Keeping it all the one wall colour is more modern as per the pics. My earlier comment was more traditional. Either mantle or mirror or pic frame above could echo kitchen. White corbels. But rather than wall colour for mantle, if you aren’t going black, I’d match the architraves to help it pop just a little. This would be my preference.

I think flush will look more intentional, inset by such a small margin may look like you didn’t quite get the measurements right. Good luck with your reno.

Art is such a personal thing it’s when you see the perfect piece that you love then that’s the one, Sofia Lind prints are stunning, Redbubble have a great range, Urban road, or even a unique 3D piece would look fabulous.

Thx all. I think I’ve been overthinking it and a shelf with a nice edge, finishing in line with washing machine, as Kate suggested, will work. Really did like the Reno Life design, bigreader, and kiddo has promised to take both suggestions into account. I’ve given him carte blanche btw. A search for Katrina Chambers laundry bought up some ‘interesting’ but maybe less practical results tho 😉 The upper cabinet idea has much merit DairyMaid, but it’s a very narrow room, I’m short and it’s mainly to get the detergent, plant and peg box off the counter as it is for storage, but I could see for someone else it would be a great solution. Again thx, this is such a helpful community