Of course kitchens of this style often have hanging pot racks which I like to call pot chandeliers. Source an old ladder with character and hang from the ceiling on hooks and chain above the ding table for a talking point or be creative an use a pulley rope to lower it above the corner bench top next to the oven. Pots and crockery take up a huge amount of space. Allocate zones and use them practically. This bench in the corner would make a great breakfast nook, where a toaster, coffee station could be set up and have baskets underneath for dry store pantry items. Select a feature colour for the room, use it in fabrics stools or prints to add personality, perhaps select a fabric and create a pelmet over the corner window and also hang it below that bench top on wire curtain string to hide all the bits below. A gingham would look great Ml design

Agree with sian, paisley is so versatile, although I would use it in a sophisticated context other than kids rooms, as I feel the bohemian, colored version is polarizing, the more classic, muted tones in naturals teamed with the organic structure Adds personality to otherwise over contrived and stuffy interiors. Paisley is neither masculine or feminine, so perfect as a partner to a plain pattern or solid colour. I think paisley is better as an accent fabric rather than a basic, however it's easily evolved, so I can see it always being relevant and interpreted across trend changes. Currently, I prefer the inky colored indigo and navy's, or the tan and pastel combinations.

PET PEEVE: INDOOR BAREFOOTERS NEWSFLASH: It is a plainly observable though controversial fact, to me at least, that very few people keep their indoor floors pristine enough for barefoot traffic. However, that does not seem to stop the oh-so-carefree, INDOOR BAREFOOTERS from taking their grubby, 'floor-feet' on little excursions upon coffee tables, chairs, couches and beds, etc. YUCK! Imagine seating yourself upon someone's couch and making the mistake of placing your hand beside you ON the couch, or forward upon the coffee table, only to feel an icky graininess...or stickiness? So, then you're stuck with continuous hand-washing throughout your visit because THEY could not be bothered to keep their 'floor-feet' off anything....their home being their slovenly castle and all. The YUCK factor and the politics which invariably follow my well-meaning interventions, (I'm an idealist), makes me an irritable, reluctant guest. Which ironically, never seems to stave off the invitations (sigh)! But, it also makes me a tyrannical host: "feet off my settee, Jerri! Not on my mid-century coffee table! No! Your white socks are no longer white, Jade! Aaargh!" WORSE YET, these oblivious INDOOR BAREFOOTERS tend to then touch and scratch their grubby 'floor-feet' while chatting, and touching their faces, fixing a meal or eating something...OR, shaking my hand. Oh, the humani-...'hygienity!' I feel ill!!! Yes, yes, I know that I'm whining AND yes, I know that there are worse things in the world: children suffering in Africa etc., but now that you mention it, even THEY tend to wash their feet BEFORE placing them on furniture! Maybe because they value the little they have. I know this from firsthand experience!! SIMPLE SOLUTION: Indoor shoes! Outdoor Shoes! And, when you place your feet upon anything slip OFF your shoes to reveal your lovely clean feet, which will appreciate the pristine lack of graininess from your last considerate visit. Anklet and pedicure but...floor-feet!!

I warm my plates sometimes with a damp square of kitchen paper in between. The water in the paper heats up and does the trick. I always do scrambled eggs but I use half power and stir after 45 seconds then after 20 secs and so on until done. I par boil vegetables for roasting and soups to save time. We keep our bread in the freezer and defrost before use, also rolls, banana bread, un-iced cake etc. I've heated up a wet face cloth to wipe my grandkids' faces rather than wait for the hot water to come through. More energy efficient. If my coffee or tea goes cool when I'm on the phone I'll reheat it for 20 secs.