yes oklouise, I hear all that - absolutely yes it's all about clients understanding/working out properly what they need.........and it's great to be able to seek comments/thoughts on Houzz from a broad range of backgrounds/experiences......the issue though is when it gets into territory where (from my perspective) clearly experience and professional skill will help resolve the problem most effectively (such as on this particular one) that it's therefore appropriate to suggest this the advised way to go.......I suppose I see frequently here capacity for designers to be able to "cut to the chase" most effectively, but of course this needs to be done in a manner underpinned by a thorough understanding and establishment of what the client needs in context, and yes very often the client will require more time to work this all through.........I however still see our role as relevant in that part of the process though, and not necessarily having to "wait" for that to happen, because ultimately as professionals in this position (i believe) have a responsibility (as part of our role as a consultant) to educate people appropriately and thoroughly so they can develop the skills to be able to consolidate their decision-making most appropriately for themselves and the project - by the end of the journey, I find my clients are rather quite the experts!..........this however involves a collaborative approach, egos are shelved and an intimate working relationship, which is very different from the approach (that some designers work to) which is essentially selling a "product" or particular end result, rather than a service....significant difference, and again, horses for courses ;)

Thank you all so much for your time! Great ideas - I am in Melbourne Julie Herbert, so your photos are perfect. Yes Lyn Huppatz - I’ll start going to the nursery soonish to get some solid inspiration! JE C - I am thinking I would like an out door seating area, but as for anything else - I’m really not sure yet!! I guess I’ll just keep on looking at photos and piecing it together!

Hi Siriuskey, oklouise, and Leanne, A big thankyou and an apology for such a delay in me responding to all messages. Things got really hectic here. We have given it some more thought and have had a bot of a brainwave and really interested to hear what you think... we are thinking to shift the cooktop to the island bench and make it an induction cooktop. That would give us a lovely big pantry too. I'll draw up a picture and post it. I have also managed to get a fairly basic 3D program but I'm very much a novice at it still!

Thank for the early response . Cork floor in dining room and hall Not sure yet what to change to but I still love it as it so easy to get the paint drops off I have tiles in kitchen walls are all vanilla quake half strength now this is the third time i've painted the inside of my house . as you can see old balustrade all gone kitchen cupboards where the trolley of pots is (photo) are to be added and bench top check photo from down the hall ( quote has been supplied for that ) not sure about jap black ( is it a stain or wall paint ) because of the three different timbers, i cant stain them all the same (even paint stores it best to paint ) this job has me adding kitchen cupboards were the balustrade was between kitchen and dinning room post and beams and balustrades is the area that I'm uncertain about thanks