You can if the kitchen joinery is a dark enough black, the walnut is stunning. Presuming your timber floor is if any would also be mid toned, the black joinery would simply be a personal accent, and would work best if it's included in small furnishing details elsewhere. I think this would be the same as people with timber floorboards wanting to have black or iron furnishings, including sofas and coffee tables, that wouldn't be dismissed at all, so I think this has merit. I would however keep colour to a minimum to avoid a confused cohesiveness. There's quite a lot of black and beige being done in modern design, because it's organic and can striking and warm at the same time. It's quite architectural and high end. Go for it. I would love a black walnut kitchen!

Genie is out of the bag in our area :-( There was no halloween in Australia until maybe 9-10 yrs ago here. I hated it starting. First time 'cos I didn't have any lollies for a couple of teenage kids who came to the door - I was like, "You want lollies for what - oh right - hang on..." and returned with some dried apricots being the sweetest things in the house - very daggy. I then promptly closed the garage gates and curtains to deter any more visitors. Now though the whole neighbourhood has kids dressed up running around - there is certainly some fun in it but certainly some a lot of very cheap and nasty lollies full of colourings, preservatives, flavours and of course a tad more than 5% sugar :-) ! So i reluctantly wander the streets with forced smiles trying not to rain on everyone's parade - there is neighbourhood fun to be had though, people to chat and laugh with, and some fabulous decorations by those who really try hard. Not into the scary stuff for under 7s yet - poor little things can't tell if Santa is real or not or so how are they to know those scary ghouls and fantasy not fact... I fear there is no chance of stopping the halloween tsunami here any more than stopping xmas - choose your battles I suppose. At least there is no "tricking" as far as I have experienced. Nice little idea for warm climates like October in Sydney - instead of a pumpkin which goes mouldy quickly - use a watermelon to cut out a face.

I share you concerns with the look of the light. I lived in Cairns for a while and many restaurants etc had high ceilings with lights and fans with a more traditional look. Maybe you could do some internet stalking of hotel websites etc. I'd start with Palm Cove. Good luck.

m_mdimond; My constant whippet! Yes change is inevitable. Youth was great! Middle age more challenging, now the dread of what happens as the body slows, bu the mind still runs at top speed! Funny how we eventually become our parents and live with all the things they once complained about: eyesight less sharp, glasses, threading needles a challenge. Oh what we so easily dismissed or took for granted when we were young! Pain at bay to this point. Sad to hear of yours, but fantastic you are still managing to walk your Shepherd, despite it! Dogs keep us centred and motivated. They shower us in love and lack of judgement. My dad had his Jack Russell at his side into his nineties. He was his constant companion and often his sole company for days at a time, other than his twice weekly cleaner. Animals are so special. They deliver their own unique greetings and communicate in such different ways. My life would be so much the less without the animals who have been part of it. So lucky to have had two wonderful ponies and an incredible galloway. So lucky many of my friends had horses too. Horses, dogs and cats are always a point of connection into special human experience and also lead us to new human and animal connections. Nothing wrong with memories and sentiment. I think we feel it even more accutely as we age. Glad I kicked up my heels, as well as keeping those "heels down, legs close to my horses side and and elbows close to my own" for much of my fantastic and sometimes wild youth! I was a pretty good kid really, but do admit to having been a teen groupie, back in the day, wouldn't swap that either. Somewhere here, I believe is my scrapbook and definitely a few photos in the albums. Still like to kick up my heels, too! Yes. Gratitude is vital.