You can convert any wood burning fireplace into a gas one with a simple gas box. They are sold at places like jetmaster. They are small enough to sit just below the cinder tray and have a regulator that controls your gas flame by a dial switch. The fireplace itself needs to be constructed to house a flue kit, and your gas line. A gas fitter can advise on your requiremnts, whether or not you need to upgrade your gas line etc. The flue kit is the most expensive element. As far as restoring the piece, as its cast iron, that's easy. If you own a drill, you can buy wire brush disks hat you will need to remove any loose rust or paint on the surface, clean it thoroughly, perhaps even using a solvent to get off anything it may have coated on it. Once you have washed it down, and allowed it to dry out, spray with a can or two of potbelly black spray paint. It is specially made for these things, and have a high heat resistance that won't blister. Two coats should be fine. This will look amazing! And because you will be doing the restoring, also very rewarding. Good luck.

Hi, I had gorgeous black fans in my last house. Had the bifolds and all open living. Only get black if you plan on cleaning them well very frequently, as dust and dirt really shows. Switched to white in my new place and yes they still get dirty but the dust seems to not show as much. I also had a a black fan in the kitchen with a black fridge and it looked superb. I had exposed laminate beams in the cathedral ceilings and brush box floors. A few little black pieces here and there made them really pop :)

I think the dining room should definitely be positioned across from the kitchen. Logistically it makes sense, and I like that it will tie in with the alfresco. Therefore, I think the fireplace will be best suited on the other side of the hall, which will be the lounge room. Before positioning the fire place in the plans, make sure you mark up your furniture to scale (I use this: http://jordans.icovia.com/noflash.html) - you might find the bingo spot that way! Good luck! :)

What natural light do you get in the room/what orientation? i.e. is it a 'cold' or 'warm' room? If it's a colder room, I'd go with a grey with orange/red undertones to warm it up a bit, or if it's a warm room you could get away with a cooler grey, maybe green undertones to compliment the maroon. Or you could even try a green rather than grey. The Aerobus is a blueish grey so will be cooler. As others have said you would probably want a lighter tone than this for the walls (unless you're purposely going for a dark dramatic mood). 'Miller Mood' is a couple of shades up in the Colour Atlas. Get sample pots and paint a section on each wall, or paint a white bit of card and stick to the wall to see how the light is at different times of day.