Well after a very (very very very) long time my Living Room is all but complete. There is some work to do behind the new steps and some trim to be put on the bookshelves. A light is to be put between the couches (that the electrical cable hanging down) and the wall lights are going to be removed. So just a quick rundown on what has been achieved; Two sky windows - Velux - roofing guy Sheeted under the beams - plasterer New carpet – Bunnings – carpet layer Closed off the old bar and put in a door – builder and plasterer Installed ceiling fans – Hunter, remote control, reversible – electrician Installed downlights - electrician Painted the endwalls – Solver Paint but Dulux Chine White colour - me Painted the ceiling – 2 x coats Solver Ceiling White over 2 x coats plaster board sealer - me New blinds (venetians) and curtains - from Spotlight - me Installed a gas bayonet heater (until I can afford a gas ‘wood’ fire for the fireplace – cripes they are expensive) – secondhand from Garage Sale - me Installed bookshelves – 2 x 202mm high + 2 x 106mm high Billy Bookshelf and 2 x Brimnes Cabinet - me Built and installed new steps and bench top on bookshelf – laminated Beech bench top, cut to size and routed, stained and oiled - me Sofas – Ikea Ektorp - me So some things I would have done differently. The downlights would be warm white not welding mask white. In fact I would re-think the whole light thing and possibly use lights with reflectors that were dark so that light was only reflected down. They would ‘lower’ the ceiling and make the room cosier I think. I kinda like the ceiling fans but had seen some which were awesome but really expensive. Then I saw ones very similar to the awesome ones but much cheaper but by then it was too late. I should have put bi-fold doors where the old bar was instead of a swinging door. I suspect that it will be unlikely now that I can use the room for its intended purpose. In fact with hindsight I coulda shoulda done the job myself rather than getting a builder in. It’s not as good as it should be and that has disappointed me. The bookshelves have come a up a treat – need to finish them off though with some trim. All from ‘Ikea’ except for the timber bench top. The bench top was a light bulb moment and breaks up the all-white appearance of the shelves. Also the white of the shelves and the white of the cabinet were slightly different and the bench has helped disguise that. The bench top and the steps were laminated beech panels from ‘Bunnings’ that I had cut to size. I stained them, put a router over the edge to round it off and then coated with Tung Oil. The bookshelves look bigger in real life than they do in the photos too. So now to sit and enjoy my handy work.

Hi tweeza, I used Annie Sloan chalk paint and Annie Sloan clear wax on the table. It took 3-4 coats of paint, Then the wax. I still love it. It has stood up very well. I even use spray and wipe on it occasionally. I will probably re wax the top again in a year or two. I also have done this small dresser. I took the table photo today just now. It looks just as good. Annie Sloan you don't have to sand or prime, but you do need to watch for thick drips, the one I did get I sanded back between coats to get a flat smooth surface, not the whole thing just the thick drips. I have a small electric sander took a couple of mins each drip, wax needs a couple of thin layers then buff. I used lambs wool pad on an electric drill for the sheen. You need to make sure wax is really dry before the buff, wait about a week would be my recommendation. I love the chalk paint ..so many pretty colours, the table colour is pure white and the inside of the dresser is Paris grey. There is an antique white as well, apparently the pure white is the thinnest of the colours and you need an extra coat compared to other colours.

depending on your personal taste the cushions could be recovered and matched with tablecloth or mats in different colours and textures although the cushions don't look like they were made for these chairs and better sized cushions, shaped to suit the chairs would give a better quality finish

Love the lights in the kitchen now! Adds so much space to the area. Good job guys, I'm browsing through the entire project now, although from what I've already seen, the work will be wonderful.