@mazpt, yes of course. Here are a few more pictures showing how kitchen, living and dining, and outdoor deck and bbq area flow together. Oska kitchen is really neat in detailing; wood grain on the doors for example, are matched across as many doors as long as a 2.4m sheet allow. Floor turned out very nice too. Light natural colour, wide and long boards, laid length way all the way from front door to the back makes the space looks a bit bigger. Although it is still a floating floor, there are minimal floor movement that make squeak sound, most of the floor are feels solid. I hope that floor squeaking noise will settle over time.

No, I'm sorry, but it doesn't work for me at all. That unrelieved expanse of shiny white is quite disorienting. You don't quite know where the light is coming from. But the colour isn't the main problem here. Although it isn't pretty, the "before" kitchen actually has a lot going for it. The new kitchen has the benches all at the same height, which is a problem because different kitchen tasks are most comfortable at different heights. The surface that houses your sink needs to be relatively high so that when you're using the sink you don't have to bend your back. That's uncomfortable! Conversely, a cutting surface is better if it's relatively low, because that way you can control the knife better. It's a safety thing. The new kitchen has the cooktop and the sink under wall-mounted cupboards. You're absolutely sure the extractor fan whisks all the steam and particulates out of there? Most don't, you know. And with the cupboards at that height, if you're standing close enough to cook or wash up can you see to the back of the bench? No, it's not you, it's the design. Look at the old kitchen. It has surfaces at a variety of heights, and although the sink is under a cupboard you can stir the sauce on the stove without bumping your head, I think. I could be totally wrong about this. The featured kitchen might be a joy to work in. I do think, though, that this does not look like a kitchen designed by a cook.

We are also on the coast. We had the white frames for 22 years, the locks corroded but the frames are fine. I would stress good quality marine grade frames and definitely make sure you include taps for easy hosing. This is extremely important. The salt gets slimy and attracts the dust, you need to be able to hose regularly. You need that no matter what colour your frames are. Whites fine, if you like it, go for it.

This may sound blunt , but it is so , so easy -- hide everything in your picture ! Look at the neighbours , a nice door and surrounds , in pleasant colours , with nice timber and bricks . Yours is square and open , with vertical wallboards ( maybe even synthetic or cement based ? ) , battening , a billy basic door and light , a window that is totally different again and even has a different coloured surround to the door ! So yes , change the door , do that whole wall or all 3 in a different finish . Do something about the cracked concrete path -- how about tile with terracota tiles , or white ones with a light blue pattern , right up to the door ? And the pipes -- do a canopy , or a facade in natural timber , or a sloping roof in the same material as your main roof -- hide them . Easier than moving them , and the associated risks implied there . I'm here in New Zealand , and I reckon you could do something including labour , and a door and side panels similar to your neighbours , for around $5000 , or $10,000 would be a real step up above your neighbours look haha . I assume your costs would be in that general range .