yvonne.. re sanding cupboards I had mine professionally sanded because they were looking worn. timber is American Oak and it really didn't lighten very much by sanding. so depending on your timber you might not achieve much. i would change a few upper cabinets with glass doors, white perspex or remove a few doors, paint the back of shelving and hang wine glasses or whetever and break the load that way. I replaced my range hood with a pull out chrome one and that in itself made a difference nt tying in with the chrome handles. see pictures. maybe you could paint the legs or reupholster the stools to white...all part of the kitchen.

You have done extremely well! I think the couches and white rectangular coffee table are great. The things that worry me are the 2 small round tables, the 2 occasional chairs you have now, (though I can see they are lovely chairs, but at different heights and styles that causes a distraction), plus the nest of tables as they don't go with you lovely rectangular coffee table between the couches and the placement of them. I feel there maybe just too many small tables in that immediate area. Looking at the style of the nest and the taller round table, maybe if you stripped back the tops of the nest of tables and painted the legs white so that they match up the other round table they would work together, but remove the small round cane table in the background. I do like the taller occasional chair more than the low one and would try to find one similar. The low chair might be good in a bedroom. To have a higher back chair especially as we get older can be a good thing for guests that drop in and when you are needing to get up and down quickly as the hostess, (good for our backs and our take off). I think introducing cane though it is light weight and that is a good thing, might just be adding too many textures if you want a calm plantation style room. It would have to be a fine cane, maybe featuring the wove rattan sides. Taking another look at the chairs they are both nice chairs but I think you need 2 of the same style. I like the fabric that features the muted lime and black and linen look in the cushions, just that small use of it as a complementary fabric is great. I am wondering if you are able to raise up the palm so it is higher, and used as a more decorative element. I am wondering where your couches came from and the mirror too, if you can remember. Thanks and I hope you find these suggestions helpful, Good Luck

Depending on your budget I’d paint the cabinetry, replacing the doors if you can afford to and just painting them if the budget is tight. Just a thought, maybe it’s possible to fill that detailing in the doors to make them appear flat once painted. Not sure if it’s possible. It’d be a shit of a job but then you’d have solid wooden doors. And new handles. The same with the tiles. Paint is a cheaper option. New tiles would give a better finish. Remove the window valance. Perhaps resurface the benchtop with a product like rustoleum. Replacing the oyster light with something more contemporary. Open shelving can look great and lighten a space but think about whether this compromises your storage capacity. Everything will be on show. I think if you paint the cabinets then the floor won’t look so bad as there will be separation between the similarly coloured floor and ceiling. Cork is great in kitchens as it’s soft so it’s easy on your legs and back and forgiving if you drop things. It’s also making a comeback, as are timber ceilings. I would choose soft flooring for a kitchen over hard flooring. Kitchen floor tiles are a pet hate of mine. In my next build we’re putting rubber or cork in the kitchen. You’d struggle to put a double oven next to the fridge as it’s a thoroughfare. You’d also lose your pantry. Is two side by side 60cm ovens a possibility where your oven currently is?

I agree that it can be upsetting at this stage but your timber will all darken naturally and the difference will become less obvious over time and once you have furniture and rugs in place it's likely to be one of those issues that only you and no one else will notice. And I defy anyone to not have something like this in their house which has been newly built/renovated. I know this isn't terribly helpful but I don't think ripping anything up to start again or going to great lengths to seek recompense from supplier/installer is going to help your blood pressure either (by all means raise concerns with them and ask for suggestions from them).