We have been a supplier of OSMO Hardwax Oils for a while now and have found that they have been great in all applications. They have an Oil specifically designed for Kitchen benchtops. OSMO Top Oil which is foodsafe and contains linseed, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, sunflower oil, soybean oil & thistle oil. You can buy it from VCS Products in Perth or Natural Timber Oils in Melbourne.

@dreamer the rest of the joinery is all well and truely fixed in place and we’re keeping it all as is and just painting the doors and drawers, so I can only speak to the section that I can see where we’ve removed this one carcass, but it does appear that this whole joinery section is installed directly over the bare slab and never had any other flooring finish under. I have spoken to the dishwasher manufacturer and they’ve advised that it’s perfectly acceptable to install the dishwasher directly over the concrete slab and there will be no water proofing or mould concerns whatsoever, which is great news, especially for our timeline and budget! Plumbing & electrics are already organised and as the dishwasher is a fully integrated, this section of floor will be completely concealed again. Good news all round. Compliant, safe, cost saving and aesthetically consistent

I agree that the existing pendants are very generic, inoffensive and safe. If the budget doesn't stretch to replacing five pendants then get an electrician to shorten the cables so that they are above your head height. You may also like to explore some other bulbs. It looks like the bulbs over the dining table may be a warm white, whereas the kitchen is a cool white. Once you have found the perfect bulb for colour and brightness/intensity then match all five pendants with the same bulb. I have had put some of my clients on to Fatshack Vintage who have a great range of lights that are fun, quirky and interesting, and they have been thrilled with the range, price and quality. https://www.fatshackvintage.com.au/ Their style is quite differnt to Beacon, and they do mail order. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Hi Barbara, Pendant style fittings over the entry bench of a kitchen a great because they help define the work space. Height also plays a factor. These fittings are not positioned correctly. Ideally, pendants should be placed 2/3 from the work side of the bench, but these look to be placed with the edge of the entry side. This would not provide the correct arch of light, which is why I'm guessing you've posted this. In contrast, downlights blend with a ceiling, with an aim to be lost in a flashing view. They are also placed more centrally to provide a wider arch of light. With the trending LED style, downlight may be to harsh for this application. To solve your problem here, i would stay with a pendant style, but relocate them to the correct position and height. As for the timber, I'd suggest removing and replace with plaster board and repaint. I hope this helps. Excel Tradeworks is licenced in both building and electrical. For a more detailed discussion, feel free to contact us on sales@exceltradeworks.com.au