We are renovating our 70's cedar clad pole house. My husband painted between the ceiling beams in the kitchen/dining/living open space. He has just finished laying parquetry on the floor. We felt it was in keeping with the wood but felt the ceiling needed lightening up. It definitely brightened the place. I love it. I also sprayed some light fittings that were green fake verdigris with white paint. That also updated without detracting from the retro feel. Our kitchen has cupboards painted white and some drawer fronts in a wood finish.

We recently updated an apartment to sell and got great feedback from the buyers on the paint - Dulux 1/4 Lexicon low sheen on walls and Vivid White high gloss on doors, picture rails and trims.

I really like the ceiling, as others said it gives it atmosphere and frames the view. When you say pine, I'm thinking you mean the finest of all the pines - Oregon which is fine grained and a warm honey colour. I have a cathedral ceiling and I would gladly swap my bland white faux Hamptons look with you any day! I would look at a large rug for the floor - if the budget is small, find a carpet that you like and get it edged as a rug - my favourite hack. I agree to bring in some black in the curtain rods and swap out al that cream/yellow paint for a neutral white. Your kitchen reminds me of mine circa 1998. Change the splash back to something neutral. Even white painted glass or a white textured or interestingly shaped tile. Swap out your bar stools for timber and introduce some timber elements in the kitchen to match the roof. Think chopping boards,, timber bowl for fruit, utensil holders, pot plants. Paint the walls white as well. All the creams in the world won't help the ceiling look better. you need to work with it not against it. Good luck and keep us up to date!

Too much of a feature becomes a distraction. 70's / 80's brick interior houses were great then but are clearly dated now. One feature wall with the other walls in smooth plaster can still work, provided you address the feature wall as such, by not cluttering it with stuff. Try keeping the furnishing minimal and selected feature wall type dressing. hopefully this way you feature wall will look stylish. Hope this helps. Alfred Botha. www.gapdesign.com.au