I think the bench/breakfast bar along the deck - with bi-fold windows is a fabulous idea. The storage space under the stairs makes more sense to me than a faux fire. An extendable table is definitely the way to go, especially if it is just the two of you most of the time. As for the kitchen sink - I can only suggest that you move your wall cabinet further right - extending the bench and then the sink can be placed further to the right. Downlights above kitchen bench - we have downlights about a metre apart and they provide excellent coverage. With regards to the cupboards being different in living/kitchen areas. I personally think that if you are going all white, they could be identical - creating continuity.

I have two dogs and they both live and play inside. At one stage we had three. Our floors look no more worn than the day I oiled then 6 years ago. We will be selling in around a year and at that time I may rotary with a white pad (never need to sand again)but really there is no need. After 30 years of fixing timber issues, it breaks my heart to see such a beautiful substance treated with a toxic plastic bag. This is our puppy the other day with a sore foot.

Thanks for your comments, my concern was more about scratches, than wipe off splashes etc. Actually if anything the kitchen will get too much light as it forms part of an extension in our reno which will see high rise windows go above normal wall height windows. Resulting in a 3.400m or 11' 15'' high ceiling! It's an open plan area which will have an adjoining dinning area. The colour of our cabinets is a taupe - a bit on the mauve side, called Kashmir, we have increased the tone because of the increase amount of light hitting the cabinets, so looking at a sample in our current low ceiling area is rather tricky. Prior to the colour and texture change we were looking at a Platine grey - neutral and pale, and a texture matt - actually velvety, rather nice. Below are the colours we are considering, Kashmir left, Platine right. A splash back and the island bench top of Quantum Quartz, Statuario Quartz, the dark colour to the far left is Anthracite to be used minimally on some tall cabinets and under the island bench, the ruler represent the aluminium kick board. The cement look grey floor tile our new floor through out the open plan area including entrance. We have also changed from having a white coloured bench top, in a virtual horse shoe shape around the island to it being a darker mushroom brown/dark taupe. (sorry no sample) So guess I am still questioning these 3 new changes: gloss finish for the main cabinet colour (anthracite cupds will remain the velvety texture, these will have most of the light hitting them), the colour of the main cupds Kashmir vs Platine, and the introduction of the darker bench top, which will have a tone of light hitting it - to the point I think sunglasses on certain days will be compulsory). We are use to having grey tones in our kitchen - its from the early 90's. you can see here behind the swatches the grey cabinetry work we have been used too and the mid-dark grey marble floor we have had too. We will offset theses grey tones with a wood ceiling, vic ash either left as natural as possible, varnished clear matt or possibly even limed a touch. (pet hate is timber where tone is beautiful and then goes darker or worse goes to a yellow tone), this wood will go out under our eaves and be repeated under an out door eating area. Plus we will have a lot of decking. Will definitely introduce some wood in floating shelves, chopping boards, some copper or brass. Possibly glassy/coppery pendants in kitchen and dinning area. Any thoughts on my second guessing? Thanks so much.

We recently updated an apartment to sell and got great feedback from the buyers on the paint - Dulux 1/4 Lexicon low sheen on walls and Vivid White high gloss on doors, picture rails and trims.