Hi MJ, what a sweet cottage. I'd go for a thermal roller blind in the kitchen as it'll allow you to get your views and light, privacy of an evening and help maintain heat inside in winter - they're also easier to keep dusted roman blinds. In the bedroom, I'd go for a double railing with sheers that let light in during the day and then thermal and block out curtains to pull across of an evening. You would be able to pick up continuous thermal or block out curtains at Spotlight/Lincraft fairly cheaply - I like the continuous as you can have your curtains as full as you like). I wouldn't worry about lined curtains again as they're just far heavier and a pain in the butt with the amount of dust that both layers of fabric collect. I've got the thermal continous curtains in our bedrooms and have machine washed them and they were far less trouble when I was hemming them. In terms of thermal efficiency of your windows look at secondary glazing options - Magnetite, Ecoglaze and Justrite off options that you might find worth looking at (beats pulling out windows and replacing them).

Wow, that house is WAY to big. How on earth do you clean it? Why not have outdoor entertaining on the back deck? This would incorporate flying fox to a cubby and play equipment down the back yard. In the summer perhaps a collapsible awning for during the day but at night just candles and the stars to keep you company. If the weather is too cold you could provide a pile of crocheted lap rugs or fur or old blankets to get the cottage or french look. I suppose then your dining furniture would need to be a style to suit - maybe more relaxed or boho. Anyway sounds good fun - oo I forgot to allow for the outdoor fireplace (stone or brick) preferably. I notice you said any ideas would be greatly appreciated so I will press on regardless another day.

What a lovely house, a paint update will look really exciting! Contrary to all the colours you've chosen, I'd go instead with a warm grey (hint of taupe in it). It will always be classic, would look amazing with fresh white window frames and dark charcoal eaves (e.g. Dulux Monument). Cue my favourite colour: Dulux Dieskau. I just think there's quite a large area of uninterrupted rendered wall so I'd worry that if you go too bluish, it could look to be verging on pastel and a gingerbread house type effect. My brother painted Tranquil Retreat on his rendered Victorian and it has come up more blue than he'd thought (actually he was also considering Milton Moon). But of course, test paint a few walls sections with different aspects and check during the day from different angles (and even across the road)!! Actually there's another photo and paint colour I love that reminded me of this, I'll try and track it down.

Hello Andrea, If you don't yet have any designs finalised, we would love to hear from you! We have over 10 years of industry experience; and can put your ideas + dreams for this project onto paper plans. We also have great industry connections which we can use to help you decide on the perfect builder. From Atria Designs.