I agree, paint it white or a very light colour. I would do a light or white coloured Caesar stone bench top. I would clean all the timber on the kitchen doors, but I would not paint them, leave the beautiful grain. I would also look at painting the timber around the cornice and maybe the window frame white. I like to think dark timber and light elsewhere like the walls, window frames etc. Hope you've got nice floorboards.

How funny. I just renovated (on a budget) my small kitchen and added exactly the slate look in tiles you have, though they are in fact porcelain. And I placed them throughout the house for continuity. The tiler asked if I was after a retro hippy look but it doesn't look like that at all. My cupboards were the same colour as yours and I utilised the bones of the kitchen and had the doors and Benchtops changed only. I also have plenty of light in the kitchen but chose white doors and as I was on a budget I chose granite look Benchtops, they are very serviceable and it looks great. The blue backsplash was the colour lift and here you could choose any colour to your liking. Basically the kitchen ended up with white cupboards and appliances other than cooktop, with the stainless cooktop and coloured splash back being the focal point. The paint colour are: whisper white walls, integra splashback, white ceiling and for increased contrast I used the same white above the splashback on the rear wall. I would consider painting out the brick but leaving the texture.

Thanks for the feedback all... Here are some samples and it just shows how important to see them in the actual environment. Looks a little too dark even with a lot of light the longer plank is embelton brand and the other two are colonial quickstep. The two darker boards are already showing the hand prints. The embelton board (Belmont dark) was slightly cheaper albeit they had a special on that coloured board, so it should come in around $32 Sqm for the different colours. I'm almost sold on embelton as the look and feel is more advanced to the colonial. I'd love to go with real timber but this isn't my dream house, plus I have concerns that it would be truly appreciated based on the area I live. I'm aiming for a hybrid coastal look and just finished the walls in antique hamptons, so re painting in the short term isn't desired. In the pics the Belfort dark looks fantastic c but maybe I aim for La Mancha or maple in the embelton range

Chris, like most things in our industry, the devil's in the detail and knowledge that best comes in the form of practical experience. Whilst a book or online resource can provide a guide, for something like a bathroom the strategy of attack can be practically varied depending upon the outcome and final detail desired. Are you changing plumbing? Are you having a seamless shower base? What is the scope of the tiling? Are you having a wall basin? taps in the basin or out of the walls? Shower taps or mixer? Bath freestanding or in hob? Vanity detail? any recesses? lighting? windows? Waterproofing is something honestly best left for the pros, as it needs to be done to certain standards. Preparation and straightening of walls/substrates is also critical for (most) tiled finishes, more or less so depending upon the particular tile selection. It's all that detail and the sequencing and coordination of and between the various elements/subtrades that's critical to the outcome. If you have a budget in mind perhaps it would be worthwhile you running your renovation project by a bathroom specialist to get a benchmark. You may be surprised as to how cost effective they can be to deal with it all themselves, and save yourself the inevitable headaches and hassles involved. Good luck! PD www.pauldistefanodesign.com