Hi anne, that's what I was originally thinking, my issue is what colour I use for the 'pop' :) I keep coming back to a teal/turquoise colour (it's one of my favourite colours!!), I love blues, purples, teal/turquoise - many on here have suggested yellow but I'm really not sure about it. Here in New Zealand we're in Autumn, nearing Winter so uncertain about the yellow. I found these cushions that I've fallen in love it, and wondering how I could make these work.. do I try teal and mustard together, as an interior designer suggested?

It sounds lovely. The ceiling will be more than suitable for a transitional style. I think the wainscoting would also be fine but as I'm cautious I'd be adding after I'd lived there for a while. It does seem more traditional than transitional. On the other side I'd love the bead boarding in the hall.

Having been brought up in a Lockwood home I can appreciate your love of the wood. I notice you have a light green bench and that would blend nicely with some similar colours in the room. I would consider having your cupboard doors replaced or sprayed to compliment the bench or visa versa you can have your bench updated with a new finish to modernise it. Perhaps you could just price out the cost of a new bench and leave the rest of the kitchen as it is. The odd bit around the dishwasher looks weird and that might be able to be fixed by curving a new bench into a small breakfast bar type set up. If there is room I would also reposition the microwave to the right of the cook top and use the existing space for a display or a lovely pot plant.

Clear any shrubs / trees / weeds, away from around the house - not saying go out with a chainsaw and slash everything down to the ground but make sure there is nothing higher than the window frames directly around the house or even leaning on the house. Taller tree's may be able to be pruned to allow more light through e.g. lift the bottom of the growth up higher by removing lower branches or thin out branches from within the canopy. Bring in as much sun as you can during the day. If you are planting a new garden, always look at the height of the tree's when they mature and if possible mix some trees that lose their leaves in winter so you obtain maximum sun. Check your insulation e.g. last year I added a new layer of insulation onto of my existing ceiling insulation. If you have dampness under your house maybe look at channelling water away from the house with what ever means you can afford e.g. professional drains right around the house or just dig trenches. You may wish / need to add black plastic over any clay / ground under your house if you are not on a flat concrete block based house. Open curtains during the day. Dress to the conditions. If you can't afford to heat the entire house just heat the room(s) you are using but make sure the non heated rooms get ventilation from time to time (especially lovely sunny days). Pile the blankets on the bed and even use a blanket over your legs if you are sitting watching TV or working on your computer. Think SUN SUN SUN. If you are renting and the house you are in gets very little sun, now is the time to start looking for something that gets more sun. Winter is the best time to look.