My preference for the width of stile and rail is 40mm minimum. I have a cabinet which has 260mm wide doors with 45mm stiles and rails. Any width less than that wouldn't look right especially if the doors are wide. I think it best to size up all the cabinet doors and drawers then do a compromise as to the best fit. Slim drawers are best left plain without the details.

Your home is lovely, my thoughts are if you are hesitating about the dado rails, maybe consider turning them into an elegant and timeless feature, by converting them to wainscoting? (I sense from your question that you are not a devotee of the Victorian style :-) I also agree with what the others have mentioned about changing the colours to something more neatural like a shade of grey that you like or a dusty blue, and leaving the lower half white. For a more updated look, you could look at updating the pendant lights to something a little more classic, (to your taste of course) and if budget permits, changing to carpets to perhaps a hardwood floor. All the best, I hope this helped. Ive attached a picture and link to an example. http://www.charmingzebra.com/2011/07/wainscoting-success-sort-of.html

Thankyou for your response. We live in Orange NSW which is one of the coldest places in NSW. Generally our summers are mild. We do get some hot days but rarely over 35c. However it could still be a problem. Will give it some thought. Problem is I really love monument. Cheers

opposite the railings I painted my desk top BM "Night Horizon" - similar to framesEverything was/ is golden oakI was thinking I need to draw the eye around the corner via railings to the kitchen. I like to change accessories -lime green, cobalt blue, red and thus I was considering a neutral palette as accent wall but last night as I lie dreaming, I thought maybe I should just do a blue wall and go blue through that whole floor-the trouble with open concept Easy to change up accents