Thanks for the replies! My wife suggested we talk to a local real estate agent, so i think that is a good idea... just that Im not sure how helpful they are likely to be if we arent selling yet :) As for saving for our dream house, I dont disagree, however if doing this up nicely over the next ~5 years or so while we live here nets us some extra in the eventual sale, then that of course will help us as well. Interesting thing happened today actually. I got a knock on the door and one of the older neighbours asked if he could take some lemons from the tree. I of course said yes. Anyway he was telling me he had lived in the street for 40 years. I asked him if the house had always looked like this, and he said no that ~30 years ago the old old owner did a massive renovation and pulled off the timber and put up the bricks and gutted the inside of the house. Interesting stuff!

This made me laugh: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/09/seagull-turns-orange-after-falling-into-vat-of-chicken-tikka-masala I couldn't copy the picture, but it's hilarious.

Okay, so I like it simple and modern, big stripes, big blocks, love this and this I really like uncluttered look. like this to https://www.houzz.com/photos/murphy-beds-modern-rendering-phvw-vp~24435627 , and I like my dark grey's and browns not to mention light blues, yellows, oranges and reds clashy aye.(not sure if these colors will work with the wood, really like the idea of staining the wood darker to more like this https://www.houzz.com/photos/rubin-residence-contemporary-bedroom-san-francisco-phvw-vp~5202610). But really interested in your ideas.

Pressed metal splashbacks are so rare! This is the first photo I've seen with a splashback like this and I'm really enjoying it.