Hi there, Many thanks for your positive comment. As a rule leave at least 1 meter between the kitchen island and the rest of the kitchen. If I have space I like to leave 1.2m/1.4m and at a push I will reduce this to 0.9m. Hope this helps.

When I first wrote in August 2017 we got a lot of great suggestions and comments. At the time we had accepted the limitations of the block (easements, tree, solar access etc). It is now one year later and I can tell you we found a way to move the garage to the south-west corner. This allowed us to move Beds 2 and 3 and the bathroom to the northern side. Pantry and laundry between garage and kitchen/living/dining. I think it was all of the comments and suggestions that encouraged us to look at it again from different angles, rather than just accepting the limitations. Thanks to everyone for their generosity! The solution involved working around a lovely tree (it is nice, just in the wrong spot). It is still in the way (council said we couldn't remove it) but we've opted for a long, curving driveway that starts on the other side of the block and weaves its way around the treeline to the garage entry. Not ideal, because a large portion of the front setback will now be a hard surface, instead of a garden. But if there is one thing that designing teaches you - its all about compromises. Thanks everyone. MB Design & Drafting Shara C Nik Star girlguides oklouise siriuskey genkii saragraham76 Andy Pat brizcs Mel N 3D Home Concepts suancol Caro

Hi, I’m very late to this conversation so I apologise for butting in. I refer only to your console table in this pic and you said it looks bulky. I think the issue is the vase and the candlesticks are too similar in height so they add bulk and not enough contrast. I would remove the candlesticks altogether and place the vase offset in front of the picture with the small dish in front again. The picture would be even better if you changed the frame to a white or black with a white matt surrounding the picture, similar to the frame below. Also the lamp casts a yellow light which would be better if it was white. Either it’s the globe or the shade. If the shade, change to an off white or very soft grey. That’s my two cents worth anyway. Hope it helps 😏

I actually think the rug you have is a great start , but I actually think you need to look at the bigger picture , and formulate a plan . The end of the kitchen bench looks beige . Beige , of course , is bad haha , and doesn't go with grey . And you have a lot of grey ! Grey kitchen cupboards , grey walls , grey ceilings , grey doors and windows , and in the styled pics -- grey furniture . Call it surfmist , or drab , or overcast , or any of the other 50 shades haha , and its still grey . And to really add to this scene are those 70's tiles . The veranda roof underside looks unpainted or beige , the fence is an off-white . Me -- I'd do the ceiling in white . Just so it isn't grey . The kitchen end , and the cupboard doors -- burnt orange would suit , royal blue maybe , or the bright ornage/yellow or red if you want colour , but I sense thats a No . The outside fence in charcoal , the underside of the terrace roof probably charcoal too , but I'd want to know the rest of the outside colours -- lets hope they aren't grey haha ! THEN you can do the white marble table , the gold legged chairs , obviously the rug , you'd even get away with the grey couches , BUT add some coloured cushions , maybe some light blue and some royal blue to reference the rug . Maybe mid and rich red to reference the kitchen . Even the charcoal might work but it needs something -- a bright lamp , at least 1 large abstract art work in the tones you want -- the reds and/or the blues and/or the yellows -- several colours , and several shades of your dominant two . Doing it now will cost $5-10k , but it will look much more integrated , it will be done , and easier than in a year too haha ! Delay if budget is tight , but I'd personally sooner do that and have a $100 dining table with a $30 tablecloth for the 1st year or 2 , than a $2k or $5k marble and gold one .