Any advice if I try to figure out some of this myself? I found this website http://www.ikeasaudi.com/ikea.com.sa/images/stories/new2010/Web%20BG%202011/Kitchen/FAKTUM/FAKTUM_bg_GB.pdf Its overwelming for me. Did you use the online ikea design tool. I love your color scheme. How did you decide on that granite? I found this website too . Perhaps those cabinets are not available here but just where you are. either way I can find something similiar. Did you have any issues with ordering..getting parts.. assemely? Do you have any helpful tips for designing ? Did you actually hang them yourself? Is there anything about the cabinets that you find defective or insufficient or think could be better? Thank you so much for all your help.

For me, it would be colour. Maybe a feature wall for walls around dining, or living, pick colour from your favoured painting, and use same and other colours from pictures for cushions or even some occasional furniture in the brightest colour - I saw this done beautifully in a tarted up house for display - a small seat/coffee table painted and upholstered in an orange mix, which was taken from the splashback (everything else was neutral) and also in a throw for lounge.

Zaffa, if you pop down to your local Spotlight store, they have examples of all types of blinds and shutters Great to get an idea of what each look like, various options, pricing, etc, etc. Only, NEVER EVER order shutters from them! I ordered mine from them when building and they took longer than the house to make them! Ended up having to use temporary blinds for months until they arrived. Also, they really let a lot of light in, so not great for kids bedrooms at all! Romans and rollers keep out much more light if you don't want to go down the full curtain with pelmet option. You can also go automatic blinds with rollers if you're concerned about boys touching the blinds too much. Adds around $500 per window I think I was quoted, so depends on your budget. Cannot automate roman blinds apparently. Best of luck in your decision.

My understanding in that all of the Velux glazed skylights are double glazed and have a UV-protective tint to prevent fading. I have had a large north facing one above my Melbourne kitchen for about 10 years with a two-pack kitchen and have never noticed any cabinetwork fading. This doesn't mean it hasn't happened, but nothing that I have noticed. I went to the expense of openable one with an internal shade and it has been worth the extra expense. In summer on the really hot days I close the internal blind in the morning which keeps most of the heat out. During the night I open it to let any hot air that has built up in the house naturally ventilate. I put a fixed skylight in my son's bedroom a few years ago, and it didn't need to be ventilated, but did need the blind. The skylight was installed with a small solar panel and battery to operate the blind, and no electrical connection was required. You can't easily retrofit these additional features so I would strongly recommend you put in the electrical and have openable in at least one (probably the higher one), and blinds in both to keep the heat out on really hot days. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls