ok. certainly a dark blue violet is the trend as blue violet, like green and yellow are colours that recede and create more space. Another creative option for you is to unite the 2 timbers colours. firstly add pots in the fence colour around your pool with tall plants that will link to the background trees or contrast them i.e. with red flowers / leaves. 2nd, paint some of the fence plants to the dame stain of the decking and others in grey stains. this look will create a natural decor style. Simple, easy and different. Have fun!

You could have one side of galley kitchen cabinets in a richer shade of white (I'll have to start looking at the choices) and the opposite side in a grey. Will you have overheads too? Then the subway tiles in a softer shade of grey than the grey lower cabinets. I'd love to see photo of door handles.

Don't go with white. While it is easy to replace door fronts and drawer fronts you won't be able to replace the tall vertical panels adjacent to the fridge recess and the microwave recess without pulling out half of your cabinetwork. If you went with a white you wouldn't be able to match the same white as these vertical panels, and the new white would look off next to the old white or vice versa! I'm afraid there is no easy solution that will make the new doors blend in with the old vertical panels, so I would go with a bold contrast colour block that looks good with the white vertical panels, as well as the black granite. Perhaps consider a Piet Mondrian inspired kitchen facelift, by introducing some black edging to the vertical cabinets and a careful composition of blocks of primary colours? Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits

Hello Sophie, I think your choice of white walls & skirting boards makes the fireplace stand out more. I would also suggest the same could be said if you painted the fireplace black. There are so many colour variations of“White” & maybe a shade a little softer may help. The dilemma could be “Do you stay with the Federation fireplace or move into today’s styling”? At some stage the fireplace is going to need to be stripped back, to remove the gloss finish. It is at that point that a decision is made If the choice was mine, l would paint the fireplace a charcoal grey & possibly the wall above it. ( that might be too much,but hey worth a try) like the photo with the black chairs & dark grey fireplace someone submitted. Also instead of the two chairs being a pale colour change them for another colour dark grey, plum etc. If you wanted to be even more daring, look at a colour palette of Porters paints for another choice for the fireplace. Perhaps a professional opinion might help. These are only some suggestions. Not a criticism of any of your ideas. Paint the fireplace or just restrain it & someone will always say “Oh why didn’t you do” you know the rest!! Happy decorating!! Lor.