I like the sound of a mini-reunion. Especially if it involves desert!. Hello everyone : ) nwduck, you are just beginning your season, while here today is the grand final of Aussie Rules Football. Though I'm not a fan, it seems the whole country has come to a grinding halt today. haha The big excitement of today's game, is that an 'underdog' team is playing. They haven't got into the finals in about eighteen years or something. :)

I notice you have an aluminium screen door. Are the window frames aluminium as well? If so, you can re-paint them using a bonding substance called ESP. This is a link to Bunnings spray version but it also comes in a liquid you can wipe on and off: https://www.bunnings.com.au/flood-300g-esp-surface-prep-spray_p1560212 It's pretty easy once you get used to removing the screen and re-installing it (makes overpainting go away). It means that the paint won't chip off if someone knocks it which usually happens with aluminium and some other surfaces. Answering your questions, if you make the entrance lighter you may not need to make the walls either side lighter. I like dark - it is very dramatic and not as common. If you start with the entrance you can stand back and look at how it goes with the other walls. Also remember they don't all have to be the same. Variation in colour and texture adds interest, just make sure it doesn't look too busy and all the surfaces blend (not necessarily match). Your back wall is plain and straight, so regardless of the colour you end up choosing it will need to be augmented with something. You could try a large mirror on the blank space between windows. Something with a chunky frame in a contrasting colour and you will have a reflection of the greenery opposite. You could also try a reclaimed timber feature or something rusty or possibly a small timber pergola over the back door (similar colour to the window frames) that will give some depth. It's only paint, so try using patches with sample pots before you put too much effort into painting all the walls. Good luck.

Wow love some of those pics Siriuskey! Thank you for the ideas. I struggle with whether to keep walkways 'clear' in this house - for example the two doors either side of kitchen and the deck door all create these weird walkways. (See arrows on drawings) Is it a smart move to 'block' them with say a couch, or an island bench, or the dining table? (See random furniture placement in pictures showing these options) I have uploaded a drawing with the current walls that we propose removing in green highlighter and showing where the current front door is. As you can see it's a wasted space and strange detour past laundry toilet and storage! I have sketched what I think you mean by entry next to bed 3- would you leave a small office room to one side and create a hallway or leave open and place miners lounge against west wall. Am I interpreting it all as you imagined?!

On the assumption that your kitchen is limited to just a staff lunchroom, and not a food preparation area for your business then you need to be careful that there are no choke points, such as the corner where the sink is currently drawn. Looks like a great corner to stack used coffee cups for somebody else to worry about! It is a pity that the location of the existing plumbing is dictating the location of the kitchen cabinetwork. If there was the option I would put the kitchen on the wall adjacent to the display hall, and run a bar bench with stools under a new wider window. An island bench opposite the kitchen bench would also give more flexibility to food preparation in peak hour, minimise choke points and provide additional seating. A bench adjacent to the window would make the for a more pleasant place to sit, without being forced to share a table with your work collegues. Nobody spends much time using a staff room kitchen so it shouldn't have the best spot which is adjacent to the window! Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls