I spent ages figuring out the lay out of our kitchen and am really happy with the result (four months in). We put the sink on the back wall, under a window and love looking out. Make sure there is a bin drawer next to the sink. Ours goes bin, sink, dishwasher, drawers, stove, drawers, oven stack. I think the passages in your kitchen area are a bit narrow. We have 1300mm between the benchtop edges. People can then pass each other easily and it doesn't matter if the drawers or dishwasher is open. The island then has drawers holding the plates and cutlery. You can unload the dishwasher straight into the opposite drawers which the kids love. You have two lots of corner cupboards in the pantry and might be better off with one straight line as I don't believe you gain much more and it will feel more spacious. Consider leaving a space on the kitchen side of the island so you can sit too. I hate standing while entertaining and everyone else is sitting at the island! Hope that helps.

I can see you have already had some great advice and if I offered my choice from the three it would be the middle one. But in truth, I personally wouldn’t have any of them as they just remind me of those ‘real fake’ pictures where a group Thai ‘artists’ each paint a part and pass it on, banging out 100 a day. I am pleased that some Thai family is in employment, just not sure about all the middlemen. For our wedding my wife and I asked all guest to donate whatever they felt they wanted toward a painting, we already had enough kettles. In the end we had enough to buy a painting each. I originally wanted to buy a picture that may go up in value and be something of an investment for my son. The gallery owner who helped us with our choice made this point, that when you choose something for an investment its worth remembering you should enjoy looking at the picture as well. We went with that advice first. I’m sure there must plenty of places where a genuine local artist would appreciate the purchase of their work in order to make a living. My plan when we finish our rebuild here in Christchurch is to fill our walls this way. But if you ended up with an abstract those links on doing one yourself looked interesting.

Though I don't know for certain, I think the cotton/linen shades are removable. I wasn't able to determine this by my searches. This could easily be confirmed by making an enquiry to supplier before purchase. Alternatively, a handmade one could be made removable by making shade slightly larger than frame and making ties.

Hi siriuskey. Not sure how to place the furniture yet. Still trying to work it out.. I am selling my dining table and chairs. My new chairs just arrived today. I bought some hooks to put my mirror up.I am going to order those prints shortly. Also trying to find a round dining table I like. Getting there slowly : Thanks for asking. Thank you Julie. Very kind of you. :) Thank you legendaryflame :)