Hi Ang, I thought I'd follow up my earlier comment with pictures of before and after of pine cupboards I specified to be painted in a budget makeover. My clients tell me people presumed they had purchased brand new cabinetry, so startling was the makeover. Somehow I have put the "after" on the left and "before" image on the right!

Also take a look at Room and Board....they have several tables with different wood finishes or wood/steel/metal bases and a good selection of various tabletop materials. Also if you prefer a wood table, an area rug underneath the table could also help to break up all of the wood too.

Hi, Courtney, thanks for that, I haven't painted yet, we have nearly finished putting in a bathroom. This coming summer we are painting, so at present my choice of colours are a dark grey roof, a warm green (not blue undertone) for main house, a buttermilk trim and a rusty red door? What do you think.

Ouch, Lancewood! Nice read, FORM :)