Can you rIse the hallway ceiling height and leave the bedroom heights as mentioned? This is your best solution since the hallway is open to the open concept kitchen...

I am trying to find interesting and aesthetically pleasing options for dealing with a 3.2m stud height in an architectural build for clients. It is open plan kitchen, scullery, dining, lounge all at this height and trying to decide if I drop down the ceiling over the kitchen side of things to make storage functional. Issue is a decorative beam running down one side of my proposed lowered ceiling. Any thoughts, images or comments?

Wow - what a view! Yes definitely take the curtains to the ceiling it will add grandeur and frame the view even more beautifully. You can get a custom bent track made that will take the curtains around the corner so the window is not obscured when the curtain are open. Contact your local interior designer - they'll know what to do

I'm renovating my garage and under inspection on the Building Standards the 2.4 meter minimum requirement is only for new homes, while 2.1 is the minimum for existing homes. Anyone have any clarification for this?