Unless buying custom manufactured wood cabinets, you are buying a series of boxes. A 100k euro kitchen installation of an Italian kitchen is one example from my portfolio. Differences are found in the hardware, the door/drawer pulls, weight of doors and exterior finishes. It is about the design, first. In our region, you can knock off 1200-2000 just be sticking with a full depth fridge--but it is design that will make it possible to install full depth and get a counter depth effect. In the Garden Oaks Fine Accommodation residential display suite I needed to prove that a high-end design can be executed for less. Again, it is design that does the trick. The owner of the kitchen above loves the pendants over the breakfast counter. I did not have the heart to reveal the price--$19 each. That owner likes/needs bling so the 14k euro chandeliers (2) in the foyer are a feature. But we get more comments on our pendants--because they are integral to the overall design. Real estate agents have pegged this kitchen at anywhere from 45-75k. It cost under 30k. DYI projects offer the opportunity to take the time that you might not otherwise allow to a designer (hence our need to come equipped with knowledge, contacts and suppliers that augment our services). I recommend drawing from images (Houzz is great for that) to start, then researching suppliers, collecting specs, and developing a document that covers all aspects of the kitchen from lifestyle needs to style to comparisons of product reviews. Whittle it down to an instruction for purchase and installation. Consider challenges such as the dreadful corner cabinet turntable and splurge on solutions that make your design truly functional. You'll appreciate the expense that delivers practical functionality. There are remarkable solutions for the corner cabinet--but my fav is to determine whether that space can become storage (cabinet or drawers) in an adjoining room. When not practical, articulated pull-out stainless shelves are functional--and cool. Undermounted sinks are great for clean-line counters. Well placed recessed lighting (design again) eliminates the need for other fixtures--and allows you free rein to purchase for focal point impact or (my preference) to fit seamlesly into the overall look. Enjoy the journey--have fun!

We have had a vinyl lined pool for 15+ years - you are making a good choice. They need no maintenance or resurfacing etc. Ours is an Aqualux liner in Caribbean. http://www.aqualuxpool.com.au/colour-range/ This colour is just the right amount of blue/green to sparkle and shimmer, look cool and inviting, but dark enough to gather and retain the sun's heat. I ran a swim school for many of those 15 years, and needed a pool that could take the knocks of hundreds of children each week, and look like something they wanted to dive into. Any lighter and the pool would look too cold, and darker looked scary! I have friends who chose the darker colours for their heat retention properties but the pools don't look as inviting, and algae builds up quicker but is harder to notice until the levels are quite high, so needing more chemicals to control/eliminate.

I would look at colour samples next to actual sample of the schist to be used. Take that to a local paint/render shop and look at them together. Looking at your image, the schist looks to be a golden schist rather than a grey. Is this just the way it has been shown? I would check with the suppliers for the actual colour of stone to be used as there are a lot of possibilities and the colour will affect your colour choice for the plaster. Here are a few websites showing some schist colours: https://www.worldofstone.co.nz/stone-mason/stone-masonry/schist https://wanakastone.co.nz/style/ Also consider the visibility of your mortar and its colour. Keep in mind that depending on your render system, you may be even more restricted in LRV, as some systems require an LRV of no less than 40%.

Wellington , Palmerston North and other mid to lower north Island areas, we have some new 600 x 600 porcelain tiles just in, Terrazzo tiles is a highly popular and trending tile going into a number of new builds at the moment. Look at our price, find a cheaper tile, broadly advertised in the lower north and we will pay you. But does cheap mean cheap quality; simply, No. Look across in Australia what our neighbors are paying www.tfo.com.au, and you will see you can pay often half of what you are paying your current supplier. Compare our prices with your current supplier, www.tileoutletnz.co.nz . We would be delighted to cooperate with you on your next project.