2:06pmAEST

Grovin Participant

Well. if it's on stumps, forget the carport extension...

With a budget of 50k, this is what I would do (incl a lot of DIY, adding walls should be easy) -
under the condition the walls of the large bedroom can be easily removed (which might not be
possible at all) :
http://imgur.com/a/foXom
(A 5min sketch in Irfan, don't use it as an actual plan, lol)

The main thing you get here would be no loss of space with all the hallways and seperated areas.
For 50 000 you can do a lot of small things, but a major extension is out of reach unless you can really
get a lot of family trades to help out for a hand shake...

ref:whrl.pl/ReVD2x posted2017Jun6,4:02pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Only problem with that plan is that you have boxes in 2 very small living areas/rooms one that O.P.

you need to walk through to get to the master bed

ref:whrl.pl/ReVEt6 posted2017Jun6,6:58pmAEST

Bartlett WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Really need to know which walls are structural or not. That will likely dictate a lot about what might or
might not be possible/aordable.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVEDH posted2017Jun6,8:00pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Is this something that a builder or engineer can see by looking at a plan or is this an onsite only O.P.

thing?

ref:whrl.pl/ReVEMm posted2017Jun6,8:53pmAEST

one WhirlpoolEnthusiast

Chris writes...

Is this something that a builder or engineer can see by looking at a plan or is this an onsite only thing?

It's an onsite thing. Got to look in the ceiling space to see how the roof is supported. But it is pretty
easy to do even you can have a look to get an idea.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVE7W posted2017Jun6,11:34pmAEST

Bartlett WhirlpoolForumsAddict

one writes...

But it is pretty easy to do even you can have a look to get an idea.

I'm not an engineer/professional by any means!

One can get a basic idea but there are other things like bracing walls etc (so ultimately you'll need a
professional to say yay or nay but you can get a guestimate yourself looking for tell tale signs etc).

Floor joists with a wall on top running perpendicular. Roof joist being supported by same wall etc in
my experience the older the house the more obvious.

Basically there's going to be solid connection from ground through to the roof if that makes sense?

walls made of diering materials (ie if you've brick interior walls vs just timber framing in some spots).

(google "load bearing walls australia" for some potentially questionable DIY advice etc most of its US
based from what I can tell merely in a .au domain).
 posted2017Jun7,12:39amAEST(edited2017Jun7,12:45am
ref:whrl.pl/ReVFcL AEST)

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Thanks for the info. O.P.

I'll have a chat to a builder/engineer and see what can be done. Don't take possession until
September, will speak to the current owner and see if I can get in over the next couple of weeks for a
15 min visit.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVFtH posted2017Jun7,8:54amAEST

2 Fast WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Chris writes...

Is this something that a builder or engineer can see by looking at a plan or is this an onsite only thing?

Ideally if you have the correct plans it makes the job easier and you cross reference both on site and
drawings.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVFKe posted2017Jun7,10:46amAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Yeah,no ocial plans unfortunately house is 40+ now and they are probably long gone... O.P.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVGCo posted2017Jun7,3:39pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

which way is north ?

are your images orientated north. (I hope not)

ref:whrl.pl/ReVGLm posted2017Jun7,4:43pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

if the kitchen wall is load bearing, and depending on orientation

i would think about moving the kitchen to the laundry/bathroom.

move the laundry to the kitchen, with ensuite for master next to it.

That gives you kitchen and meals opening onto back deck.
saves on moving water supply and stormwater/ sewage.

then the wing on the left and the current master bedroom you recongure for living rooms and
bathroom.
depending on how much wall changing you want to do.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVGOZ posted2017Jun7,5:05pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

The front of the house is facing north west O.P.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVGRl posted2017Jun7,5:23pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict
so your kitchen is currently in the south/w and meals is south.

Now north face is warmest. No idea how cold your position is.

Bedroom 2 currently has prime house position, sunwise.

current master get middle of the day sun
Living gets late morning to sunset.

Bathrooms and laundries are often stuck in the south.

in my opinion lounge rooms are often used at night and are heated in winter, so don't need to be
facing north.

at the moment your bedrooms are all on the north side.

So think about where you want sun morning and evenings.

sunshine in the kitchen of a morning is often good.

and bedroom 4 on your plan will get morning sun.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVGYy posted2017Jun7,6:00pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

you actually want to build along the southern side of your land, so that you get the northern sun.

so extending out from the meals area get you morning and daytime sun, and keeps the sunny area of
the yard.

of course i can't see you aspects, neighbours or anything else.

and could you build forward of the living room ?

ref:whrl.pl/ReVG0d posted2017Jun7,6:12pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Thanks for the info O.P.

Only problem with all of that is you kind of have to just work with what you have..

ref:whrl.pl/ReVG7X posted2017Jun7,7:07pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Well actually I was.

Removing load bearing walls and putting in big beams gets expensive really quickly.

I'm pretty sure you will nd that wall in front of the dining, kitchen is load bearing.

