Hi, if it's any help I went through this recently too. We built our first new home and colour selection was a nightmare for me, I wanted everything white! With so many different shades of white I was concerned we would get a 'stark' look, I can tell you that's not the case. We have Lexicon quarter on our walls, white ceiling, white porcelain floor tiles, white Caesar bench top in kitchen, white Polyurethane kitchen cupboards, white shutters, even a milky white splash back and marble fireplace surround, I thought it was too much at first...but...when you start furnishing and dependent on what style your after, I was going for a hamptons/coastal relaxed but modern style it will all come together...I found neutral colors bright pillows and soft light really make the home 'alive and inviting' and it always seems fresh, I have some of our home pictured on Houzz, just click through to my account and you can get some ideas :) you can never go wrong with white IMHO or have too much because it's always a great canvas to work with and always in style. Like illegally blonde said its the pieces you place with the white that pop and you can always change to what you feel like, I also have had 3 toasters dependent on what mood I'm in, the white always gives me a blank canvas to work with :) I hope this helps, happy to help with anything you might need :)

All stone in the home is a sign of quality. Stone surfaces are very "forgiving" and best of all, can be restored, polished or repaired. Consider the durability of natural and engineered stone in the home. The Marble Man specialise in stone polishing, repairs and sealing. www.themarbleman.com.au 1300 627 626 will always recommend stone!

I have used water based white trim..two years on still very white, no yellowing. I painted it myself, I did around my free standing cooker in an old fire place I have knocked with pots and pans despite trying not too, it has not chipped, I am very pleasantly surprised as I was told it wasn't as strong as oil based paints. On skirting, doors and trims as well. It was difficult to paint on, took three coats on trims, four on new doors

My darling mother never had money for "decorating" and I can't remember anything new as all belongings were made up of a collection of cast off, second hand and recycled bits and pieces that she scrubbed and polished, repainted and recovered but it looked and felt warm and inviting and the house and garden were always full of flowers. Her pride and joy was the Moroccan tile inspired splashback that she made out of some old wrapping paper, carefuly cut to fit and varnished to make it waterproof...meant to last only 'til she saved up for real tiles it was the starting point for the colours of paint and curtains and cushions and rugs and was only reluctantly replaced years later when the paper finally disintegrated but, nothing ever looked or felt so perfect...many more years later i think of her when I have to decide between a loved old piece of junk and having the option to choose something new and i'm afraid the scruffy usually wins