I am so happy to see you here! I will have to go back and see if i can retrieve my posts... thought I would make them into a little book for my daughter, with photos. Quick run-down on the bathroom (not travels, no time) - The kitchen has a rather elegant sliding door with beveled glass panels. Painted white, since this was the original colour. GD's new bathroom has the doors I had picked earlier; i thought of polishing them but decided sprayed automobile paint (on a resin primer) would wear better. Especially since it is such a small bathroom, and she is so splashy. I have this finish in my kitchen and it has lasted 15 years now. A tad chipped here and there, but only needs a wipe down once a week. Same finish for the balcony doors, also split like the bathroom. We have a new wardrobe, a study table with built-in shelves, and a small chest of drawers for her odds and ends. I want to re-tile the tiny balcony, more as a little statement. Currently we are looking at Portuguese tiles, though I did think a mosaic with a funky cat might be nice. Let me see the costing. The room will be painted a neutral adobe, with bright white woodwork and an off-white ceiling. This means she can go wild with cushions and covers. Other changes in the flat; We have changed the glass in the master bedroom and living room from small cramped panes to a single pane for each section with a 1" bevel all round. Doubles the cost of the glass, but looks so elegant! The air-conditioning is being re-located. The compressors were all mounted in the bedroom and living room balconies, which looked terrible and meant the balconies (very narrow, only 30" deep) couldn't be used for anything. Not even plants. So they are being moved so that the compressors can be mounted at the rear of the building. two down, one to go. Now we can put in some nice plants, fishtail palms etc. The kitchen counter on one side came out intact and will be reused elsewhere. I am planning overhead storage, cupboards, and a draining cupboard for plates and glasses. Right now there is no dish washer, though a place is earmarked, but for now I will put in a cupboard with steel racks for cups, glasses and plates, all hidden behind pressed glass doors. This is all in the planning stage.... Pictures in a little while, they are mostly on my ipad and don't transfer well to the mac. They come without numbers... so I have to rename the or something. Somebody tell me how to do this!

Warlike Tiger, Good Morning. Whats your dilemma. Is it the budget, design plan or availability of a professional to do it? Either of that would require a site study, without that it is not possible to estimate the plans or costs or even a realistic design plan. If you are keen , you can search for professionals in this forum and contact them or leave your number for interested architects to call you. However, this idea of building the second story and then breaking the lower floor walls is not feasible. It is a hilly area and you should be all the more cautious with the foundation. Hope this helps! Amit CORNERSTONE DESIGNS Bangalore.

Dear Vinod, That's what happens when you give a project to a carpenter cause they view it as the single element and can't imagine where and how it is going on with the space around. "They literally don't care" except the money they save in that project. As the wardrobe is glossy and dark gray you have to make-over everything in that room to makle it look better. So better go for removing it which is more economical, and if your wardrobe is done with solid wood or timber just go for wood finish paints (veener/varnish/some other) or else go for duco paint or any other that can be applied on it. But BETTER consult a Designer or an Architect to those kind of works not carpenter or some vender. And lastly remove that funky looking overhead outcrop. Have a nice day

Hello there, You need to consult with a local architect first for the layout and plan approval. They will provide you with floor plan and furniture layout, 3D elevations etc. Also, they would send them for approvals. What you're asking for is a paid professional service. Please consult locally first. Else, if you need anything specific, please feel free to connect with us. Also, your budget is too tight for 800 sqft unless it is an open plan. Cost of construction starts from 1100-2000/ sqft depending on materials and contractor. Usually that will cover design and approvals costing as well. Regards, Aurum Ideas and Spaces Bhubaneswar