Firstly...are you sure they are jarrah and not som other more exotic timber? If you are fortunate enough to have a genuine 1932 built cottage I say "Don't Do it!" Just look at the beautiful timber in that floor! It would be sinful to paint it. I have a 1924 cottage with beautiful hoop pine floorboards all from the day it was built. My suggestion is to have the boards sanded and polished. I would not even dare go near them with polyurethane. I have turned back the clock and used the methods of the period of the house...a mix of pale boiled linseed oil and kero. Put it on with a mop or a deck mop or a wool mop leave it soak in. Re-do and leave it soak in,,,( you won't get patches...the floors will just soak it up.) Third coat, add a bit of turps to the mix as a white ant deterrent. Then, when the floors look like they've soaked up enough, get a big old fashioned string mop...if you can find one...or use a deck scrubber and old towels...or even a wad of new ones...100% cotton...its worth it, and rub off as much of the surplus as possible...wear sox so you will notice when the sox do not get oil stained anymore. First go is a long process but you will be really pleased when the floors have had several "drinks". After that you could get just an ordinary floor varnish or oil or just a sealant. Some of the modern wood treatments are really good. Then, every so often do the boards over with your "Oil Mop". You will never find timber like that again and, in my experience, it adds to the value of the house big time. Do what you like to any gyprock and plastered walls but PLEASE love your floorboards and any natural timber...especially from that era. I've been in this old cottage for 32 years. Everyone wants to know where I sourced the "new" floorboards", and who did I get to make my silky oak windows! Hope that helps.

I would but not to the extreme of the picture you provided. I would use them as a feature maybe a strip around the room or a vertical section running down the middle of the shower. It would certainly reflect light if you have a dark room. The picture provided is way over the top and takes away the beauty of the tile effect.

I'm working on a couple of projects that my clients have asked specifically for terazzo; where stone is needed for the long term durability (bench tops etc) it's a great way of adding texture and/or colour to a space. I look at it as a modern classic with a lively character. Corian, Caesarstone, marble & granite definitely have their place & I still use them extensively; they all have their own distinctive characteristics in terms of look, durability and maintenance that need to be taken into consideration with each individual project.

Thanks for your insight, yes I'd looked at Surfmist as well, clients seem quite pro grey so trying to subtly work their likes into the scheme as well, as I think they woule like a grey house however I think the monochrome black / white is classic and will endure the test of time longer than some shades of grey, also if they were opting for white windows may be more inclined to look at grey for the house colour however feel that the black windows will work nicer with the lexicon and tie in the black elements. Welcome all feedback