HI there! I saw your comment on the midcentury modern/Hamptons story so thought I would trot on over to see your post! What a gorgeous little entrance you have there! That panelling is so smooth, is it real timber? Usually it is done in knotty pine and can be way too in your face. I have a lot of off white painted knotty pine VJ boards in my midcentury house and I love it. It is a shame about the gap left in the parquet, although i think it is a bit much with the timber on the walls. Would you consider laying some terrazzo on the floor of the entrance hall? that would look fabulous and bring some light into the space. Is the carpet coming up? I would get a beautiful big pot and add a lush plant again - it is a great way break up all the geometry in the hallway. Without seeing your space in person and knowing more about the house and the people living in it. It also depends on your budget, but it would be wonderful to keep the architectural integrity of your home. Check out the US publication, Atomic Ranch, and you will get some great ideas! If you are in Melbourne, you are welcome to give me a call - but standby for lots of good advice coming from the rest of the Houzz crew! www.pleasedtobijou.com

Hi there. Airy concrete will create more of a contrast with the floor, tie in your white cabinetry better and it will be easier to work with in an open plan. I would actually ask you to consider Cloudburst concrete, the warmer tones will tie in better with your brown floor. https://www.caesarstone.com.au/colour/4011-cloudburst-concrete

Hello, I am hoping to get some ideas for reconfiguring the lay out for my 1950’s home I’ve purchased if anyone can help please? I am single, live alone and it will be my ‘forever’ home and has great views of the Tauranga harbour which I want to make the most of, of course :) Any ideas for one or all requirements are gratefully accepted thanks! They are as follows: 1. A new ensuite and walk in robe off the side of the front bedroom beside the lounge as I want that to be my bedroom with a view. There is sufficient room to build along the outside of that side of the house toward the boundary; the ensuite to face the view please. Perhaps change the entrance door to that bedroom off the hall way somehow? 2. Reconfigure a new kitchen; the existing one is quite skinny and there is really only room for one person between the bench and the return bench. No room to build out from that side of the house, but the deck is huge. I have considered building out over the deck but assume it would involve a lot of $ as would require engineers reports etc. The deck is a solid (old) concrete roof over what is now a block basement which used to be the old garage. 3. To somehow join the existing garage up to the house so I have internal entry from that. In the ‘joining’ space somewhere is where I envisage the front entry way with some storage cupboards etc as the house has almost no storage. The existing garage is an old tin one and needs to be replaced. It is also raised higher than the house level and there is as retaining wall between the garage and the house. Ideally I’d like to dig it all out and make it one level but that will be dictated by finances. However, I've been unable to work out how to join them if they are different levels - aesthetically wise. There would have to be steps down (which I don't really want if I’m getting old here…) so how would the roof line look right? 4. Reconfigure/Remove the existing toilet and/or bathroom as presently the main door into the house comes inbetween these and I don't want the entrance right beside the toilet - eek! The existing bathroom is also the laundry. My thoughts were to move them in to either bedroom 2 or 3, and extend to get another bedroom somehow, or, put them at the back of the new addition joining the garage to the house somehow? 5. The lounge and dining room have alcoves built in that serve no real purpose; both the dining and lounge could be larger if possible. I want to put my couch along the wall which backs on to the dining room so I can look at the view while watching TV etc. I’m not overly keen on open plan so thought I could build a wall there and move the entrance to the dining closer to the hall end of the lounge? 6. To retain 3 bedrooms, one to be used as an office. I am very grateful for any ideas anyone could put forward - many thanks in advance :) Unfortunately the website will not allow me to upload photos so I will have to contact them to see what is going on - sorry!

I have no idea what the relevant building rules are for your area , but I like your 'jailbar' idea , timber ( I'm guessing you'd need to get good solid timber -- no knots that may crack when someone runs into it playing indoor rugby haha ) stained dark -- it would contrast and compliment the lighter honey stained timber . It looks like your idea though is to take it straight across to the window ? I'd follow the existing L shape -- it would make the room a bit darker , but the stairwell would be as light as at present , plus there'd be no extra problems with taller people or furniture up the stairwell .