Oh C'mon V Richards...every epoch has its treasures. B4 you make a mad run for it stop a while and consider the period and the reasons for the style...it can be extremely enlightening....unless its not the period you want to escape from but from some of the opinions. I spent many years of my youth outside of Australia living surrounded by old ruins in Europe. I forgot what it was like here. When finally I returned to Australia and found myself living in some of the 60s and 70s places..I found much to admire and wonder about. I may not have fallen in love with much of it but there was a certain mistique and a feel that I can still conjure when talking about certain places. Not saying that it was all romantic and pleasant but it conveyed something of the era and the kind of Aussie from those days.

In my past renovations, it's been unforeseen things numbering too high, too often, blowing out the budget and time frame! That was after me allowing for some things in advance too! This time I'm concentrating on structural before moving in, then taking my time over a year or two to do a few things at a time, so there's less rush. Eg Restumping, dangerous tree removal & roof repairs before moving in, then once in, kitchen, skylights, ducted climate control, landscaping, verandas & bathrooms all separately with a break in between, rather than all at once! Means it's gentler on my psyche and my wallet, plus allows me to plan each thing through more thoroughly as I'm only concentrating just on that thing. Fortunately it's just renovating existing spaces and not an extension (that's in about 4-5 years!) Good luck and remember to get out often for nights away!

Hi All, It sounds like tumeric and grease are the worst culprits for staining. We are looking to put the Cloudburst in our kitchen as our island and backsplash, but I'm very nervous. I love to cook and host. I also LOVE the look of this stone and would like to make it work if we can. Are there any bakers on this thread that have experience with these countertops? If you are rolling out dough or baking with greasy dough, how has that experience been? What if you get butter/oil on it? Any tips? Do you cover the counter before doing your baking etc.? I imagine beet juice would also be a nightmare?

Hi again, Lorraine here, I looked closer at your pictures of the area. I also noted your comment regarding "what if" you re do your kitchen. So, we all can do that and then time tics away and we dont do anything and frustration sets in as you really just want to change the things you have been looking for many years. The picture you have taken tonings from is very near your kitchen. the chairs to the table are the most pronounced of the colour you are seeking. Around the larger part of the room there are only little touches of the tone you like. Your rooms are very light with the blinds up. So I think the kitchen can take darker colours. Like the very deep grey outline of the fishes or the deep blue/grey in the painting or colour of the chairs. Laminex limed cement is a wonderful deep colour and will bring the benches alive. Then with removing the heavy door handles and seeing if you can use the push and clip fittings - you wont have any door handles but use a neater steel looking knob for your drawers or brushed steel handles on cupboards if you cant get the push and clip things inside. Paint the front board looking into the lounge and the cupboards a deep grey/blue colour to fit with the, mid deeper colour in the painting and the outline of the fish and the red will fit in nicely. Keeping your blinds up allowing the light in more than not will bring the room to life. Take out the floor runner. Do you use your stools? with the table right there are the stools necessary? if not take them away and ensure that area of the cupboards at front is painted - this gives a clearer area defining "kitchen". hope this helps Loz