Dear Bronwyn: thanks - I am an anthropologist - took a lot of linguistics and LOVE identifying regional names - I seem to do pretty well. However, yours is such a classical name - would be hard to mis-identify! :-) I am SO glad you have fallen in love with your beautiful home. I assume you are in England ?, not US, definitely go to flea-markets, swap sales and find an old stove replacement if this your concept. I don't know how big any of your bathrooms are, but we placed our double-stack in the bathroom! I also then made a very "small" partition - about 15 inches framed- which provides the idea of separatness from the bathing area. However, our bath is a rather large space - as it was the original back porch. This could free up some space in your pantry? And you might consider framing in and doing a cabinet finish for the fridge - then it would not stick out like a sore thumb. Please check out on line: Rusteoleim (paints) - they have entire new kits for refinishing cabinets -and countertops? Since you are a re-doer - perhaps having wooden countertops made would better suit your home? I would certainly NOT use granite, or something of this ilk - I think this would detract from the feel of the home. This also might give you an opportunity to save some pennies and wait to get what you really want to have - I actually did NOT have a kitchen sink for 15 years - it was in the bathroom [(one of those long old porcelain kitchen sinks (country)] because this was the only place in the home which was plumbed - OUCH! I guess the moral of the story is: I could be worse! :-)

I see this is a very old thread , with lots of comments . I've just skim read them , but I haven't seen anyone suggest anything like my 'top-of-my-head' idea -- I love the wood , and the white contrast , but pretty boring . Whats your favourite colour , or what ties in with the other rooms ? It might be blue or red or yellow or orange or green , as examples . So paint the skirting board and around the door a pastel shade of your choice , and add a small 30cm x 30cm abstract painting featuring that colour as the primary dominant one , above ( or possibly below , or maybe even get 2 matching/complementary ones ) the control panel . One lighting crowd suggested glass shades -- I'd actually go for someothing large but wooden , in much the same shade as your floors and steps , with LED bulbs -- you can get some stunning ones around 80-100 cm in diameter ( sort of a star ball shape ) for $300-400 . Total budget then $500 plus a painter and maybe electrician , unless you DIY .

Have any of to guys looked at the toxic properies of poly shutters . They have to use something as a bonding agent and most times it is formaldahide ! Timber is organic and most companies that bring them in have to make sure that the companies that manufacture have the forestry stewardship cerificate which means that the timber used is renewable . Timber is far lighter and can span wider . Remember one thing , houses are made from timber and rubbish bins are made from poly . To the doubters and not sure shutter buyers make sure that you choose a timber product that is 100% that species of timber , not blended timbers and to the ones that are contemplating using poly shutters beware as i truly beleive that they will be the next asbestos scare . They are not good for your health . Always try and go organic guys , even with your food .

I was 23 years old and our first home (1982) was $42,000 but interest rates were 21%!!! It was in Otorohanga NZ and mortgages were tough to get. Best decision ever though. We had second hand everything, even using an old beer crate as coffee tables and book shelves lol. Over the years we have owned only 3 homes though, and if we were to start again we have learned to not over capitalise on homes we have bought instead upgrade sooner. Finally we are ebarking on our first new home build ... bettter late than never though definately!