Know thy self... you sound like you're bobbing around in an ocean of ideas and safety nets and don't know whose life rope to grab. Take time out to look at addressing a few aspects of yourself : * the dynamics of yourself as an individual and the needs upon you and of you in light of your desires for better feeling and functionality of the space * then let's select pieces, items and collections you feel compelled to hold onto for one reason or another * group things and find the unique story that is you ... your family ... whether letting go of or even moving toward * then start incorporating the reno decisions to compliment and contrast, moving outward with the eye and feel into other areas of your home * if working from a blank canvass then pull pics from magazines and start a collage or a number of boards to express interpretations * another idea is to simply sit in meditation... close your eyes, relax, in your minds eye walk into your dream kitchen. Picture this by yourself, as a family, entertaining and any other occasion you experience. Have fun! Let me know how you get on. I'd love to see pics and know your thoughts and feelings around the choices, not decisions, choices.... you made :)

Mirror splash backs would look lovely in a show home. Mirrors are only stunning when there sparkling clean. They would annoy me if they were constantly needing to be cleaned. I think you would be creating an on going chore for yourself, like Karen Mc, they would drive me crazy. Why don't you have a look at some of these https://au.pinterest.com/GDBully/kitchen-window-splashback/ There are endless choices, I wouldn't be making work for myself. Depends I suppose how long you are going to live there.

Thanks once again oklouise for your comments. I have already been told by the draughtsman that I cannot put in skylights. No idea if this is true but he seemed quite sure and it was he who 'designed' the layout of said ensuite with what I consider a too small window because of ease of plumbing and drainage. He says that can be changed...............Supposedly only put like that to get the oversize plan in fir consent. This department is only interested in the outside view and the effect on the neighbours, which I actually dont have any. The positioning of the ensuite and WiR has changed too from the first plan as I had to come 'out' of my bedroom into a corridor past the WiR door and then into the ensuite. Technically they were both in my bedroom as had not entered the hallway but did not seem like it. So the wall you have now suggested for the door is a small lobby to the bedroom and I had planned to put furniture on it and a full length mirror. I will now look again at the whole space with three zones to see what can be done. I used the word solar tube as I thought that was the generic name for the 'tube' installed which reflected light into a room. Do they cause draughts? Have had no experience of them but will probably want to install one in my scullery (or Butler's kitchen) but am going to work in it a few months before deciding that. I am really quite a novice about function of installations and of building code.

Yes, Ann I think this room needs a lamp in the corner for extra lighting and also height and I would love a piece or two of wall decor but not necessarily a canvas or print. The room looks bare but isn't ...it's actually quite small by today's standards. Long and thin. I know what I want....just can't find it LOL. At the moment my attention is diverted to replacing my kitchen benchtop with black granite, so the lounge room is on the back burner for the next month or so. The furniture wood is Australian oak, and the lower pieces are black stain rather than paint, so the wood grain is still evident. The tops are distressed and burnished, but still sealed. Lovely quality, (weigh a ton!) and made in Australia. Bought at The SofaShop. We have always had Aussie oak. We were looking for something much lighter, but both fell in love with this....the walls are painted in hog bristle 1/4.