Hi Kim, the post was called 'ideas for a small kitchen' it's still on diseign dilemmas page three. Poster is hechlan. Yes, a white kicker will get as dirty as a stainless steel one. Although maybe hidden a little better. M reason for mentioning this, as stainless kickers are an early 90's thing, and will prematurely date the kitchen. I have designed kitchens for around 10 years now, and while they have a place, as in you want to tie into your stainless appliances then go for it. I would just consider your options first. The positive is that they will coordinate with an kitchen, however with a white kitchen, they may take some attention that the kitchen itself deserves. Try to create something in your kitchen unique to your layout, and that is long lasting enough to enhance your own aesthetic. Kitchens with personality usually have quirks from the owner, and this may well be one of them for you. My only reasoning is that I wouldn't want you to just do it as the cabinetmaker has been doing this for several years now. White get dirty, so does stainless, they both get mopped, and the stainless actually has a scribes surface which I know is harder to get the dirt out of. We used this in showrooms, and know from experience that flat standard laminate is far easier to clean that stainless kicker, regardless of the colour. Ask your joiner for a piece of laminate and stainless kicker, feel them for yourself. They often use HPL, high pressure laminate to make kickers, and not often LPM, low pressure melamine, as the HPL is far more durable. The joiner can explain th difference, or atleast know that you have looked into it.

Painted cabinet doors are generally at the top of the price point, with polyurethane in either gloss, satin or Matt finishes being rather expensive, and hand painted doors even more so. Laminate on the other end of the scale are cheaper, but also only have the option of a flat door. If a profile is what you what, as most if not all painted doors are profiled, ( have a door shape), but the durability of laminate is wanted, then a vinyl door can provide both. Depending on your door provider, try to stick with Australian manufactured vinyl doors to ensure they meet our regulations, such as albedor or tesrol doors, and they will give you best of both worlds. Also, being that they are cheaper than painted timber doors, modern kitchen construction means replacing doors are as easy as clipping off hinges, and ordering new ones!

In my last house, after adding a living room (the area you see this side of the arch) and also updating bathroom etc I couldn't afford to reline the ancient walls in my little lounge (when I removed the purple wallpaper I found a mixmax of boards, gib, pinex, plywood and holes!) so I plastered walls all over with layers and layers of newspaper and wallpaper paste (papier mache), then after applying primer/undercoat I painted with 2 similar colours (rich reds in this case), and stippled the surface with a plastic bag. This made it look just very slightly textured like leather and successfully disguised the uneven surfaces. Gallons of gap filler filled the gaps between the old T&G ceiling boards and evened out the mismatched skirting and scotia. Again white paint on all the trims. Amazing what can be done when you have to make do! This was a great cosy little room! (Before photo is the 3rd one)

Hi there, I would be thinking to go for white cabinets and walls,with white appliances that you plan on Keeping or can change to stainless, your choice of benchtop. as this picture shows the timber door frames etc will then fit, White cream and timber should blend in with the floor tiles, maybe even the blinds will look ok, photos help