Now it's beginning to work! Luv the rug! A few more red showstoppers, and I luv the post about matting your family pic, and larger frame for it. Looks like you might be a bit uncomfortable with the great post idea of moving your sofa out into the room away from wall. If so, could you accept putting it diagonally from the entrance doorway, across that corner where it is, stopping at the edge of your window? That's a bit of a move outward, still can see the fp and tv, and show off your new rug, which could go diagonally in front of the sofa. Then, if you like that, after a while you could move it on out as Deb K suggests. Sometimes intermediate steps are more doable for us than those big changes.Same with painting; if you could first paint just the fp wall, then later paint other walls...seems some color would really make it more homey. Would you cosider a quite contemporary fixture for the light in the center ceiling? Maybe a bit of red could go there!

Thank you so much for your comment after all this time. The colour you have suggested brightens the front door area beautifully and if the two red pots were painted in a tone to match, we think it would look great. Not sure if you can get Crestview doors in New Zealand but there must be something similar. We like the idea of going away from another cedar door - mainly because it would stand out too much while it was weathering. I don't know whether we would have been that brave but the tangerine works so well with the jade green of the joinery. I have re-laid all the stones and put a new wider front step in. The timber colour will soften down in time. I put a big pot in the garden to draw visitors to the front door and have added some colourful bromeliads to the garden alongside the house to make the area a bit more cheerful. We can't make a decision about what to do with a larger 'overhang' to protect the front porch yet - it is a project in progress. Thanks again for your post.

I would look at this room from 2 angles, in this order: convenience (as you have young kids and need everyone to be able to fully use it) and aesthetics. Equipment and accessories: #1 - first look at what is necessary to have in this bathroom: a place where to keep soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste -- all within easy reach for all users (including not-tall-enough kids) #2 - a cosmetic mirror ? #3 - a towel rail #4 - a small cabinet for storage Ideally, #1 should be stored directly on the sink, as it's lower, within easy reach for the kids (see below photo from one of our baths): You can do this also witha smaller sink, like the one we use in the half-bath: If you'd like to keep the one you have (which is really nice), you'll have then to use a shelf (as also suggested by someone else above), and I'd propose one of white porcelain and not one of glass, as it's a lot less reliable with children around. Below, an example of what I mean. The shelf should be installed as low as possible to be reachable by the kids, but also the mirror should be much lower, so that they can use it (much more interesting for them) without having it too low so the adults can't see themselves anymore. For #2 look on the left of the mirror in this photo (if you need it): A towel rail (#3) is absolutely necessary and make sure it's one where you can stretch the towel for faster drying (like the one in the 2nd photo). The cabinet storage (#4) could be placed on the wall from the right of the mirror, as you can see we have in our half-bath (also 2nd photo): Aesthetics: I agree that blinds on the window make no sense, light should be let to flow in as it's much needed in a bathroom. If you don't have time or disposition to paint the walls (and maybe they should remain white anyway, or a light color, because this is a small space), you might use decorations from your DYI center and stick them on the walls (see an example below from my daughter's bedroom, but there are other smaller ones for any kind of space): This way, the room becomes more attractive, more welcoming and more colorful (with very low cost). I hope this helps :-)

Yes to all those ideas. I believe your cladding is unpainted concrete bricks (is it called Summerhill Stone?) in that (boring) fawn colour. My house is same but was painted by previous owners. It looks so much more up to date and the surface is lasting very well; no signs of peeling or flaking. So despite needing to maintain a painted surface, I think painting is the way to go. Alternative is a costly plaster job. Then the entrance - yes, wide generous steps onto a wide deck or patio, some vertical or horizontal slatted panels for protection or privacy as needed, clear roofing for protection and to allow light to the rooms. And paint the front door a vivid color to indicate the entrance. Just make this area feel generous! Dependent on the adjacent rooms and which direction the house faces opening up one or more of those windows into sliders or stackers would be great. Plants in big pots are good too, add colour and texture - and you already have some there. Good luck - I love the idea of turning an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan!