@ chookchook2 Very funny play on words! What about some of those lizards with suction caps on their feet...or frogs...although not mammals, still animals, they walk up vertical surfaces...and...just to make this light...in Charleville, Far Nth Qld. big green frogs live under the rims of toilets and.....yep, I screamed my lungs out when a couple attached themselves to my bare behind! I was the brunt of jokes at the pub for weeks! @ Luke Buckle....still copies of animal skins...what is it with people who need to have what I regard as a "trophy of the kill" on their wall or wear the skin...even if its imitation? Crocodile skin shoes? UGH. Fake Lepoard skin trim on boots...double UGH...Graphics of animal skins to stick on things? Still don't like the idea. Have a friend here at present...she likes the patterns and has a leopard skin patterned dress and a pair of boots.....I asked her what the attraction was....just the pattern, she loves animals, especially cats...but still there's this hunter thing....don't get it but each to his/her own. Glad I'm not married to a man who loves animal kill trophies..couldn't stand it. But then...I buy only leather shoes and I eat meat and love leather upholstered furniture...where do I think that comes from? MMMM Tis a puzzlement! Could never come at a real animal skin on the floor...but I like my lambswool underlay and my wooly sheepskin mat????? Double standard hypocrit? Pot calling the kettle?

Hi Viewstreet This can be effective in a number of ways. I have know some of these to have polystyrene foam 3/4 of the way up, therefore reducing the retaining required. Without knowing the steel thickness, the fact that the steel is "wrapped" around the sides, can increase the retaining properties, you will still need to deal with the deflection (bending) on the front face. this can be done with reinforcing plates inside, but you may end up seeing the weld marks on the outside. (which it doesn't look like) My guess, would be a foam or similar filler. regards, Doug Perth WA

Definitely paint. And an extra tip: We moved into a house with so many boldly coloured walls (turquoise, salmon, yellow, dark blue...!) and ended up finding the Haymes paint was amazing at covering all the colours. In the bathroom we used 2 other brands (Duluxand Taubmans) and they needed manymore coats, I'll only use Haymes now I've tried it. Only needed 2 coats over all the colours, it's not at Bunnings but worth seeking out. We got ours from Paint Spot and the staff were so helpful.

The stained glass windows seem to be at odds with the exposed brick, but probably match the original part of the house. If the stained glass windows are giving privacy from an overlooking neighbour I would keep them, and work to make the brickwork more like the original part of the house, so it seems less incongruous. This could be done using a traditional wet plaster or solid plaster technique, which you would need to complete befor your gas insert fireplace is positioned. I would finish it of with a traditional timber fireplace surround and mantle piece, which would be the focal point of a more contemporary room, but link in with the original architecture. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls