Hi Mike and Emma Hope you are slowly but surely getting there... may I make some comments/suggestions that you may or not take on board, but hopefully it may at least give you some ideas/options... Going through a new build ourselves at the moment, and for what it's worth, here's what I personally think: A. Work with what you've got: - additional plumbing work, gas work etc may not be necessary and (particularly gas) can be costly when you're trying to work around existing walls, floors, etc, and as much as possible utilise the existing connections... after whatever you can save here and there, you can spend on nicer cabinetery, gadgets, finishes, etc :) B. Avoid unnecessry structural work: - removing the kitchen/living wall is a must (more space, light, etc) but removing the laundry wall is an unncessary added cost (may even require costly additional strutural support) - putting up a plastered wall on the other hand is inexpensive, allows you to redefine different zones and relocate doors/openings where required (*note: avoid hinged doors in small spaces as you have to allow for wasted space to open door - suggest cavity sliding doors, easy to incorporate in a new wall) C. Don't sacrifice functionality and natural light for design - love full height floor to ceiling cabinets, very much on trend... but they also tend to bring the walls in, which you want to avoid in an already small space... they will also block out more natural ligtht from the only window to the living and breakfast bench (meals area)... not to mention seated guests would be staring at a cabinet tower and fridge - on the other hand a walk in pantry (not that much of a walk in a small space) is also very much on trend, provides more storage and... as entertaining guests in open plan livings tends to happen more in the kitchen... it provides a good hiding place for unsightly items, including frigges... (an underbench bar fridge in the kitchen can easily keep those beers cold... though do consider that means sacrificing some cabinet space) - constantly wiping off the floors from dripping wet dishes across the kictchen from the sink to the dishwaser on the other side bench would personally drive me mad after a while... the dishwasher can easily be connected to the existing sink water and waste points through the cabinerty... any half decent plumber should be able to do that... ON THAT NOTE... or should I say those notes... I know I got a bit carried away :) ... if it were me, here's an idea of what I would try to achieve ...

What a beautiful kitchen! Colour really depends in the style you are looking for...I have a similar space to you and I went with this light blue/aqua tile....I love it and the first thing most people comment on is how calming it is....I wanted a casual calm beachy feel to my home and it worked perfectly for me! Another option I saw at a friend's recently was a soft ?dove grey glass subway tile (similar to the 2nd photo) in a herringbone pattern...it looked amazing with all white cabinetry.... neutral but if you love bright red option then accessories in red such as toaster kettle etc would really pop...and that way if you tire if red u can change accessories cheaper than a splashback/wall.

Feast Watson kitchen oil is 30-60 % petroleum naphtha. This maybe the reactionary problem. Ok time to fix. Sanding back starting with 120 grit and go through the grades...180, 240,320. Sand with the grain until you feel that all the blemishes are removed. Sounds daunting but the first strike with the sand paper is psychologically the most difficult. I'd stick to the Tung oil base and use Organoil danish oil. Brush on rub off with a clean rag. Let dry, sand back lightly, this time with 400grit and reapply oil and rub off. Let it cure for a couple of days and you should be good to go. Livos Kunos oil is also an option and would only take a 120 grit sand, apply, rub off. Let that dry for a day sand with 320 and reapply and rub off. The only problem is it is an expensive oil.

I think the answer to this question is actually in your current kitchen. Go and check to see how many coffee cups, plates, and clutter there is around your kitchen sink right now. Then imagine your kitchen sink as it is on a typical day in full view of anybody who comes to visit, and everytime you come through the front door. I would resolve a solution that conceals the messy bits of the kitchen in a simple, clean manner, without introducing extra wall treatments that will draw attention to the issue. Depending on the head clearance above the stairs I would consider extending the diagonal wall between the pantry and the stairs until it intersects with the full height wall behind the sink. This diagonal wall extension would extend over the lowest part of the stairwell void so you will need to be sure about head clearance heights. In this diagonal wall there should be an opening that is a similar size to the opening required for a door so if necessary you can retrofit a door separating the kitchen from the entry at a later stage. As this new doorway is on a diagonal wall to the entry you will get a glimpse towards the end of the kitchen island bench (which follows the same 45 degree geometry) instead of a panoramic view of your kitchen sink clutter. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls