You have a few options here to make some big improvements. 1. You could remove the wall that has the doorway in it. You may need to relocate your stove and range hood or you could have a range hood that you can see "in the round". You would lose those upper cupboards though. or 2. You could remove the other wall to the side of the doorway. This would then mean that your kitchen would open up to the living area but you would lose some full height cupboard space along that side. I also noticed that your TV is located in that corner. Do you need it there or can you relocate it to free up that wall? or 3. Perhaps you could flip your kitchen so that the breakfast bar is near the dining table rather than at the other end. The stove and range hood could then go at the end where the current breakfast bar is as well as upper storage cupboards. Having the kitchen open onto the dining area could be very nice if that's what you are after. It depends on the rest of the living area, too, whether you would like to open it up totally as well. There is a lot to play with here and it can be a lot of fun. I wish you the best of luck with your renovations.

When you render the bricks I would consider leaving some of them exposed here and there - that reminds me of old Tuscan buildings! I would include some large terracotta pots with olive trees or lemon trees, also as others have suggested some brightly coloured geraniums in hanging baskets against the wall or in terra cotta pots. Here are a couple of shots of my back deck (which isn't looking its absolute best) but to give you an idea of the large pots and colour. You have a beautiful spot to work with good luck! Sue

The second look like they are designed for stairwells so I'd be a bit wary about using them up higher as the light might be a bit "spotlight" and not diffuse enough. I think both styles work with your house design

Hi all! Thanks so much for for the comments. Things look much clearer now :) The other walls will be plain white matt tiles 60x30 cm and the floor very pale matt gray , ceiling white, so very similar look like the photo. Bath tub white free standing, all fitings stainless steel and quite minimal. The vanity might be in light timber but I might keep it white. The mirror will be large (not massive) and will reflect the wall nicely, at the same time will make the room look bigger . I don't renovate the unit for sale, but even if we do down the track the colors/pattenrs are not too striking so I'm sure they will be appealing. The builder had said the same thing about the new types of grouting , so I won't worry too much about it anymore. I've decided to go with the wall behind the tub/shower. With some plants on the window as I have now, I can see it looking qute nice and warm. I personally dislike bathrooms in cream or gray tones that look like hotel bathrooms without character that are there only to serve a purpose. Cheers!