Old post here Anne, but it really comes down to the style of your home too and keeping that style as part of its character, assuming then that your furnishings and such would also be in keeping with the style. Focus on the big picture. A lot can also depend on the colour of the stain too, some look really rich and beautiful while others can be very heavy and depressing. As I said here originally, paint on timber is a lot of upkeep and work, although there are undercoats and paints now that mean you don't have to rub back each time you paint like you did years ago. If the style of your house is right, I do agree that white finish on timber does make the house look a lot brighter and it sharpens the colour of your walls too. Another option that would be a lot of work, is to rub back the timber to remove the original colour and then use a liming varnish. Feast Watson do a range of this, it is very easy to use and it dries quickly. You could use the white in that, which will still allow the grain in the timber to show through and you can keep adding coats until you get the level of white you want. I did some beds that were originally a really deep mahogony colour with this, I ended up putting 4 coats on but am thrilled with the result. It does give a beach vibe if that will work in your home. Another suggestion - some paint companies have a feature on their websites where you can download a photo of your room and "paint" it with their colours. Perhaps you could do this and "paint" all your timber white - that might help you decide. Good luck - it is a big decision to make when there is no going back.

Hmm. Folks I don't understand what is going on with these recent comments. The fridge dilemma was settled ages ago and I advised that I had settled on a stainless-steel fridge that worked well in my white kitchen. Just as an update, I had some problems with said fridge, calling for service several times and the fridge having to go back to the factory. Very unsatisfactory and inconvenient. They provided a loan fridge but as everyone knows, emptying and stocking fridges is not the most enjoyable pass time. After some discussions with F & P they were persuaded to replace the dud fridge with another similar fridge, although with the concealed handles. (Not my preference). I had to pay a small amount, but it came with a new fridge warranty. So dear people, I will close this conversation and give thanks to everyone for the input. Kind regards sydneymidge

Hi. I have read these comments and am really surprised - although a couple I share - i have the ten installed in room that is completely open on east side so on a minus 2 evening that’s what it is under the roof. the heater does smoke on start up so we leave the door open and wait until the fire is established Some may think this is a design issue and maybe it is but the cold steel will not draw warm air up until it’s warm. once that’s achieved the fire is beautiful. I don’t like the vermiculite tiles so am having a steel floor and back made with 50mm risers/dogs to life the kindling off the base and enable airflow underneath. That’s a choice not a fault. I have a Ned Kelly and it needs cleaning frequently too and its burn is far less efficient than the Scandia. I don’t burn 800mm logs but use standard RedGum and Sugar gum and the latter requires more heat energy to get going but once it’s burning it is also beautiful. the burn leaves almost no coals and logs retain shape but just turn to ash So in my view its more efficient than a few others I’ve seen and used inc the Ned BUT Customer service is useless and uninformed I was told the heater had fans and of course it doesn’t hence the thermals on top deck I can see people have had horror stories and experiences and that’s terrible but I’m happy as and would buy again I didn’t want to spend 10-15k as I wanted a large heater not a smaller one

@Dee painted fly screen door up now. Still haven't painted concrete stairs and verandah.