Hi, if it's any help I went through this recently too. We built our first new home and colour selection was a nightmare for me, I wanted everything white! With so many different shades of white I was concerned we would get a 'stark' look, I can tell you that's not the case. We have Lexicon quarter on our walls, white ceiling, white porcelain floor tiles, white Caesar bench top in kitchen, white Polyurethane kitchen cupboards, white shutters, even a milky white splash back and marble fireplace surround, I thought it was too much at first...but...when you start furnishing and dependent on what style your after, I was going for a hamptons/coastal relaxed but modern style it will all come together...I found neutral colors bright pillows and soft light really make the home 'alive and inviting' and it always seems fresh, I have some of our home pictured on Houzz, just click through to my account and you can get some ideas :) you can never go wrong with white IMHO or have too much because it's always a great canvas to work with and always in style. Like illegally blonde said its the pieces you place with the white that pop and you can always change to what you feel like, I also have had 3 toasters dependent on what mood I'm in, the white always gives me a blank canvas to work with :) I hope this helps, happy to help with anything you might need :)

Forget dust, what about all the other things that designers or buyers forget: fingerprints on shiny new surfaces... result: things stop looking new. Grime build-up in the nooks and crannies of classic profiles ... result: not so classy looking. Those funky new colours that are so "on trend" but nothing else matches and in a few years they look completely off-color. As for dusting, well people, it is a fact of life and every house no matter how sleek, cluttered or empty will gather dust. Couple of things you can do about it: Hydronic heating has really cut down dust for me because you don't have warm air being blown through the house through ducts. (It's also way cosier). Secondly, remember that every time you have your windows open, more dust comes in. So when ventilating after a hot spell, avoid having them open for long periods when its very windy. Thirdly, has anyone tried Grabit dusters? They *really* make dusting a quick, simple and efficient job. They pick up and hold rather than redistribute the dust. Also they are so light that you can confidently flick them around even fragile items without knocking them over - so this all saves time.

Agree with everyone who said that art should speak to them and not be purchased simply to match existing décor. I am a bit of an art hoarder. I have so many pieces of art that I buy simply because I love them or they really do speak to me! I do not have enough walls to hang all my art, so I simply recycle them. I move them around or replace one with another over and over again. When I purchase art for clients I do so in various ways. Art auctions, galleries, online, commissions etc. it really depends on what the client's budget is, how far I can push the client's boundaries but still stay within the parameters of what they like, and most importantly, how the art makes the client feel! I never buy art for a client and just install it without their imput because what speaks to me may not speak to them! I really like your pieces TJG creative! I happen to love photography however, most clients ( at least the majority of the ones I have worked for) seem to be glued to the idea of paintings. every now and then I manage to convince a client to include black and white photography in their home and I do this by bringing my own pieces in, showing them how wonderful they can be in their space and they are usually keen then to purchase some of their own. I try to steer away from art prints if possible because in my opinion, something original can always be found to suit anyone's taste and budget. By buying original artworks, we are supporting our local art communities and encouraging new and emerging artists to continue pursuing their dreams. Good luck with your venture and I will certainly keep your works in mind if the opportunity arises.

I think I'll do that! I'm down to Classic Cream, Magnolia, or Paperbark and it seems like all 3 ( gulp ) http://www.awsaustralia.com.au/Content/cms/awscdn/files/Standard Colour Chart.pdf I went to a paint shop today to get some paint and was told to be sure before I buy enough for a room. I did have a look at Chalk U.s.a and Fair Bianca, but found them too yellow :( I was then after the Hog Bristle 1/2, but now I may go towards 1/4 Low Sheen, with a White Low Sheen Ceiling