Either material can be made to look and feel beautiful, but the photos show the worst of both. I love baltic birch plywood with exposed edges, but it must be sanded smooth and clear-coated with a satin finish lacquer or urethane. Concrete (my passion and my business) can be tinted to give it a warmer shade, and either cast against a super-smooth surface or polished to make it smooth. Bedroom walls need to look and be touchable. The ones in the photos give me the shivers.

Yes, it does come down to personal taste, but the overall look of your initial kitchen that has the concrete look tiles is beautiful. It would appeal to a wider audience too I think than the navy blue. If you concrete look tiles looked like those in the picture it would look great (as compared to a more matt look concrete tile which may not look as good). I say no to the herringbone look timber in your whole place downstairs. It will probably cost more to lay and I think it adds complexity that you don't need in a home as beautiful as an old queenslander. If you do decide on timber, I would stick with it being just straight planks. (Herringbone is flavour of the month now and I love it for tiles, but it makes a very big statement that not appeal to everyone if you are putting it in a much bigger area like kitchen etc). Good luck.

I would spend the bare minimum, and I would spend it on making the absolute best of what is already there. It looks to be in good clean condition, but I would make it pristine. This would then appeal to a wide variety of buyers .....those who have no money to renovate, investors, and equally to those who wish to renovate to their own style, as not too much money has been spent. I would make sure all grouting is spotless, maybe by regrouting, or I have used basic house paint to brighten things up. The vanity looks a bit water damaged at the base.....maybe replace this, only a few hundred dollars for a basic one. And clear glass on the shower. Maybe lose the net curtains and make sure all other curtains are the correct length and neat looking. IKEA and Spotlight have cheap replacements if necessary. Same for light fittings if they are marked or rusty. Something a bit more trendy will help. The outdoor living space should be made attractive by neat edging, some potted color, even styled up with a table and chairs. There IS a place for fake grass.....where there is gravel, dirt or old concrete. Any stained concrete can also be painted with grey paving paint. The outdoor living area is just as important as the inside, and as its been a rental, I'm guessing it could do with some prettying up. Sugar soap or paint touch up, or repaint if and where you think it's required. Good luck.

Hi All, It sounds like tumeric and grease are the worst culprits for staining. We are looking to put the Cloudburst in our kitchen as our island and backsplash, but I'm very nervous. I love to cook and host. I also LOVE the look of this stone and would like to make it work if we can. Are there any bakers on this thread that have experience with these countertops? If you are rolling out dough or baking with greasy dough, how has that experience been? What if you get butter/oil on it? Any tips? Do you cover the counter before doing your baking etc.? I imagine beet juice would also be a nightmare?