So if you make the living the master bedroom

you then want to add a rumpus and bedroom and keep 2 bedrooms.
the bedrooms are quite large

So playing with the space you have and extending o the meals area, so you keep a northerly aspect
on the extension.
and talking to an architect they may be able to give you a way to do it all.
to take advantage of your northerly aspect.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVHbx posted2017Jun7,7:35pmAEST
Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Sorry, just to clarify do you mean the wall between the hallway and the dining/kitchen running O.P.

up and down the page is likely load bearing..?

And extension wide you think makes the house kind of a on the side 'T' shape with the backyard in
the top left of the page...?

ref:whrl.pl/ReVHe1 posted2017Jun7,8:00pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Chris writes...

Sorry, just to clarify do you mean the wall between the hallway and the dining/kitchen running up
and down the page is likely load bearing..?

yes.

if you think about a roof on a retangle, it sits across the two walls and often has a centre wall to
support the load.
unless you have a fully trussed roof, which doesn't need a centre wall support.

The big square of the L shape where the two wings intersect give you a void where you would have to
have diagonal load bearing if you don't have a load bearing wall.

So as that's around a 1980's house. the chances are the master bedroom wall facing the bathroom
and that central wall are both load bearing, i.e. they hold the roof up.

To remove them, you have to hold the roof up and put a bloody big beam across the span,
making sure the beam and the two pillars at the end can bear the weight of the wall they are
replacing.

This requires structural engineering inspection and certication, then the actual work of doing it.

It is much cheaper to add new rooms than re-stucture and renovate old stu.
So you asked for idea's just throwing them at you

And extension wide you think makes the house kind of a on the side 'T' shape with the backyard in
the top left of the page...?
Yes

If you put an extension on the north side of a block, it will shadow everything south of it. especially in
winter,
and if you want to get sunshine in the rooms, the windows have to be facing north, into the
neighbours.

If you put the extension on the south side of the block with windows opening onto the backyard.
you get a sunny backyard and sunshine in the rooms till afternoon, depending on sun height.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVHvD posted2017Jun7,9:35pmAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

addendum :- actually it is probably both walls of the master bedroom.

and tile roofs are pretty heavy, so you have lots of wood to hold them up.

ways to save money on reno's

dont relocate water and sewage. kitchen and bathroom have both. so you can swap them.
the outer wall of bathroom and laundry would get sun till mid morning (assuming you aren't
overlooked by highrise or mountains. )

currently the kitchen must be a dark place.

and the more you can recongure the current layout without structural changes,
the more you have for extensions.

Also your bedrooms are very big, if you are planning on using them for single child occupancy.

a standard single room is 3m x 3m.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVHz8 posted2017Jun7,10:11pmAEST

Chris WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Thanks for all the help guys I hadn't really thought about maximising sunshine but it all makes O.P.

sense. I have uploaded a pic of the while site with north arrow for context. Will be getting a survey
plan done shortly so I know where the neighbours are. It's a at block, in a at area (no overlooking
mountain) with single storey homes around.

my only concern with NOT removing any of those walls is the width of the meals, kitchen and dining
rooms. not only are they a bit dark due to small windows and tr carport being nearby, they are very
skinny which means a very small dining table and galley kitchen. The dining room itself is a bit useless
we only plan on having 1 family size table in the house so don't need meals and dining.

http://1.1m.yt/zA4Ei_c.png

I should say as well that my other concern with extending to make the on the side 'T' shape is that a
large part of the land running down the driveway side of the house gets blocked o and made fairly
redundant...really only leaving a wedge of backyard in the top left of the page...

ref:whrl.pl/ReVH6f posted2017Jun8,9:39amAEST

Avatar1 WhirlpoolForumsAddict

I'm neither an architect, engineer or builder,

getting an architect to give you some idea's can be a very good idea, as it can maximise dollars spent
on space created. (they can also spend money like it's going out of fashion)

I'm just giving you theoretical considerations while looking at a oor plan
which in no way substitutes for onsite inspections and planning.

knowing what questions to ask is important.

ref:whrl.pl/ReVI3i posted2017Jun8,2:38pmAEST

Bartlett WhirlpoolForumsAddict

Avatar1 writes...

i would think about moving the kitchen to the laundry/bathroom.

move the laundry to the kitchen, with ensuite for master next to it.

That gives you kitchen and meals opening onto back deck.
saves on moving water supply and stormwater/ sewage.

My though is to integrate the Laundry into the kitchen. Ignore having a 'meals' space and just have an
island or brekky bench which leads onto the dining room. (I'd also quickly nix the seperate entrance
and just 'open plan' it all.
A lot of this mostly is reliant on where structural walls might be and like Avatar1 has suggested I'm
also thinking those centred internal walls look like likely candidates to be load bearing.

Moving kitchen/laundry are by far the easier options as there isn't as much plumbing as other wet
rooms have (keeping all such rooms nearby helps with providing faster hot water as well as limiting
expensive re-plumbing too).

one thing to think about is to keep it all as is turn all the existing 'rooms' into bedrooms and have the
entertainment/dining all 100% o the back in an extension (basically walling in your deck + extending
it to other edge). Also I know WIR are all the rage but it might help to consider that you may well get
far more storage from a decent BIR and that might give you a bit more exibility with the ensuite

ref:whrl.pl/ReVLzl posted2017Jun9,2:36pmAEST