Thank you everyone for all your help and advice! Yes, we live in an inland part of Southern Australia that is very chilly in winter and exceedingly hot in summer. So efficiency is a very important part of our build. From the picture you added Louise, I think a "coffered" ceiling looks like what I would call an "up lift". I'm glad to have a second on that option ;) The picture looked good, and could defiantly be an option over the dining table I think. Thanks jbantick I looked up "scissor trusses" and they look like a great idea as well. I'm just not sure how they would run. From the entry across the dining area (N to S) or across the whole length of the 3 zones E to W ? The middle of the roof line (running E to W) doesn't run in the middle of the living zones (if that make sense) as it stretches across a hall way on the south side. If it ran this way would it look a bit off centre? How did you in vision it? Thanks for your thoughts guys.

Thanks for the photo's it really show's what should be painted with what, just by looking at the first photo looking towards the stairs, the painted bulk head would really bring the ceiling down and then again the second with the bulk head above the external door, wall colour is the right choice for me. cheers

Good morning! I love love love your ceiling! As others have asked - is it something that repeats through the house? I would 100% keep them - the key is to work with them not fight against them. I would also replace the light fitting - look at having recess lights installed. There are a number of things that you can do when you have such a prominent feature such as this in a room - you either choose to work with it and 'calm' it down into the space - such as painting the ceiling and the walls in the same colour - or you say - to hell with it and make it the hero of the room. I have seen some stunning ceilings where the walls have been painted in a 'white' and the ceiling painted in a strong colour such as navy which then ties into accents in the room. It would obviously depend on your personal style. Good luck!

After recently completing a large kitchen ourselves from scratch my advice is this - DONT SETTLE! If something is niggling you stay on it. With all the myriad of cabinet sizes now available there will be a solution to fit your space. Don’t be rushed into settling. Just because your kitchen designer is a ‘professional’ does not mean he knows better then you how you will use your kitchen. It’s YOUR kitchen after all and you will be the one cooking in it for many years to come when he is long gone. Your instincts are right - cluttering up a window is always a bad idea. A centred tap looks better and more regal.