Thank you everyone for your comments. We live outside Christchurch, and the house was badly damaged in the quakes here. The post-quake rebuild process could safely be described as slightly chaotic, and the house company I am using are located some distance away (like on the North Island), which is why discussion with the architect has been - em - less than optimal. The architect threw something at me to get me out of my comfort zone I think and this is what's freaking me out! I think the windows on the east side are to come (no reason for them not being there), and probably a skylight in the kitchen roof. The section of land is narrow and steep, (this is a historic port town and with access from the south (where the view is); there is no parking other than on the street (south). Patricia - the laundry doesn't sit right with me either! Looks a bit like it's been glued on the side of the hosue. And it is too small as it is to store coats, shoes etc. This is the access to the back garden - thus the door (also means muddy boots can be dumped when we come in!). Entering a house through a living room is very common over here, especially where space is at a premium (small section, small house footprint).

I would use a bookcase unit with closed doors on the lower half and not too high. Wide and low maybe. Closed lower cabinets are great for toys, games and will not clutter. Open shelves tend to get cluttered after a while. When displaying books, use in stacks standing and lying down. Open space between groupings, not all lined up in rows. Add some decor items sprinkled among the books to give the eye a visual break. I would choose a horizontal art piece for the chair wall. Add some art on the long TV wall leaving a lot of bare wall between the TV . and the artwork between the corners of the chair wall and the window wall.

I agree with lefty. Really think you should cut back the area. Even if you don't pave in the degraded area just plant it will look larger. Two levels shrink the space one level feels more like a room. Also I can tell the fence is your neighbors because the rails are facing your side. I would face the fence so that it looks better in your side.

The first couple of questions I'd want to know would be -- how much do you watch TV , and how often do you just sit chatting ? Also , what do the double lines between the 'drawing' and 'tv lounge' , and the 'ent lobby' and 'tv lounge' signify ? It doesn't appear to be a step , nor does it show as a fixed door ? Anyway , depending on priorities ( such as keeping an eye on kids while cooking ; or hiding the spouse when visitors arrive haha ) I would consider swapping the drawing and tv lounge , and put the TV on the solid wall in the 'front' room ( now called the TV lounge ) , that way you can spread 3 or 4 chairs and couches around the walls , similar to the existing plans , but to me the other bonus would be you can have suitable plants in pots in the 'open' area , and they'd be seen if you arrange the chairs in what is now the drawing room to suit -- basically , make that the area you sit and talking in , and make the plants part of the view and the conversation . There MAY even be the possibility of having a main TV in the 'new' front tv lounge , and still do a smaller 27 or 32 inch TV on a bracket in the 'old' tv lounge -- best of both worlds , and even the possibility of 2 seperate channels , without people heading to their bedrooms ( again , that depends on who is living there , and how 'dependent' they are on TV ) , but basically for a few hundred dollars ( if you have to buy another new TV ) you have another option ? Just a thought or two . . . . . . .