It's a hard decision when you have to balance the cost of a full renovation to the ceiling timbers. If you remove the rails and gyprock the ceiling, maybe you could add a paper frieze or stencil where the rail was. This would break the height a little so the room doesn't feel like an empty elevator shute! I've got 3m high ceilings, masonry walls, but no rails. We are adding picture rails in some areas and doing dado's in others. Good luck, I wish you well....it looks like a lovely home.

Both sound good, but as it is a small porch, I would be inclined to go with the simpler design as in timber and black metal rods (only 2), or use stainless steel wire between posts. As the tops of your front windows have an X, I think the style fence you showed (which is very similar to X) would be too busy.

Maybe you could consider a bar fridge that may fit where shelving for microwave is... this could hold your daily used foods and then have your larger fridge in a garage area to hold things less used? http://www.google.com.au/shopping/product/879529927670433319?lsf=seller:9455133,store:5516113429362448143&prds=oid:5429649432223856483&q=bar+fridge&hl=en-au&ei=67UVWMGnIYKR8wWl0ZHQBA&lsft=gclid:CMHmgr2UgtACFdWWvQodHk4MvQ

I really like the pic that LesleyH posted. The wooden rail will be 'warmer' to the touch too, show less dirt and tie is with the stairs beautifully.....I thin it will 'ground' the whole look because, if I remember rightly, the stairs and front door are the only wooden features and the rest is a lot of very modern light grey/white/shiny features. I think another touch of warmth in the wood will be beautiful.