I would be inclined to go with an unobtrusive light since it's the living room and anything too dramatic or a hanging pendant may interfere with your peripheral vision (or otherwise be an annoyance) when you're watching TV, etc. Also, being so near the sliding door, the wind may cause a hanging pendant to swing quite a bit which will cause the lighting to be constantly shifting and changing which I would personally find annoying. I'd go with something simple and subtle, but look at getting a tall standing lamp for the corner near the sofa (or possibly at the other end of the floating TV cabinet). In terms of warming up the apartment, I think you need something on the bare walls. A smaller picture above the floating TV cabinet will help to take the focus off your TV. A larger art work behind the sofa will also help to add some colour and personality, especially if it picks up some hues from your sofa. If you don't like the little Buddha statue, I would look at adding one or two other items that you do like (perhaps picking up colours from the wall art) and making a little vignette. A couple of colourful cushions and a storage solution for the wires, games console, etc on the floor would also help to bring everything together. Something as simple as a woven basket under the floating TV cabinet might help to keep the games console, etc in place unless it is in use.

I share you concerns with the look of the light. I lived in Cairns for a while and many restaurants etc had high ceilings with lights and fans with a more traditional look. Maybe you could do some internet stalking of hotel websites etc. I'd start with Palm Cove. Good luck.

We are renovating the interior of our common property apartment building. There is not a great deal of natural light, so we are painting the walls Casper White. We need some contemporary lighting that will modernise the building. The lights are on all day and night, so LED is probably preferred? The floors are all the same We are in Bondi, NSW We have two buildings - There are 2 floors in Building One and 5 floors in Building 2, so a total of 7 floors. GROUND FLOOR: FIRST FLOOR:

First Floor additions; Leichhardt house, Sydney Australia. Skillion clerestorey roof with raking ceiling & highlight windows. LIGHT; Lots of light! Ibrahim Conlon. Architect