Hi, thanks all and apologies, all my mail went into the junk folder so I didn't see the comments. Yes I used the Annie Sloan chalk paint in graphite with black wax. As it was my first attempt I was very nervous. First I'd tried staining it with minwax polyshades - epic disaster! So I had to sand that down a bit as it was quite glossy and the Annie Sloan didn't stick. Anyway the lady in the shop Said to put clear wax on before the black wax which I did on the top but later I forgot and did black first by mistake and actually preferred that - so you can really muck around with it. I'm so pleased you all like it, my mother was very unimpressed and said she preferred it as it was but oh well, we like it. The paint is a cinch but the waxing takes quite a bit of elbow grease and not a small amount of lint-free rags (especially with black wax) and is quite expensive. Bill attached. Brush I will use again but used all the paint and almost all the wax. Still - Much cheaper than something new. I'm a bit nervous about tackling the large coffee table but I figure I can always sand it down again. The other option is a dark brown/black rub on stain called Java by General Finishes which I can get from the US by Amazon. It says it's the closest to the ikea brown/black Colour what ch could be good. I have another side table so I might try it on that one for a different room and then decide which looks best... Decisions decisions! May end up doing my awful but comfy walnut bed suite in the French Linen chalk pain half strength. I just hate it so much - it's so heavy and dated. Then I can add some nice pictures and make the room 'something'. Thanks for all the compliments - made my day!!

Mwenji sorry I can't tell you where the art is from... was a Pinterest image... but the Designer Boys Collection have some lovely series artworks... don't know if they sell to the public but I'm sure if you scroll through their social media (instagram below) and see something you like you can comment and ask where locally you can order and/or purchase... hope this helps :)

Hi Lah, firstly we are in an inner Sydney area, so your house is positively enormous by our standards!. My kitchen/dining is 4.6 x 6. This will be my main entertaining space. We have a separate loungeroom upstairs that will be just for us. It's 4 x 4 roughly. The plaster is light grey, whereas the framing was dark and made it look like a cave. If you really don't need the 4th bedroom, I'd be leaving the cavity slider and making it a media room perhaps?. My boys are on the edge of their teen years, I know they won't want to be anywhere near us soon....I think open plan works well when your kids are young, but as they age they really want to be away!! I think opening that whole area up would make for a giant open-plan but odd shape. Keeping it gives the option for future buyers or you to determine what you do with it.

I first had cold drip coffee a couple of years ago in Japan before I even knew that's what I was having! I wondered why there was a clear sugar syrup at the table in the cafe until I ordered iced coffee (naively expecting a milky concoction as here in Aus) & received my black cold drip over ice - also made from coffee. Going with the flow, I was really taken with the smooth, non bitter flavour & was hooked from the get-go. So yes, I would love to receive one of these as a gift. I've been making my own cold drip with my french press but that little maker there looks stunning. The syrup, of course, was to stir into these coffees where granulated sugar wouldn't dissolve properly.