Hi Hilary. Perhaps you should create an ideabook of things you like to begin with - colours, furniture, lighting, general styles. This will provide an interior expert with more of an idea of what you're after and what direction to move forward in. You should also upload some photos of the current space so people can see what you have to work with. The forums are open to homeowners and professionals alike, and it's great to get a wide variety of responses from both. Lastly, if you'd like to enlist the assistance of an interiors expert, feel free to browse though our directory of professionals (I've tailored that search to interior designers and decorators around Sydney for you).

Yours do look very nice but don't forget there are 1000s of homes with laminate bench tops with cook tops sitting directly on them. Don't think that the sides of a BBQ get hotter than a wok burner. I do like your first pic, the more compact one. What would be the approx cost sans BBQ?

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I don't want to be too negative , but these 'polls' you are doing don't seem all that well thought through , and probably why you aren't getting many replies . 95% of the time , I buy what I'd call 'perceived value' -- the best value for money . That is generally somewhere near the middle of the cost spectrum -- not cheap and nasty , but not handmade out of spun gold by Jesuit monks in the upper reachs of Siberia either . In most cases , that is the better offerings from larger suppliers , but sometimes it is 'boutique' suppliers . And occassionally I will pay top dollar for something draw-dropping that adds the Wow . One $2000 item in a $100k reno , where $1000 is your everyday brand name and $600 is your no-name, doubtful warranty product that is unlikely to last 2 years , is often worth it , but a $100k reno that comes in at $200k probably isn't , even in my own place , but conversely to do a $100k reno for 'only' $80k but using items that aren't quite right isn't what I call good value either -- I've even spent a few thousand more on commercial buildings that 'only' lease for $20k a year , because I've wanted a stone or brick front rather than painted plasterboard ; or a larger double-opening door in solid wood rather than aluminium ; etc .