Samantha B I just completed my kitchen Reno in Perth. My pantry was also bricked up like yours. Literally doubled the space by getting rid of it but we found out after that the pantry was structural & we had to put an extra support beam in the roof instead ($800) so be careful of that! We completely moved the plumbing, gas & electrics & it only cost a few hundred! So don't be afraid to do that as long as u know decent priced tradies! We ended up doing nearly everything ourselves & went with a masters flat packed kitchen & sourced our own stone benchtops dirt cheap ($2500 installed for a 2m bench & a 1.5m island each with one waterfall edge.). Heres before & after pics.

roo, I'm so happy for Miss 6! That's the thing about kids, we worry like mad and they heal so quickly. She'll be the best in her gymnastics class, you'll see. I will have to pass on that walking bridge, or you go first, ok? judy! A mosquito! Too funny. How did you presentation go? Did they LOVE the wallpaper? MP, great job on the midget's walls! Who cut all the wood? It does look really good, has boo mappin seen it yet? I'll bet she loves it. Olldtrazz, sorry, I know nothing about sisal rugs. But I know about flokati rugs and I want one! I can't imagine how one would vacuum a flokati and I do know the dog would eat it so I don't think they're practical.

Wouldn't the cost of a new double oven or the Ilve suggested be comparable to some decent $$$ spent on the kitchen or tiles itself? New tiles can be laid over old or even floating timber floor (lighter/darker/black/limed oak) or too much timber? I had timber cupboards too and replaced just the doors with a light laminate timber look finish which made so much difference to the look and I love it! inelew are you just bored with the current kitchen because it is quite traditional? The cost of cutting in the stone bench and purchasing/installing a new oven could be worth weighing up against refinishing the existing cupboards doors or replacing them. Lightening the existing ones either with paint as suggested or limewash...all depends on whether your tastes have changed that much. Do you like or loathe the current set up and is the oven still in good working order?

It would not be unusual to have black knobs, handles etc and different hinges. It is personal preference though.