We used corrugated metal for our woodstove surround -- talk about a gathering place for dirt! We just use the shop vac around the bottom to clean up. We don't have any dogs, but I'd imagine that it would collect just as much fur as any place where the wall meets the floor. We also have a bit of an accent area in our kitchen with the metal as well -- it is harder to clean with the floor vacuum, but any nozzle attachment gets the job done in a snap.

It sounds lovely. The ceiling will be more than suitable for a transitional style. I think the wainscoting would also be fine but as I'm cautious I'd be adding after I'd lived there for a while. It does seem more traditional than transitional. On the other side I'd love the bead boarding in the hall.

Hi Rachael, Your asymmetrical house form is a very strong visual element and sits very well in this bold and rugged landscape. On the other side of the house from the entry door, the windows and doors are grouped and aligned to create a secondary relationship between them, which pleases the eye and works within the strong form. On the side with the entrance door, this doesn't happen. The scattered size and positioning of the woodstore, windows and doors do not work together to lead the eye to any particular place, nor do they relate to the form of the house. As a starting point, something to draw the eye to the entrance to invite people in will create a secondary focus. Because the house is a very strong form, you want to work with it or complement it, not try to create something that tries to outdo it. You also want something large enough to provide shelter both to keep people from the weather and to make it seem visually welcoming. You have a few materials already in this building, timber and stone, that you can use that will provide a contrast to the corrugate wall but will also make connections with the other parts of the building, and make the shelter become part of the whole rather than look like an afterthought. I would look at creating a porch form with enough visual strength to draw the eye and also try to tie in a few other elements to reduce the scattered look.

Hi , I think I posted this incorrectly the other day , and I'm not sure if fellow houzzers can see it , just a general enquiry that has sort of gotten me interested in higher end kitchen finishes . Thanks heaps .