" How wonderful it is online that now we can all see what amazing ppl are creating. We always have had amazing ppl making such things, but usually reserved for family keepsakes, or nanas specialty. Put down the iPhone and pick up a craft I say!" ~mldesign0401 Indeed. I'm often gobsmacked at what people can do. And it's great to see the process in pictures. I do spend a lot more time looking at others creations the actually doing something myself! One of the traps of everything shared online. I do love seeing the creations that didn't go as planned too! So funny. It's great that people have the sense of humour to still share their "failures". At the end of the day, there's more benefit in the process of creating right? At least they had a go.

Jacey, nice to see you are still here, many aren't after this length of time. I'm having a little chuckle here as when I originally read your post, my first thought was "move house", but I didn't want to sound so rude as to say so. It reminded me of my first house which was at the flat end of the street but the other end was very much "mountain goat territory" and the driveways reminded me of yours. After living in the homes for years, some spent mega amounts removing rock and excavating to create a garage more at road level and from there the stairs started zig-zagging to the front entry, new front entries were even created at a lower level, but the stairs still continued inside the house, there was just no escaping the climb. I wondered how you even got your wheelie bins up and down the drive. Hope you are enjoying your new home, long term I think you made a very wise decision.

There is no gift I’m secretly sick of getting. I am happy to receive anything coming my way. Although the year of the ironing board was a tense one between my husband and I, and one that was never to be repeated!

Jacqueline Macho, I agree the sink between the two pantries would be too dangerous. I would check the measurement for your work area between the sink and cooktop. As you have a large cooktop and sink between the fridge and oven...is there enough room to do all the food prep? I love a clean island and have never liked the idea of having any cooktop on an island as it seems too dangerous. A large sink takes up too much room on an island, especially if you’ve forked out for lovely stone or granite. I have for my new build, which we have been in for a month now, put in a small round bowl. I’m glad I did as I use it for food prep, and it has filter water for drinking. It doesn’t compromise the look or use of our island. I have a large and deep sink in the butlers for doing the washing up. I only have one dishwasher...yes folks just one. As my benches are 950mm high I opted for an Asko xxl....they are taller than others. After renting a house with a fisher and paykel dish drawers, I swore never to have them in our new build. So I personally can’t recommend them. Others might like them. Kitchens cost so much that’s why we obsess over them.