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!

At the end of 2019 I put the finishing touches to a kitchen that was many months in the design and build process. Client Brief: My client, originally from Scotland had always dreamed of having a country kitchen with lots of detail, warmth and charm. The name Charles Rennie Mackintosh was thrown around a couple of times which certainly put the pressure on me, the clients expectations were clearly set very high but also gave me a very clear visual of the style she liked. Before: With space at a premium and two entrances in to the kitchen it was always going to be hard to change the layout of the appliances and fortunately working within this space will always be functional for that reason. After: This kitchen was all about the detail, and how to maximize the impact without taking up and loosing too much space. The pantry, which is opposite the hallway entrance had always been a square eye sore. I told my client I wanted to make it look more like a piece of furniture and vary the depth to take away from its heaviness. By having tall elegant bi-folding doors and lead light windows at the top it was definitely a Mackintosh inspired look from his amazing chairs. No sacrificing on function though as we made sure the top part of the unit was deep enough for all my clients requirements and easy to access drawers under bench height. With the main area of the kitchen I managed to get some symmetry around the oven using a blind corner to the right and drawers to the left for access and function. For simplicity of the visual I manufactured the drawers to the left of the oven with the same molding as a door, I then put them on push-to-open runners and offset the door knob to finish the balance. A beautiful hand made butler sink was sourced to give some authenticity to the space and a modern integrated dishwasher allowed us to not have too many things fighting for the limelight. depth and character we given to the design with my hand finished details from the shaped toe kicks and fluted column panels, up to the Flemish glass lead light windows and shaped cornice molding. I am very fortunate to have a fantastic stone fabricator that I work with, who fully embraced my requirements for detail. He manufactured the bench with no joins in the corners just behind the hob and sink really completing this amazing transformation. As with any renovation, the final judgement comes down to how the client reacts and feels towards their new space.. and by her reviews I know this is one very happy customer! If you would like to know more about this, any of my other projects or would like some advice on your own kitchen projects please feel free to contact me. Jack Bradbrook for Interior Fittings (NZ)

If you have a small, dimly lit bathroom, you aren't alone! Often throughout the 60's and 70's it seems as though bathrooms were an after-thought to the general house design, and not considered to be a valuable use of floor space. That view has changed thankfully, and beautiful bathrooms are now one of the best value-adds in a home. As a general rule, investing in bathroom improvements will not only add to the value, but will also enhance your enjoyment of living in the home, and improve saleability should you decide to sell. If you do have a small bathroom, don't despair! There are always options to make better use of the space, introduce additional light, and just add a touch of luxury! The use of glass and light colours can greatly enhance the sense of space, and modern Solatubes can not only introduce excellent natural light where you need it most, but also come in models that provide ventilation, and LED lighting once the sun goes down. If you have mains pressure water, consider adding a rainhead to your shower. The inclusion of a built-in shower niche shelves not only look great but provide a neat spot for all your shower supplies. If you currently have a shower curtain, chances are it has caused you despair at some point or another. A low-profile tiled hob with a glass door will do an excellent job of containing the water (especially ideal if you do want the rainhead!), and you will never have a wet, cold, shower curtain clinging to you again. Some comments from our wonderful clients on this project; "The job is now completed, and we are very happy with the result. We have been enjoying a lovely new shower, bathroom and toilet. I would recommend Wayne and his team, especially if like us, you can’t be bothered with project managing a whole lot of different contractors in order to do a renovation". "...there were no hidden costs, and I think all contingencies had been thought of before the quote was sent, which was great for us that there were “no surprises”. Thank you so much Alex and Chrissy! Before: After:

I think you are wasting money . I'd leave the columns , do a couple of bi-fold aluminium doors , do a nice leather corner suite , and artwork , a Tv , make it more livable . I'd do a glass balustrade on the small stairs , 3 or 4 creeper type potplants and a couple of 'objects d'art' along the solid balustrade . Do you have another dining room ? If yes , make part of this an office/study ; if no , then a nice table and chairs . Right now , it looks unloved -- make it easier to fall in love with it , and you will !