@ Barbara...Oh dear, dear Barb, always sitting on the fence...ha ha...(my turn to say something that I mean but not really say it so to speak....all in the ha ha!) Don't know how you manage to stay on everybody's side as well as your own...you must have a Diploma in diplomacy girl! I could never do it as well since I am afflicted with "foot IN mouth disease"...(that's everybody else's die-ease,) not mine. I appreciate the ability to voice a different opinio and I respect the ability in others.. I dislike black as a decor accent anywhere. The furthest I will go is Charcoal...now THAT'S an interesting shade for a toilet seat! I've seen all colours in ceramic toilets, even sickly purple- pink and all colours in plastic toilet seats including black...mostly black...well ALL black then..some .with an open space at the front for reasons that should be ovbious. Have not seen one of those since the 1940's though. I recall that in those times most vehicles on the road were also black and when my Dad sent from Nauru Island where he worked for some car paint...all there was - was black. Dark Days those! Why bring them back in tpoilet seats? So, now that we've experienced all colours and some lids with embedded artwork, some of it not really good....why not a charcoal toilet seat? Why has it "gotta be white?" Why, Maybelbridges, do you think you can see if its clean ONLY if it is white? Is that why everybody is painting just about everything white? Tis a puzzlement! Having returned to this poll and given due consideration to all comments....I think I will also sit on the fence..(.opps...seat) and say...weeeellll.....what does it matter what colour as long as it keeps a lid on things? And...for me...I'll opt for something to the left, something you can polish to a high sheen with fragrant O'Cedar and say...gimme a warm wooden one any day above all the rest.

I love using dark colours in the right places and in truth, there really isn't a colour that is true black - that would be a none colour and one that can only be truly matched and equalled by its exact equal and opposite (white) for balance and a striking visual effect - like in this kitchen where plenty of natural light streamed in. When I design my colour palettes using "black" there is always an undertone of another colour to contrast or blend (like in the picture you featured here of the formal room at Rothesay). At Rothesay I used a prominent magenta and blue base amongst 8 other pigments which is why it appears to have a rich depth and acts to highlight the ornate ceiling that we painted in Aalto Gallery white. The trims give it contrast but the complexity of colour reflects and absorbs the red accents in the room. In Feng Shui "black" represents water and can be used in the South area of your home (on this side of the hemisphere) - this can be a particularly soothing effect. I used a near black with a brown/aubergine undertone in this bedroom that was once the place of non sleep and now definitely the opposite is in effect. I love using a base colour in my blacks to punctuate bright colours and jewel like tones - it feeds the soul! After all no adventure can be had by playing it safe - right?

I do like the lines created by the benchtop, the low splashback and the upper shelf. But the overall look is just a little too clinical, due to the high contrast between black and white. The stainless steel accentuates that too. Your timber shelf is on point though. All in all, nothing that some good styling can't fix :) I would start by removing the items you currently have on your shelf, as they don't seem to belong to this new kitchen. As many commenter pointed out, I would also replace the powerpoint sockets with black ones. Finally, I would add "texture" to the space: a large rectangular cheese board made of timber and marble (not round, not rustic), a trailing plant, such as a pothos, some sleek ceramics of different sizes (vessels, jugs, mugs, etc). Adding bright colours will only enhance the sense of contrast, and will not soften up the room or the black, so I would stick to neutrals or very light colours: nude, taupe, light terracotta, sage green, etc. Black could also be added onto those shelves, but by small touches only: a couple of matt black mugs maybe, or a smallish B&W photo, in a larger timber frame, with a large white mat around it, to give it breathing space. I would not add any more stainless steel or chrome finish, as cold metallic shades will only enhance the sense of, well, coldness. Brass or copper could added, but again, by small amounts. For some inspiration, look up some minimalist, Scandinavian kitchens with open shelving. Actually, your shelf doesn't have to be for kitchenware only. You can display all sorts of things (that won't be damaged by cooking grease, or that can be easily cleaned), so don't limit your search to pictures of kitchens! Another way to upgrade your kitchen would be to add washable wallpaper on the section of wall between splashback and shelf. Depending on the style of your home, and depending on what you like, you could be adding: - an industrial touch (with a recycled bricks look, [like this one[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/aaron-and-megan-marrickville-contemporary-kitchen-sydney-phvw-vp~46088368) or [this one[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/glen-iris-residence-contemporary-dining-room-melbourne-phvw-vp~15444377) or even [that one[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kitchen-transitional-kitchen-london-phvw-vp~22949355) - a graphic [grey and white pattern[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/camp-hill-kitchen-feature-wallpaper-splashback-contemporary-kitchen-brisbane-phvw-vp~59346323) - or, why not, some beautiful foliage Good luck, have fun, and please, show us your progress!

Love it, it has so much light it really pulls it off. My sister has a black den, which is such a diff mood to the rest of her house it has a great mood at night, but it lacks the natural light for day time use unless you feel like brooding over a brandy