Hi! Are you talking about the panel underneath the breakfast bar? I'd need a little more info on the style of the house and your planned staging to be sure, but I'd suggest something like painted pressed metal or a wallpaper (something robust that can withstand being kicked occasionally!). You could repeat this theme in your splash back (in the case of the pressed metal, not the wallpaper!) or back wall, or even on the door (if that's actually a door and not just an archway), depending on which you went with. Here are some pressed metal pics for inspiration: http://www.pinterest.com/roomtomoveint/pressed-metal/ ...and here are some fun wall paper suggestions that might work... http://revivalwallpaper.com.au/WallpaperPebbleLeaf http://revivalwallpaper.com.au/Wallpaper/WallpaperDenver http://revivalwallpaper.com.au/Wallpaper/WallpaperClassicStem Is the wood ridged paneling or just flat? If it's ridged (as in boards), once painted that will be quite a nice effect in and of itself, especially once you add some stools in front of it. As an aside you've also got a nice opportunity to improve the ambience of that room quite cheaply by swapping out the overhead light fitting. Something like this could work nicely: http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/lighting/pendant-lights/modern-pendant-lights/florida-580mm-wicker-pendant-in-natural.html ...especially if you splashed out a little (perhaps next year when you move in) and added some complimentary, low-hung pendants over the breakfast bar and some sconce-style task-lighting over your benches. Let me know if I can offer any more help, and have fun with your reno this weekend. I'd love to see what you end up with :)

Just DO it ! You'll need to undercoat to make the paint cover, so once you have done them in white undercoat, you'll wonder why you hesitated.......they'll look brilliant. You could do them one unit at a time, until it looks right but you'll probably find you want to do them all white. Your suggested colour Antique White USA will look awesome and I too would suggest new door handles - it's surprising what just that change can do for a kitchen. The pendant lights would certainly make an inexpensive change to the whole area - I did it recently when I put in a secondhand kitchen and am super-pleased with the end result considering the awful lime green & mustard monstrosity I started with LOL.

A friend of mine installed prefab along her balcony but they ran the length of the house wall, so we're pretty much protected from weather. She had screens installed at either end. Where you see the BBQ and cabinets in your photo, she just had a free standing BBQ. Her cabinets even housed her washing machine, bar fridge and dish drawer. Looked fabulous in white with her timber floor.

Your kitchen is a good size but not huge so I would go with gloss white to match in with your lovely fridge. All white appliances. Light coloured bench top in the grey range. Backsplash, I'd go to tile expo, choose something you love and add some colour behind the stove, the rest of the splashbacks behind the sink etc in white subway tiles. Dark floors as you have chosen, all the walls in the house Dulux Whisper White. This is a great colour to go with everything, i use it all the time in my designs.