We have four farmhouse style sinks in two different houses, and all present the same problem. It doesn't have anything to do with the material as two sinks are concrete, one stainless steel, and one composite stone. With the two kitchen sinks it's very frustrating spraying out the food particles from corner to corner. Food particles go from one side to the other, and it's very difficult to corral them to the drain. The two concrete bathroom sinks don't have enough slope, so when shaving and brushing teeth, the water and material flow to the opposite side of the sink. It's annoying to wash a 3' wide sink every time it's used. And gross if the sink isn't cleaned from side to side after every use. As a compromise, we're installing a farmhouse concrete bathroom sink with two drains and more slope. As I evaluate many things in life, a, farmhouse sink is a solutions looking for problem.

Hi Amelia Like the fine lines of the house with the right planting and garden it will look stunning There may be a few things you would like to consider; 1. Its difficult to tell from the photos but I would check that the ceiling veranda lining is not asbestos - The jointing strips of the lining looks reminiscent of how they used to join that horrible material. Get a professional asbestos remover in to check and follow their advice in getting rid of the stuff. 2. The roof tiles are dark and will absorb heat, they will most likely brake in a heavy hail storm (unless their are really good 'terra cotta' ones like Wonderlicht) and also can let possum and other vermin in, (possum are notorious for lifting tiles) and if you do not have insulation and sizalation on the roof this is the time to put some in - and in the ceilings should you be missing some there. Because now you will have a zincalume roof it is good to earth your electrical system and the roof so that all current overloads are taken to the ground, a good electrician will solve this problem. Also if the roof is replaced with zincalume you should check your "Holding Down" straps to the roof. Because the roof was designed for a tile roof there is always the possibility that the "holding Down" straps were not included or are sparse. Because you are going to a lighter zincalume roof these are to checked and increased or included if missing, especially as you may be in an open area were winds can pick up considerably. 3. Its good that you have north facing veranda's to shield you from the summer sun, and what appears to be a concrete floor with tiles on the veranda. I would not replace it with timber decking simply because concrete does not burn in a fire - and if you are in the country there is always the possibility of fire. However some large white or of white tiles say 500x350 or thereabouts resemble flagstones could be good as long as they are very light in color and rectangular in shape. Maybe something resembling a very light sandstone may give more to a country ambiance than the small bathroom tiles of the 50's. Also I would bring out a roof over the front steps ending it with a "or gable end" pitched end" and provide a nice handrail in the middle and pave the bottom of the steps and area to provide a solid end to the steps using the same tiles as the veranda. 4. The existing aluminum windows are certainly and eyesore and not energy efficient in the slightest. An investment in new double glazed timber windows (Not cedar as cocky's like to eat the frames) or powder-coated white aluminum double glazed windows with "Thermal Break" - which are highly energy efficient would return money in energy savings and look great, especially if your frames are around 50 mm in width or greater. 5. I would not touch the bricks - just use very light colours in the veranda and the, doors, window and frames veranda posts. The garden will hide the brickwork below the veranda level making the roof and the lighter units the main features to stand out. The darker bricks will recede. Hoping this is of some benefit Regards Michael Manias

If you're seriously considering chalk paint check out Marilyn's, the Annie Soames stuff is pretty expensive. Marilyn's comes in some made up colours or you can get the powder and add it to any colour you like. (I have only tried this on small amounts only, not sure how you'd go mixing larger quantities). I'd be inclined to get it in place before doing anything radical, then you'll have a better feel. I'm thinking that the grey drawers definitely need to be changed, I'd try painting some cardboar and sticking it over the top to experiment with colour. What you do with your splashback will also make a big difference, those grey tiles add to the contempaory feel. You could also change out the handle quite cheaply for something a bit chunkier. Open shelves or glass fronts scream farmhouse, so maybe just leaving some of the upper cupboard doors off could work, you can always paint the inside of the cupboard for a bit of interest. Or depending how the L fits in, open shelves, on one end. Another option depending on what's in the rest of the space, and how big that space is, you could think about a butchers block in the space, very farhouse and extra benchspace never goes astray.

Don't suppose the roses are iceberg?, I can just see your dogs scaring the life out of the poor fish. My same farmer Friend had his roof spray painted on a similar period house to yours, and it was a perfect no problems, I think that there good and bad and ugly trades that do these roofs, I know a neighbour was not happy with the quality of his and had to be redone and then another managed to get a really dodging one going around doing roofs and driveways that were total rubbish. A good job removes and resets all the ridge line tiles repairs adjusts and replaces tiles where needed. and remember to keep too many people from walking around on your tiled roof as this can add to more cracked brittle tiles. Re painted down pipes I wouldn't worry at the moment, a house nearby has just had roof painted mid gray and walls rendered a very soft pale beige/sandstone colour. Windows doors eaves, barge boards, down pipes are all white and the gutter is the same as the roof colour, simple, it's hard to match paint colour with brick work so I think I would be going with unpainted white the same as the neighbours I just mentioned, they won't get scratched that way and your down pipes aren't terribly visible from the front. A farm house bedroom for you x, Ticking,linen,timber, black and metal and a blue wall like your fireplace