The bookcase is very narrow & if you can remove the shelving, store the contents elsewhere & paint a feature colour or put some wallpaper in the back that suits your decor style (woven grass cloth e.g) & just have a painting or mirror there to simplify what is an entry point to your living room & kitchen. A narrow shelf or two in a dark timber or glass with console display items or a vignette of framed photos could be more decorative too. These canvas photo prints stretched over a frame could look good.Or if you need the space for storage some doors or drawers could be custom made to suit unless you start again. This niche idea could be built in too with lighting added.

Thanks all. I love Cool, Calm, Collected - it's only a suburb away from where I live... their prices are normally $$$, but they have beautiful stuff. I actually already have that West Elm light fitting in my stair case! (How embarrassing) - I love it (and they actually have it in brass in the USA but not here). Whoever suggested light in the box, thanks, I don't think I've seen that site before. I quite like this one from there: http://www.lightinthebox.com/american-creative-personality-living-room-dining-room-villa-art-pendant_p4587353.html?pos=ultimately_buy_2&prm=1.3.5.0 The search will continue! And I will still curse some of those US website for their beauties :P

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!

Decided on carrara marble 300x600 tiles and honed nero and carrera for the shower floor. Floor to ceiling for the shower and up to the 1300 from the floor and painting the rest. 1. What colour fittings best suit carrara marble and keeps the transitional victorian theme? 2. The 3.24 wall has plasterboard over exposed brick. Do you think it would look nice if I took the plasterboard off and left that part exposed brick? Any Response Appreciated!!