I'd not previously experienced carpet in a dining area until my parents built their house. It's probably okay in an adults only environment. Just add children to create squashed food thoroughly rubbed in, beetroot and similar stains, and/or marks that no-one knows how they arrived and science hasn't worked out how to get rid of them. They have what started out as bland beige carpet, now it's multicoloured and "interesting" (for want of a better term). God Bless the Grandchildren. :-)

I wouldn't have timber around a sink or other wet area but I do have a large spotted gum island bench that I just love. In a previous kitchen I had a very deep timber island bench with the stove top into it and, again, that wasn't a problem – because all the things you have to do to maintain the timber bench are just the same things you need to do to have a clean kitchen work area. Maintenance is wiping it over every day (and often several times a day depending on activities) but isn't that what you'd do regardless of the material? Once a week (or even a fortnight if it's been a quiet time) I polish it which means tidying away everything that has collected on it – but, again, regardless of material the tidying away part has to happen regularly and then you may as well give whatever surface it is a good rub. So I don't really understand the chorus of 'But timber takes too much care and maintenance'. The issue of a natural material showing its age and use (patina) is another furphy in my opinion – timber looks better and better as it ages whereas many other materials just look shabbier. The timber glows in daylight and under lights, is quiet, warm and welcoming making it a natural place for people to gather and chat, have a cuppa (or something stronger) and something to nibble on, read the newspaper, make a phone call, do a crossword, whatever ... And it becomes more beautiful as it ages.

Hi guys We love both! A common misconception we've found with freestanding baths and spas is that they're simply be too heavy to move around for cleaning purposes. To make cleaning manageable, our 100% Australian made baths and spas are manufactured using Gelcoat composite construction which is extremely strong yet not overly heavy (5mm thickness to ensure structural rigidity and increased thermal properties). So one of our baths is typically around the 40-50kg mark which allows most people to easily slide the bath out from the wall for easy cleaning access. Freestanding stone baths are a different story altogether! Regards, Brad AQVA Luxury Baths & Spas

Hi Montana, this is a home gallery I visited on the weekend, I loved it, smiled all the time I was there, loved the art and my husband took these pics of me in the garden, excuse me, but enjoy the garden..was a very happy place and the artist very bohemian . Bought these little slippers for my grandchild, there were big people ones there as well, I really wanted them but there is no phone coverage at gallery so cash only and I didn't have enough on me, I also bought a little stool but stays until end of open gallery . There was painted furniture, art, garden statues, but this is the artists own garden, and she was so bohemian and just lovely, even served chicken soup at lunch time..I must say I was a bit surprised it wasn't just vegetable !