Hi iggs85 as it is an older kitchen I would not spend a huge amount of money on a revamp. It is definitely possible to paint laminate but good preparation is vital to ensure the paint 'sticks'. However a quality painter is going to charge you about the same as your resurfacing quote. Using either a painter or a resurfacing company does let you choose any colour though. The biggest disadvantage of the current benchtop is the bullnose which is very dated. From your photo, the colour and pattern look OK but you could get a stone 'overlay' put on it. They square off the bullnose so it looks more contemporary. An acrylic feature panel on the return is another alternative to vinyl planks. It looks like glass, comes in a good range of colours and is relatively inexpensive compared to glass. See http://zenolite.com/range as an example. You can buy acrylic sheets from Bunnings. You could also use pressed metal panels as a feature eg. http://www.wunderlite.com.au/catalogue/details/1/79/pressed-metal-crystal?start=25 Add some new handles on doors and drawers too.

Thank you robandlyn. I am definitely leaning towards the karndean especially for the kids. I might use it for a splashback?? hi the interior therapist. Thank you for your reply. The budget that was put into our build (by the builder) makes hardwood floors an extra $23k. Although the 600 x 600 are expensive to lay it still comes in at less than half the price including bathrooms. We had hardwood in our last house, I liked it but it scratched and dented with chairs and kids dragging their sandy bikes inside. i am worried that I will choose the tile and hate the cleaning and potential slippery accidents in summer but I worry about the look of karndean....... is it very plasticky? I have some samples but it's very hard to tell from such a small piece. Is the tile we have chosen too 'busy' for all areas? Maybe I have really bad taste and it's an ugly tile lol Thanks so much for all your help guys :)

Hi Kieran, I've spent a fun Sunday playing around with this... thanks for the challenge! Jumping in to post it though, I think my ideas overlap with Siriuskey and Lucia. Isn't it funny how similar solutions can be arrived at independently! Key points: - As far as possible, I've tried to stick with the existing walls. - Since Bed 2 & Bed 3 are quite small already, even though I've encroached into each to achieve separate entries, the impact is minimal, particularly for Bed 3. - I've used pocket doors to both ends of the WIR and to the store room for optimal functionality. - I've depicted Caroma Urbane compact toilet suites with wall concealed cisterns because they save a bit of space and both toilets can use that extra space in that direction. - It's a very stageable design. You may for instance decide to build the ensuite/WIR and reconfigure the bed 2/3 entries without doing any of the kitchen changes. Or you may decide to save the expense and not move the main WC into the existing store, though it does add a fair area to the living space (I've used the exact existing footprint of the store to save cost and demolition pain which is workable with the Caroma Urbane, but alternatively you could demolish and rebuild the wall behind the pan for a more spacious loo). - The Family/Dining area ends up being fairly generous and very flexible. I've added a door to the end of the corridor to screen the loo a bit better from the dining area and for noise separation for the study, but you may prefer to leave this off. - I've not mucked around with your windows, figuring the important thing was to get the concept down for you, except in the ensuite. Really good idea there to have a central mirror with a narrow window to each side to throw light on your face at the mirror. Has the side benefit of a symmetrical effect which is always good aesthetically. - I've also flipped the main bathroom door to relate better to Bed 2/Bed 3, though not strictly necessary. - I originally used the Bed 1 robe space as a big walk-in-pantry, but it didn't relate particularly well to the kitchen and it also left no provision for general storage. Rather than take up a lot of valuable kitchen space with a pantry which would reduce the length of the peninsula breakfast bar (not ideal), I came up with the idea of shallow shelves with a roller shutter which I think you'll find give you an amazing amount of readily accessible storage. I'd like to think it would be possible to source a horizonal roller shutter that would coil back into the dead space at the back of the fridge, but perhaps better to just go with a vertical shutter and avoid the headache!

If you’re like most people, you’ll love the look of quality wooden floors. It’s one of the most popular flooring options for living areas, and for good reason. However, some people are wary of wood-floored kitchens. After all, wouldn’t the wood be damaged by all the moisture and spills? But it is not the truth. Today, timber flooring can serve a great purpose in a kitchen. As Canberra’s wood flooring experts, we’re here to share some of the reasons wood floors should be incorporated into your kitchen. Why You Should Consider Timber Flooring For Your Kitchen? 1. Sustainable materials For some, when it comes to kitchen floors, it’s not just about looks; it’s also about the sustainability of the materials used. If this is a consideration for your new kitchen design, engineered flooring is a good choice because only the top layer is made of slow-growing hardwoods. You can also find engineered floors derived from renewable trees. Asking your local flooring experts and investigating how and where they source materials can be tricky. There are certainly suppliers and installers who prioritize sustainable and eco-friendly practices while still producing high-quality flooring that meets all your requirements. 2. Durable When you choose quality engineered wooden flooring, you can be sure you’re choosing a durable option that will stand the test of time. With the right care and maintenance, hardwood floors will look amazing year after year, regardless of the foot traffic in your kitchen. If you’re looking for something new, or want to refinish old wood floors, you can also sand the wood flooring to remove any built-up damage. Sanding and refinishing floors is a great solution to help accentuate and breathe new life into your floor’s natural beauty. In short, it’s an affordable way to restore wood flooring without a complete replacement. 3. Easy installation Engineered floorings are easy to install in the right conditions, especially if you have a wood installation specialist. But if you have the knack, you can even do it yourself! Flooring 2 You has the most professional flooring installation team, so you can trust us to install the kitchen wooden flooring. 4. Easy to maintain Worried about how to keep your floors beautiful, especially in your cooking space? It’s all about the ease of maintenance in the kitchen, and you can’t go beyond wood floors for hassle-free care. All you need is a quick daily sweep to remove dirt and debris, followed by a proper vacuum once a week. The main thing to remember is to clean up spills immediately to avoid water damage. 5. Beautiful appearance and comfort One of the most compelling reasons to use timber flooring in a kitchen is that it looks beautiful and has a timeless quality. Nothing beats the look of quality wooden flooring. It adds warmth and character to your space. It is also suitable for various types of decoration. Regardless of your interior design preferences, whether your kitchen is a dark-toned kitchen or bright, wood floors are guaranteed to look good and complement your vision. By the way, you won’t get cold feet like you would with a tiled kitchen. Looking for more inspiration for your kitchen timber flooring? VisitFlooring 2 You to browse more flooring options. https://flooring2you.com.au/why-should-consider-timber-flooring-for-your-kitchen/