When designing a kitchen - you need to think about function first. Typically one takes food from the refrigerator or pantry, prepares it at the sink, then cooks it on the stove. Therefore, the logical progression between these three areas is in a row - and your layout does not take this into account at all - and your hutch is in the middle of where you need to have a major workspace. I would invest the money in moving the plumbing to the back wall Where you have your stove drawn in now, which will allow for plenty of room for the dishwasher to either side, and plan the stove in the space where you have the hutch currently. If you Were to move the fridge closer to the back wall, you could slide your hutch between it and the entrance wall to serve as your pantry - which means you might not need to extend that wall out at all since it has a finished side. I would skip the cabinetry peninsula - and instead find or have built a big chunky table or workbench with an open shelf below which could be used as a peninsula - and continue your country/un-fitted kitchen style. This way, your work progression would be counterclockwise - from hutch & sink on the right, to the sink at the back, to the stove on the left, to plating and serving at the peninsula.

roo, I'm so happy for Miss 6! That's the thing about kids, we worry like mad and they heal so quickly. She'll be the best in her gymnastics class, you'll see. I will have to pass on that walking bridge, or you go first, ok? judy! A mosquito! Too funny. How did you presentation go? Did they LOVE the wallpaper? MP, great job on the midget's walls! Who cut all the wood? It does look really good, has boo mappin seen it yet? I'll bet she loves it. Olldtrazz, sorry, I know nothing about sisal rugs. But I know about flokati rugs and I want one! I can't imagine how one would vacuum a flokati and I do know the dog would eat it so I don't think they're practical.

I remember years ago being in a similar predicament and someone gave me some mirror tiles - I glued them on the the wall and thought I was very clever. They actually did look much better in my eyes. Try not to spend too much - I think everyone's idea of a shower curtain will all the bathroom colours in it would probably be the best option. You'll laugh about it in years to come and you will love the improvements you make over time. Enjoy the moment, unless you're selling soon your ideas will change after living there, so change when you can afford it - who cares it's YOURS. Good luck, it's so rewarding and so much fun. P.S. now we have a small bathroom, wall to wall tiles, dark grey on the floor and white on all the walls with a large grey tile up each opposing wall, tall mirror over the handbasin which reflects the opposite wall then a full length bath with shower over it. It works perfectly and looks great.

Tell me about it, the ones across the road were going all day and night in the front yard, including revving up a motor bike they're not allowed to ride! my hubby wears flannie shirts when he's not in work gear. He likes ripping them, that's a trend that should end. of course, all Australian flag thongs (flip flops) are made in China!