We had a Vic Ash floor laid recently in our living room. The floor polishing person we used was excellent in every way, including helping us choose which products to use, which was a great start. He said that polyurethane gives timber that tan colouring, but water based (non-toxic) finish doesn't develop any colour - so you get the natural colour of the timber, intensified just a tiny bit as if it is wet - our finished floor is beautiful. If you want the timber tinted, they have tints they can apply before sealing. The water based non-toxic finish is more expensive, but more durable than polyurethane, and not high gloss which I dislike, so I decided readily that it is worth it. We are in Melbourne and the business name of this gentleman, Sasha, is S&A Flooring Services. They were very clean and methodical, leaving no mess or unsatisfactory areas of work. They did a beautiful job, and the finish was as he described in the first place when we chose the products. Getting people in for various advice, repairs or restorations in the home can be difficult and disappointing, so trades people like this man Sasha, and the resultant finish we live with, are a pleasure.

Thanks Guinness, the room feels beautiful

These period arch features are mid-passage details that need to be managed carefully. Any introduced doors should ideally positioned away for the archways and allow them to breathe appropriately in order to best preserve the effect of the original character detail and vibe. You have to make a decision one way or the other. Either new doors are positioned and articulated independently/separated reasonably from the arch, or if the doors need to be where the archway is currently, then arguably they need to replace the archway and be articulated as the end of the passage with the apporpriate cornice and architraving detail to tie apporpriately

I like the overall look and result , and how you have brought in a great range of colours and textures -- it all melds together really well . My own taste would have been 1 slightly more colourful feature somewhere in the bathroom -- the plants are great , but the grey needs a bit more lift IMO .