Agree ashilleong. I watched something on Steve jobs last night, and it was said that most of his iconic ideas were nit his own, not invented by him, rather innovated by him. Thie client brief should be a free platform of invention from the client, and why wouldn't you take it, some could be gems waiting for a good designer to create great innovation of them. Together the process will be collaborative, and force both parties to explore outside the scope of their own ideas. I think also, often the most successful design comes out of constraint. Things you have to work around become unique and interesting. Take the advice, but keep in mind the final result is yours conceptually, and you need to translate their ideas into a correct response to that brief. Together you will create something both will be proud of. A happy client, makes you a popular designer, so don't rate yourself higher in the process.

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay in replying! So many thoughtful suggestions, thank you. I haven't yet got around to taping out the kitchen, boundsgreener, but I hope too soon. Even just pacing it out has made me realise you're all right, there's no way a G shape will work. The space at the sink surrounded by the benches would be less than one metre. So that's good to realise now! I can't do banquet seating as there's a window behind the table. The wall behind the buffet unit is structural so we can't remove it (and I'd imagine it might get expensive too!) So what I'm thinking now is more a revamp/update with the current layout, but still moving the fridge across and creating a pantry, plus an appliances garage (love that term!) in the corner. Oven, sink and dishwasher in the same spots. This will still give more room for dining as the fridge won't be taking up space on that side of the kitchen. I'm now worried about losing the bench space that the buffet unit gives us, though. It was going to be offset by the extra G shape, but as that's gone and there won't be any room for the buffet (though I'd love to keep it as an island on wheels, hazzaran!) there will be less bench space than before. I like the idea about a wooden benchtop to save money, Pazz, but is it practical? Won't it get lots of bacteria in it? I'd still love some natural stone in there somewhere, and was thinking of those beautiful hexagon marble tiles they have on the Block. That might be cheaper than a caesarstone benchtop! I am not a big fan of laminate, though, for some reason it always really looks really plasticy to me. Thanks again for all your great advice and for helping avert a layout disaster! I really appreciate all the advice.

A mixture of bold vibrants colours are my forecast for 2016. Its all about contrast!

2020 is brimming with exciting new trends worthy of this fresh new decade. While 2019 was dominated by products showcasing innovation and sustainability, this year, even more stunning and clever new styles will make their way onto the design scene. INDUSTRIAL CHIC Industrial design has been having a moment in the sun in recent years, and that is only predicted to continue. Industrial materials, recycled products and neutral colours on buildings are proving popular for residential and commercial designs alike, bringing an edgy, urban aesthetic to building design. DECO’s new rust and concrete finishes are a lightweight, easy-install option for achieving popular industrial aesthetics, offering a low-maintenance alternative to real concrete and rust. WALL MURALS AND LARGE SCALE ART Say goodbye to boring, blank walls – large scale artworks and wall murals are taking the world by storm. Outdoor spaces are now designed to be eye-catching, with exciting, colourful murals shared again and again on social media, creating new tourist hot spots and talking points in the community. DecoArt offers almost limitless designs for large-scale wall art and murals, allowing designers to achieve their dream aesthetic and explore the bounds of their imagination. CURVES AND ROUNDED EDGES Architects and designers are increasingly veering away from traditional, boxy building designs. Rounded edges and curved walls are becoming increasingly fashionable, with curved batten walls, round window frames and spectacular arches featuring on commercial and residential designs alike. DecoBatten radius edge moves with the times, allowing architects and designers to create wave-like effects, curved walls and a more handcrafted feel to their projects. FORM AND FUNCTION Functionality is becoming just as much an important part of design as aesthetics. New designs focus on the quality of space, with designers choosing dual purpose products that are attractive, functional and durable. DecoWood timber-look finishes are versatile, and can be applied to windows, doors, fencing, screens, decking, cladding, shutters, louvres, gates and facades. 50% more durable than standard powder coatings, they are designed to withstand even the harshest of Australian environments, offering longevity as well as the natural appearance of timber. SOLID ALUMINIUM: THE SAFER CLADDING OPTION In the past year, city and country residences alike have been hit by horrific fires. Flammable cladding on high rises and bushfires destroying flammable products have forced the architecture and design industries to rethink the building materials they are specifying. Solid aluminium cladding is a safe alternative to flammable ACPs, composites and timber, and is suitable for both bush areas and multi-storey residential buildings. Made from 100% solid aluminium with a sublimated, powder coat finish, DecoClad is a non-combustible option for all residential and commercial buildings, with 30 natural timbergrains available for a realistic timber appearance without the fire hazard or maintenance. It is compliant with Australian Standards AS 1530.1 and AS 1530.3 as a non-combustible material, and is ideal for internal and external cladding, ceilings and soffits, feature walls and facades. SUSTAINABILITY With climate change on the world’s radar, demands for recyclable, sustainable building materials are rapidly rising. Architects and designers are increasingly turning to products with longer life cycles and less wastage, which can be reused indefinitely. Some materials, such as timber and plastic, are downcycled, meaning their quality decreases with every iteration and their use becomes limited after they are recycled. Aluminium, however, can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality, and 70% of all aluminium in the world is recycled, making it a highly sustainable material and a green design option.