Lighting - pendants over the servery bench should be another feature that complements your chosen kitchen surfaces. So whilst I love the copper pendants in picture 1.. They could work depending on the rest of your decor and would be a highlight in a neutral white/timber kitchen = Good! If you choose copper you would complement it with a couple of copper bench top items. These are beautiful! (I collect copper because I love it, my kitchen pendants are silver, I renovated to sell in the next 3-5 years) You will see a picture starting to form in your mind and there is nothing wrong with making a statement with your lighting. I found that when I wasn't sure I would get a very strong sense of what was right and what was wrong for a space, then common sense or passion would determine the outcome! Here are another couple that might work, look her on Houzz under lighting, search pendants, then have fun looking!Timber tones with black or white to complement your cabinets... or Statement white pendants for a bit of quirky fun! Your personality can be reflected in your lighting and accessories creating that point of difference from the predictable white on timber look. Plus don't forget the power of greenery to punctuate the theme!

Your layout for you kitchen looks really good and would fit well with the mixture of black and white cabinetry. With the lament bench top, we would suggest melamine (entry level cabinetry) or acrylic bench top, which can come in high gloss feature or matt. The matt surface would go lovely with your choice of bench top, and acrylic is also a affordable cabinetry material. Below are some examples of how Reno4u has incorporated both black and white cabinetry together, without making it to dominantly dark. We feel as if these examples would be perfect for your layout, and depending on if you want more black cabinetry or white you can go either way. This design above is an example with more black than white, can be made matt or gloss with different handles/splash back and wallpaper. With a u shaped kitchen similar to yours, however from the pictures you provided your style may include different design below the island bench. Another kitchen designed by us which shows more white than black, with a bar built in which may suit your design better. We hope this helps you, please feel free to call us on 03 423 9067 and we can provide a free quote for materials and kitchen design, and help you finalise your design further. :)

HI Madison There are pros and cons for every situation, but you need to work out what is best for your lifestyle. Personally, I agree with the carpet in the living room, and hard flooring in the kitchen/dining areas. All you need to do is work out your demarcation points (where carpet will meet hard flooring). A great retailer should be able to visit you at home, discuss options, give you pricing and away you go! (Us if you are in Auckland :) ) With littlies, I'd suggest a vinyl plank.....other posts will tell you I'm a big fan of it, but with kids, toys, mess, liquids etc, vinyl planks will give you the best wear over time. They are very hard wearing (Karndean have lifetime residential warranty), easy to keep clean, and waterproof - can be installed in all wet areas. Timber flooring, depending on which you choose (real wood, engineered wood, laminate), may not be the best "fit for purpose" products in your situation. Whilst I'm not trying to champion one product over the other, having had carpet with little kids, and putting drop sheets over carpet, under highchairs, why wouldn't someone not put in vinyl planks?

A professional couple in beachside St. Heliers wanted to breathe some new life into a kitchen that was not just dated; its tired layout was preventing the leveraging of their gasp-worthy stunning views. They love entertaining so one of the cornerstones of the project was carving out an area around the island that would beckon people to linger, chat and nibble while looking out over Rangitoto. Before: After: The first step in this full redesign required the removal of walls to open up the space which meant the installation of a new support beam that was later skillfully integrated into the subtle white paint in order to not interrupt the clean lines. A palette of oak, greens and gray was selected as a nod to the couple’s personal style that was weaved into other rooms to give a consistency in colour scheme throughout the property. For the kitchen, tiles and carpet were done away with and soft hued timber flooring was laid that will promise durability over time. An island with oak lines to integrate with the flooring and a white stone benchtop was selected to compliment the walls and ceiling for a bright and airy feel. Sliding doors were installed to bring the outside in and invite ocean breezes indoors during warmer months. Olive coloured subway tiles along the backsplash blend beautifully with the pendant lights in the same tone. The wine fridge and a large refrigerator will mean ease of entertaining to hold plenty of goodies for guests. Before: After: In the lounge, existing awkward angles presented a design challenge so it was decided that a reconfiguration was necessary. A custom cupboard answered the need for non-existent storage along with a walk-in wardrobe. A sleek oak bookcase and timber floors connected the room to the kitchen and allowed for elegant storage and display of personal items. The hearth has tiles in soft grey hues of concrete that connect to the kitchen. They are taken up the wall inconsistently to add visual variation. The custom ordered large oak dining room ties the spaces together and seats 8 -10 people making large dinner parties a possibility. The previous peach bathroom was a serious nod to the 1980’s. A single glass paned shower brings convenience without blocking light and the gun metal sink will allow for lots of wear and tear. A large white bath with gun metal fixtures was added and the oak cabinet under the sink completes the look. In the powder room, olive coloured patterned tiles lined the bottom half of the walls and an oak shelf and floors again kept the look and feel cohesive throughout. Before: After: Check out the entire project here!