Beautiful clean modern kitchen! You have a great opportunity to put your personal stamp on the space with a unique backsplash. As you've heard already there are some different approaches. I'd probably place the backsplash up to the wall cabinets and up to the base of the hood. Then continue the backsplash at the same height (18"?) behind the sink. Then place an inspiring colorful picture above the sink to break up the wall. Here's a picture with pendants that aren't too obtrusive. Having multiple levels of lighting at different lumens makes a more inviting feel to the space. I couldn't decipher your flooring, but you may also want to consider adding some nature elements like a type of wood flooring, wood stools, etc. Good luck! If you need software to plan out materials check out our Home Designer software: http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/

Yes benches are counters .... thanks for clarifying yoboseiyo! we have no high cabinets for the kitchen at this stage, we plan to do some kind of shelving but are waiting until the new "counters" and range are installed to get the feel for what we go with. Hard to get a photo at present as we are mid reno, the cabinetry is all installed....with no bench top yet.. we have our old cooker in the dining room and the new big range in there too as the area its going into is being tiled. The range will be the dominant feature in the kitchen so once that and the counter tops are in I'll take some pictures Organised Chaos!

Hello Lisa..thanks for your comments - so kind of you. The pictures are not good (sorry) and to be honest whilst I'm renovating I don't have the courage the post much at all ..well at least until it's finished but here are a few enclosed. My real idea is to get a discussion going that we might all enjoy. and yes how light strikes (as in angle?) can impact on even the paint colour etc. I see so many questions from readers about wallpaper paint colour etc and yet experts and skilled people such as yourself will know that it's the cohesion that has to work and light can play such a huge part. A wallpaper can be purchased and then prove disappointing if used in different a light as can paint - which is why we use your good services where possible! I've a pile of boards each with different colours (I use linen style artists boards as I can shift them around - I leave a white border on them to allow a suitable contrast) The small bedroom picture with the striped curtains was more to show that curtain colour - it's now blended with duck egg blue paint (sorry it's a New Zealand company called Resene's so it won't be known of there but called Robin's Egg Blue), ivory carpets which I had edged in a green/blue wool. Before these drapes (Laura Ashley) were in a different room and just didn't work. The bedroom hasn't been finished (See? I'm still a tad embarrassed) but I mentioned these as with incandescent lights this curtain colour did not work at all. Taking my courage in both hands and uploading a picture of the main living area which is to be painted next to do away with the strong saturated green..very dark and gloomy as the natural light is very limited. Hoping you can't see the paint splotches on the wall. Another lesson I learned is to paint a surface white and THEN paint the choices. If we don't do this the original surface colour 'bleeds'. So I really hope to have others including myself recognise that we have to have one eye to the climate and outdoor colours all the time as well as the same paint colour possibly being different from room to room. Regards...and thank you once again for taking the time to reply.

I agree with Diane's ideas! Grey is a nice color. The only thought I had on having a corner sink cabinet, you may not be happy with it in the end. You have a little corner, and the sink may be too small for you in the end along with not having any storage space. If you can't find any curtains that you love, try a cheap roller blind for now. It will give you a visual look and an idea if you want to stay with a curtain or going a bit modern with a patterned blind or even a roman type shade. It could turn the cozy look into a clean modern look. Framed mirrors are expensive. Call a glass company in your area and have them give you a price on mirrors. It might be quite nice to take the mirror down, and replace the wall there with a complete wall mirror to fit, stopping the mirror at the vanity, and continuing the mirror across the vanity between the sink and window. It will make your bathroom feel much bigger, even though you wont be able to see in the mirror over the sink. Close up the vanity doors with new door. Use props first (white poster to cover up the doors) etc. before you buy anything! Stick on tiles are a great idea! They clean nicely and look great. Although I wouldn't go with the wood look. Your bathtub tiles are old fashioned, go with a stick on floor tile that is easy to look at, try to get samples first. Remember Gray is a sleek clean modern color. It is not a cozy country color. If you don't like the grey in the end, maybe a real pale blue or butter yellow (that would be more of the cozy cottage look).