Hi Mattb,

Are you going to run the 'french doors' across the entire width of the loungeroom? You look like you have amazing views out there, that's your feature. I think you need to consider painting either the brick OR the ceiling......you need to ask which one you value the most. If it were me, I'd be leaving the ceiling and painting the brick. Opening up the kitchen and having an all white kitchen will make a huge difference- so yes the brick nib wall needs to go.

Good luck!

Yes, the island will do both- separation and open it up! It doesn't look like a massive area, you could do a mobile island to still give you flexibility in the space? If you search photos on Houzz- there are heaps. Timber paneling is very 'in' right now- has been for a while. Given it is an 80's home, I'd encourage you to keep a little character- which is what the brick and timber is....maybe not both though!! Maybe get a price to get stacker sliding doors to run the entire length? They are standard height, so wouldn't be super $$$. The extra light will offset some of the dark of the timber or brick + the added view!

A couple of photos of our old kitchen and the new Bunnings that we installed. The kitchen before we bought the house, we removed the part wall on the right hand side whch opened it up to an internal courtyard

What you have already done is amazing. I would try keeping the timber ceiling and beams and the fireplace as brick and either white washing the other bricks in the kitchen living or just painting as you have already done. Keeping the timber doors and windows for contrast. Your timber floors are beautiful and will really make a difference. Still think the white kitchen will help to simplify the rooms as it will blend in and also make the space look and feel bigger. You have beautiful views. cheers

Have a similar age and design kitchen with brick which we just started to remove, tho ours went to ceiling. You might want to check that your pillar isn't load bearing, as ours was/is. This meant we couldn't have a single island, but had to keep part of the wall along with a support. I have just matchboard panelled over the front brick facing into our dining room - it looks great and Bunnings sells this stuff already primed, which cuts down on work. Now waiting on new bench tops etc to finish off. Good luck with yours

Natural brick is always beautiful and always in fashion. I would make room more open and light. I would consider painting the timber wood ceiling white because this makes the room look very low - I am a lover of timber but I think this will brighten up the place. Maybe add some mirror's to reflect the light. Alternatively add some silver accessories or similar. You need light.

White white! And more white!! Well, maybe a soft slightly off-white as this will look better with the wood. Just paint the ceiling, install white kitchen with island instead of brick half wall.

Think about the island idea - do you want an isolated 'island' or would a 'peninsular' (coming off the wall at one end) be better? Do you need access round both ends of this 'island'? You get more storage and bench with a 'peninsular"! I wouldn't include a space-hungry overhang for stools as I see you have a kitchen table. If you were a bit nervous about having your kitchen space so exposed to view you could include a low upstand on the 'peninsular'.

Next step, remove curtains and use blinds instead! This will open up the windows and new doors and let the light in, I have used Duet blinds which have a honeycomb construction, are therefore good insulators and take up minimal space when up. Or if this is a step too far I like Siriusky's suggestion of white linen curtains. RIght back off the windows through the daylight hours!

Good luck - you will be soooo happy in your new room!

Please, Please don't paint the ceiling. Your plan would look amazing with the timber ceiling, floors and accents. Paint the walls white, exclude the convict brickwork as it would make a great feature and a talking point. Once your doors are in you'll find this will make a huge difference to how you view the space now. Do the doors first then work backwards. Good luck!

I agree with Chris, please don't paint the ceiling, the bricks yes even the convict ones as they will still show their marks. Bricks can be dusty if not sealed cheers

Hi again a photo of a lovely open plan that has a support post in the Island bench cheers

Oh Mollgillivan, what a great demonstration of the difference can be made by opening up spaces and using lighter finishes! And white paint! Congrats - your kitchen looks great. A good example for MattB to examine! (But dont pint your bricks, Matt, they give such character and warmth to your room)

I would suggest bagging the brickwork around the fireplace and then painting it white. Bagged brick retains the character without so much of the dust ledges that mortar joints normally provide.

I would also do a light lime-wash on the ceiling, timber beams and column, which retains the woodgrain character, and brings in more light without making it a total white-out.

Get rid of the brick upstand wall, do a whole new kitchen with island bench as others have suggested, maybe white cabinets and a grey concrete look on the bench tops and return ends.

Is the floor structure timber or concrete? if it is conc. have you considered polishing that as a natural cool look?

Hi Matt, I would start by painting walls white as you have already done and leave the ceiling for last, hard to undo painted ceilings.

Remove the half brick wall as they waste so much space, you'll be amazed at what a difference it will make.

And remove curtains as they take up so much room and make the room look cluttered. cheers

Hi Matt,

here are a few links you can look up for lime washing:

http://www.homelife.com.au/craft-diy/diy/timber-stains-the-essential-guide 

https://oaktimberflooring.com.au/white-wash-lime-wash-wood-flooring/ 

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lime+washed+timber&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwlNnv_cPWAhXLbrwKHdNQCkEQsAQIJw 

I agree with Siriuskey, we don't need curtains in spaces where we want light and privacy is not an issue. It's one of those things we took for granted unquestioningly for too long, a bit like neckties, which we have largely discarded these days!

I would paint the beams and ceiling the same in a light colour and I would get rid of the curtains and replace with blinds or something lighter. I would paint the window frames same as ceiling . A sit down island bench would be useful and practical too. We have clinker brick walls and same ceiling with beams at our place and this is what we did and it completely brightened up and refreshed the room without painting over the bricks or getting rid of them. They are a beautiful feature now.

I would suggest keeping the brick fire place with a clean up to keep the character. Agree paint the ceiling panels white however keep the beams as the are (if in good condition) to keep the character of the home. Paint the remaining walls white or light grey.

The 1/2 brick white wall and timber paneling on the right side does need to come out to help you create the open plan space you are craving.

The kitchen area - I'm not sure of size judging by the photo - I would suggest storage/cabinets the full length of the back wall to the windows where the dinning table is and cabinets/draws under the window also. Giving you plenty of storage for the home. I would suggest an island bench with a lower section to use as a dinning table.

All your storage is in one place and allowing you to remove the storage you have across the bottom window in the lounge room. giving you more space and more light in the room. Or paint them white also.

If you can remove the window coverings and replace with lighter roller blinds that disappear in the white walls or even white block out curtains.

Good luck with the project from the Team at North.

You could re-point the mortar between the convict ricks with a much lighter coloured mortar. That would brighten it up, and highlight the feature, https://au.pinterest.com/pin/694821048730695950/

Hi Matt,

Where about's are you located, if you don't mind me asking?

I think a lime wash on the timber ceilings because they are quite low and contribute to the space feeling dark. Keep the brickwork around the fireplace but get rid of or cover the rest. You could even render above a nice new mantel shelf to reduce the amount of brickwork and help the ceilings look higher and lighter.

A light base kitchen is always a good way to go. You can have white cabinets with a light mushroom toned benchtop so its not so stark. And maybe bring in a colour with a glass splashback which is so easy care and will also reflect light around.

Definitely an island bench so you have flow all the way around which will open up the area but still have the separation.

Wood floors, wood door & window frames with everything else white/off white is definitely the way to go. You can bring in warmth with the furniture and furnishings so easily,

Best of luck!

Koncept Designs WA