Lighting - pendants over the servery bench should be another feature that complements your chosen kitchen surfaces. So whilst I love the copper pendants in picture 1.. They could work depending on the rest of your decor and would be a highlight in a neutral white/timber kitchen = Good! If you choose copper you would complement it with a couple of copper bench top items. These are beautiful! (I collect copper because I love it, my kitchen pendants are silver, I renovated to sell in the next 3-5 years) You will see a picture starting to form in your mind and there is nothing wrong with making a statement with your lighting. I found that when I wasn't sure I would get a very strong sense of what was right and what was wrong for a space, then common sense or passion would determine the outcome! Here are another couple that might work, look her on Houzz under lighting, search pendants, then have fun looking!Timber tones with black or white to complement your cabinets... or Statement white pendants for a bit of quirky fun! Your personality can be reflected in your lighting and accessories creating that point of difference from the predictable white on timber look. Plus don't forget the power of greenery to punctuate the theme!

Your lounge looks like it receives a lot of sun so you might like navy, turquoise, or emerald green for the room. Whatever color you pick, leave the valances (?) above the windows close to the color of your air conditioner, so it won't be too obvious. Use lamps and update the ceiling fixtures. Bamboo blinds might look fun on the windows. Look to the kitchen floor for paint colors in there. It appears the range hood is way too high to be effective. Is that just the perspective?

We bought this house - amazing on the inside but the outside is awful! For starters, the covered concrete area off the kitchen is a bit of an eye sore as far as entertaining areas go. The concrete is uneven, there's a hideous shed (which is currently our laundry)... not sure what to do! We've never done landscaping before so I'm at a bit of a loss where to start. We're keen on DIY and looking to add value but not to overcapitalise... Any suggestions?

Will you be keeping the cork tiles on the floor? If so, make the countertop/bench top a similar color. They are both horizontal surfaces. Choose a color you like that has a bit of yellow in the base (ex: tomato red instead of crimson, or lime green rather than mint green).