@Karen Hodge, I hear you!! Sometimes I think the estate agent should carry quite a bit of the blame actually. If they do their job correctly like you see in the adds on TV, they should bring these discrepancies to the attention of the sellers, stand on their morals and say if you can't get it better than this, then you'll have to find someone else to sell your home!! I know you can't make everybody "house proud" but the saying "do unto others" springs to mind. I bet if these same people bought a house not up to scratch, "a current affair" would hear about it but they don't think it wrong to simply walk out on a house that isn't being left nicely for the next family!! I have some friends that recently sold a house in Essendon, Melb and whilst the buyers were back and forth selling their own home, my friends kept watering the plants and even did things like painted out the wardrobes because of the scuff marks made over time!! They cleaned the entire two storey house from top to bottom and finished by mopping the floors as they were exiting. The buyers were so taken by the entire home, they bought it with almost all the furniture that my friends had in it!!

I have a study nook right in front of the window, and away from the bed (a must!). Ample sunlight and a great view are important for a great work-from-home day!

If your painting the cupboards, I would paint them in Dulux Whisper white. The bench tops I would get granite transformations in and choose the lightest grey from your slate. Backsplash I would also keep light, maybe a light grey or soft khaki subway tile. There is no need to add something to bring the dark colour from the floor, plenty of white kitchens with dark floors. I have used granite transformations before, they basically come in and built a nice crisp stone bench top, squaring of the edges etc...too easy. With regards to cupboards, I would stay away from creamy whites . If your painting the cupboards, that involves a lot of prep work and undercoating. Buy sample pots, paint on large pieces of cardboard, then when your happy with the colour just get the undercoat tinted in the colour you like...then if you still think it needs changing it’s easy. Also I would paint in satin, not gloss.

I'm starting to shop around for breakfast bar stools as the island is going to be my dinner table for a while. It's hard trying to find a bat stool that will suit colour/looks wise. What are your thoughts on this bar stool, do you think the colour will match my kitchen?