I would choose a light, warm colour for the walls. If you are uncertain what to use, you can pay for a colour consultant will go to your house to put forward their recommendations. According to their website, Dulux charges $150 for this service. I think it's worth that amount if undecided on colour. I love plantation shutters, however, with the extra large windows and doors in your house it would cost a lot to install them. Alternatively you could use layered curtains or insulated curtains. Use heavy fabrics or layered curtains over the windows to keep out drafts. Or, purchase insulated curtains with built-in thermal backing. Window pelmets are also good for keeping out the cold.

Hi Bianca, I have just seen your post. I personally think the best answer to your question will depend on a few other considerations because it really depends on the kitchen layout as a whole. Considerations may include; how will this affect the work flow in your Kitchen and what are the alternative positions available to you? Importantly; how big is your island going to be; an Island can be a great space for food preparation, meal plating, as well as the island being a social space for family as well as when entertaining. When placing the Sink in an island you may consider a sink also needs adequate additional space each side of it for the various functions it is used for; whereby placing a sink in a small Island can sometimes take away from the other benefits it provides. There is actually no clear yes or no answer, but to consider your Kitchen layout, appliance placements and its work flow as a whole. With the other things you have already mentioned here, I hope this extra helps in your decision process.

Hi Siri, appreciate your time in changing the layout but I still prefer my current one. although I'm happy to resize things but not move around. I made a mock-up last night but not sure if the changes i made will still fit. I've convert the linen to WIL although not sure if the modification i made is enough. I'll send this through to my builder. Thanks M.B. for your valuable input. I also do handwashing but my concerns: on placing the sink are 1. I have to do undermount sink to look good but then I need a drying rack beside it. so logically the the normal sink is better functionally but no pleasing to the eye :). 2. Wife doesn't want a mess in the island bench. also, she wants to utilize the whole thing when we host parties (food in the bench). 3. I prefer facing the window to see my garden/landscape while washing. And if we decided to use the DW, atleast, it's all there 4. Normal double sink and DW will come together in the butler. once the plates are dried up, we can store them in the cabinet?

Hi Vicki, I would like to put if my two pennies worth too, please: And go back a step..... The scullery: you have a sink and dishwasher in there? If so why not have the 1 1/2 sink and drainer in there. On the island have just a little sink for rinsing veg, filling kettle, topping up saucepan, rocks for the scotch water supply but with no drainer in the island? Then the major dirties will go straight to the scullery and island sink is for smaller usage. And I would put it not right at the end maybe but towards the dining end to allow the longest usable bench for prep. The design of the scullery does not seem quite right to me. There is a dead corner: yes I know that is one of my pet hates. But also is this going to be a pantry for store of foods and or do you envisage using it with appliances on the benches? If it is either of these do you want to dirties mixed with the food prep and store? Solution: have two benches facing each other. the one backing bedroom(?) use for sink, DW and second 'frige. Separate. The other for appliances on bench and food store above and below. I would incorporate the pantry cupboard into pantry room bringing the door along to the front of the main fridge. Then put the oven tower next in the kitchen: it is in a safer place and close by to mix master (on bench in pantry) for slipping a cake into! The high things are then altogether and the bench will slip down to the day bed being a more relaxed aesthetic. I know I hear it you want the cook top centred to look lovely! Possible you still can do that but as long as there is at least 1200 benching beside it for a USEFUl piece of bench. Yes as someone earlier said you can use an under mount sink and have grooves in stone for drainer but I wonder about the cleanliness of the hidden seal. The stone will chip on the edges of the sink, the outer edges of the island and all benching if the boyz are not careful: a school ruler or wooded spoon handy for clumsiness might be a good disincentive for rushing!! I hope this helps and doesn't thro a turkey among the souffle! Cheers, Margot