Since you are definitely going to have to do something with them. Do you know what is behind them?1. Long term, for both, you can just cover over the flooring when you come to re-do it and carry the skirting along. 2. For the more elaborate one you may have to take down all the moulding and trim...But in the meantime I would investigate what is behind there - it seems an awful lot of trouble to go to... do you think they had those weird fake electric heaters with moving flames etc?

Hi 2Find! Thanks for your cohesive little selection of images. I will replace the lights for sure (though I have a pet peeve re those lights where the bulb is visible as am quite light-sensitive, preferring diffuse light). There is no furniture in the room, we aren't living there till the reno-extension is done as it won't have a kitchen. I would like to keep a muted pastel colour scheme throughout the entire house. Kind of a nod to the 30's. Sorry, but I can't do brown tile, it's a visceral thing! Cheers for the lovely photos siriuskey (lovely star system). Very nice and I probably will go for a pretty simple 30's weatherboard cape cod type theme. The house is a raw looking 'ranch' style from the US, lucky we have so much lovely British weatherboard culture to draw from. I adore that hallway!

haha!!!! Siri - you can have your Eiffel tower angel... give me the beach any day :) Nic - perhaps some driftwood, shells and a jar of sand might help bring the beach to you - just don't knock your sand flying or you'll literally be able to crank up your fireplace and lie down on your sand to sunbake lol.

They are the same as they are both engineered. From the builders perspective the smart stone comes in bigger slabs so it will save on costs to buy fewer slabs. He is trying to save you or himself money. Ceaserstone has a wider variety of colours, there customer care is top notch and they have more product. Like with any Bench top be it laminate, stone or marble, as soon as you drop something on it, clean it up.