Astraea, when I emptied mum's unit, I just absolutely turned everything upside down and inside out. Luckily I found money in the first drawer I opened that put me on my guard. Talking about going out in the car reminded me - mum had a disabled parking sticker that had to be attached to the windscreen if the car she was in was parked in a disabled parking area. When she came to live with me I kept it in the glovebox of my car at the ready, but somewhere along the line when mum had first got the sticker someone must have given her very clear instructions to ensure she kept the sticker with her at all times as they were readily stolen. Obviously whoever had explained said that it had to be displayed on the windscreen when the car was parked, but mum, in the fog she was in by this time, didn't get that bit. One time I had to go to the RTA to have mum's address changed to mine so of course I had to take her with me for her to verify things. I parked in a disabled spot as they are wider for wheelchair access, put the sticker on the windscreen, got the wheelchair out of the boot and got mum into it, not taking any notice of anything she was doing. We got into the RTA, took a number and waited a while before we were served, then I took mum over to the counter and explained the situation, whereupon mum pulls the sticker out of her handbag to show the clerk. Of course I freaked as they are very quick to book you if you are illegally parked in these spaces and told mum she wasn't to take it off the windscreen again. Mum felt she was really going to get one up on me as she was always going crook at me putting it on the windscreen for people to see it and break into the car to steal it, and told the clerk to tell me the rules how I wasn't to leave it in the car. I think the poor woman wet herself seeing the comedy side of it, but trying to keep a straight face while she tried to get through to mum that it had to be on the windscreen. Of course mum just kept arguing with her then that she knew better because of what she had been told. In the end the clerk told me to get back to the car before I got booked but said to let her know if I was and she would try to clear things for me. Fortunately I wasn't but after that I had to be so careful to ensure I put the sticker on my side of the car (which it wasn't supposed to be) but it was the only way I could stop mum getting to it.

Hi Jacey Eve, How is your splashback coming along? We are the manufacturers of the Pressed Tin Panels product (yes we sell it too - but believe we know what we are talking about- most of us who work here have a pressed metal splashback at home too!) I believe the great responses have covered what we would recommend for the panels as a splashback and that is the powder coating. It makes them a non-porous and easy to clean surface as well as a long lasting, good looking surface. With basic care it will remain that way for many,many years to come. We believe it is very competitively priced and an easy DIY product to install. If we can provide you (or anyone else reading this) a sample, prices, details of stockists, an install guide or a quote just let me know mardi@pressedtinpanels.com Visit our website for more info and ideas: www.pressedtinpanels.com Regards Mardi

clintandvic - are you very minimalist, private people? a lot of the solutions above seem very impersonal - and, while your current artwork might have special meaning for you, it could be found anywhere. I'd go for either the round or cheaper 'floating'-style bookshelves. I definitely wouldn't have a mirror backing for anything on which you are likely to put books (or heavy decorator items such as vases) - too easy to accidentally break the mirror! (I'd be filling the bookshelves here with cookbooks - but that's me), but it seems you don't really envisage books on the shelves? But most of all . . . this is your home, and it seems to be the corner of the kitchen, so close to the heart of your home? Even if you go with the shelves, don't fill them with this season's trendy decorator items - save the space for meaningful objects from your life together! Frame and display all sorts of personal items (not just photos - though I am also a fan of the idea of making it a photo wall): festival or sporting event tickets, maybe framed with a very small poster (you can even find and printout original ads for events from the internet); that crafty thing you bought when you were both away for a weekend . . . don't be afraid to make this space about you, rather than what you think it should look like - and it will make a great talking point to share with guests . . . How much more interesting would this wall look if it featured framed clothes from your wedding/the day you met/your favourite holiday together? These Houzz articles have some great ideas about the sorts of personal things you can use as decorator items around your home: https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/8-everyday-treasures-and-how-to-share-them-stsetivw-vs~44492547 https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/9-everyday-items-youd-never-think-to-frame-stsetivw-vs~45495730 and https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/20-inventive-ways-to-decorate-with-your-holiday-souvenirs-stsetivw-vs~25913013

That's tole painting on the trunk, bit I can see where you might get bored with it eventually. If you are going to kerp it in the outdoor area then a frame with legs or castors would be a good idea. Otherwise you may find your trunk rusting underneath. Everybody has such great ideas, I favour the distressed look myself, use all the colours of the accessories. Then finish with a melamine spray to seal it. The orange trunk was lovely too! You can keep cushions and throws in it, or toys, or games. A really useful item.