MJ, we too are in the same boat as you. Daniel is transitioning to one nap now. In fact he did do for about a week back when he was 13 months old but then seemed to need to go back to two until now and I think he's ready for one again so we're making the change over the next few days.
I think it does really make it easier if you are starting with a textbook or angel baby. I am lucky to have a textbook baby.
Over the last few days/weeks Daniel has been starting to wake a lot earlier in the morning (sometimes as early as 5
) and genuinely seems ready to start the day so that's what made us start the transition again now. I can't cope with 5am starts! What I think we've noticed is that if he sleeps too late in the afternoon it makes him wake earlier. He never fights bedtime and always goes straight to sleep but I think it just affects the morning.
So we are putting him down at about 11am after having a snack. Ocasionally he sleps til about 2pm although usually it's about a 2 hour nap with him waking at about 1pm. His usual bedtime is 7pm but until this one nap extends we'll probably get him in bed for about 6.30, if not 6pm.
We did originally try to let him have a very short morning sleep (like 45/30 mins) at about 10 and then wake him up and then go for a longer afternoon sleep(about 1.30), but it just didn't suit him. He always seems to have his best sleep first time round. So what was happening was we were waking him after about 45 mins, then putting him back down in the afternoon but he started then fighting that sleep and was obviously getting overtired and exhausted. I think you have to find what works for your lo, although I'd say you definitely seem to be on the right track.
All the best.