Painting the splash back behind the cooktop is not recommended as it's flammable and will likely peel, blister at least or ignite or release chemical fumes at worst. I love the chalkboard though, although I would mask up a doorway on your wall between the fridge and island and paint that, like a menu board, handy for shopping lists or recipes, and will look clever without being permanent. For the window area, I think those two narrow windows are smart and have personality. You can make a mdf pelmet for above them, simple as. Measure the width of the window frame, and cut about 150mm for each side. Ou can have the timber yard cut the mdf into a 200mm strip, and you simply cut the lengths, 1 x front measurement, 2 x side measurements (150mm). Say. Screw sides through front board and cover with wadding also know as Dacron from fabric store, about $10.00 worth, secure with staple gun and repeat with a fabric of your choice. This is where it's fun, I think something like a lemon lime print or citrus stripe, and perhaps make the top of those pellets have a mdf top also so you can place mason jars filled with lemons or limes on them like a ledge, it will look like fresh preserves in a kitchen window and the blackboard wall will tie that into a theme. Like the roman blinds too because fabric will add colour and style cheaply. Don't mind you took off the doors because you are neat, and items seem to match but that can become messy quickly. Reconsider the blackboard behind your cooktop for safety, and even could go to a tile supplier, buy a heap of se nods or discontinued tiles in your mustards, yellows and teals, break them up and mosaic a sheet of fibre cement sheet cut to fit. Then you could attach that to the wall directly over the old tiles, and it would be made by you, the right colours and have that bespoke eclectic look in a cooks kitchen. Sometimes it's as simple as grouping things like a timber chopping board leaning up the wall,a bowl of picked lemons with leaves on, and a teal striped washcloth for it to have those zingy pops of colour.

yes but I think it depends what market you are likely to be seeking in. if it's not family home market but more up market retirees then a glam spacious bathroom will win more plaudits from buyers than a cramped make-do space. I just strongly feel you should design your bathroom so it is a pleasure to use every day not just the one day a year you may want a bath (plus much as I like the style of bathroom Siriuskey has posted they really don't beg out for bathing in). But a vanity space where you can even have your own toothpaste if you like stripey and he likes plain and all stored neatly away so they never have to appear on display together and with a shower you can lift your arms up in is priceless if you ask me.

Unfortunately Erina, your best bet sometimes in this industry is to cut your losses and if it important enough to rectify, outsource a separate contractor/company to come in and re-do it at your own expense.....you just have to look at it as part of the cost of your project.......many people will have stories of deciding pay twice (sometimes more!) to eventually achieve the satisfactory results - ultimately you have to live with it long term and sometimes it's worth it to get it right....ultimately only you can make that decision one way or the other........it's not necessarily right or fair, but unfortunately these are the risks (& hard lessons) of building Best of luck Erina, PD :)

For armchairs I’d use wicker or rattan for the look you’re after and because the gaps in their design make them seem less solid (important in a smaller space and where there is a walkway). You have the plushness with the sofa. BUT do take into account usability. If people are going to sit on the armchairs frequency and for a period of time a more comfortable chair might be a better idea. For layout - it’s a bit hard without measurements of the room and the furniture but I’d try the sofa on the wall with the mirror and the two armchairs on an L shape with their backs to the walkway. The console may need to be moved to another room due to space limitations. It looks ok where it is but I’m not sure you’ll have space when the sofa goes in.