The blue is awesome (grey is too trendy)! The reason it stands out to you is perhaps because it's the only real colour there. Bring in the blue in a window treatment, a small appliance that sits on the counter, a pretty tray or area rug. Also, it is more appealing often if there are more than 2 colours - so right now you have a white and blue colour scheme - bring in red or orange or fushia - something from the other side of the spectrum (like you did with the yellow flowers but in a more permanent way)!

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!

My last household purchase was new sliding doors to the outside from my dining room. This then led to the building of a deck, new railing on said deck and existing terrace, new blinds as the old window length curtains no longer did the trick, then the paving stone path to the deck from the garden gate, some new planting to accommodate that, AND outdoor lighting for what has now become an alternative entrance to the house! Oh, and painting as well. So I can liken my last purchase to a bit of a triffid - it kept growing! But SO worth it! It has added another room/space to my house, increased light and warmth, added value and created a more welcoming entrance than before. Love it!

Live in NZ near Christchurch. Am trying to find an alternative to tile as a wall covering on the walls OUTSIDE of the shower areas. These are already acrylic as did not want to clean grout lines. Has anyone used any of the panel products on the market for covering the whole room? Has anyone found any to replicate LARGE tiles. James Hardie has hardiglaze but the tiles are small . I really like T&G panelling, again seen A Hardie product but would like a narrower width tongue. Also I think up to ceiling will be a bit much........pHowever what height to end it? Are there less ornate dado rails available? The house is a new build and the fittings are contemporary. TIA for helping.