I would do a glass splash back [ this can be painted in your color choice to suit the decor ] - taking from the bench top up to the bottom of the range-hood on the wall of the stove. The window is beautiful and I would give anything to have them in my kitchen. I would probably paint OR stain and apply marine grade vanish to the would so that any moisture would not be able to ruin the wood. I would also put herbs or flowers there. Could it be made into a servery for outside maybe ???

Hello - I am an independent Interior Designer and Colour Consultant based in Cambridge. The issue you are having is something that I come across a lot (unfortunately). You need to add items that will absorb sound - what you have at the moment in this space are all items that are 'hard' and therefore will 'bounce' all sound around the room - which is why it's so noisy. Would love to help you :) www.cambridgecolour.co.nz elizabeth@cambridgecolour.co.nz Elizabeth; 027 275 9779

The best way to do this is to choose a theme for the frames - it could be black or white, or natural timber (or even a mix if you're putting them on a plain wall) Make sure the frames have a variety of sizes. Then lay them on the floor to decide your layout - take a photo! That way when you start putting them up you won't forget what goes where. Don't have them spaced too far apart - 50mm is plenty. Good Luck!

I'm a bit confused -- you seem to want the front yard to do everything ! Privacy , entertaining , curb appeal , paving , gardens , front door -- you can't have all of that because of the conflicts between those . Do you have room out the back for a private entertaining area , for example ? But even more basic -- I like the house , the curb appeal -- but the brown stain doesn't gel with me . If you paint the 'edge' ( 200 x 50 or thereabouts by the look of it ) and steps in the same tone as your trim ( the slightly darker blue tone ) you'd get away with the rest of the terrace being that brown , or go for a browny silver re-stain . A yellow door would really stand out , a slightly lighter brighter blue would tie in , whilst a gloss black will mean it won't stand out as much , but look classy . Then I'd do a narrow garden around the edge of the grass , a letterbox at the start of the path ( well , slightly to the side haha ) , something nice but unique in the wall colour , with you street numbers in the blue . That will guide people as to where to 'enter' towards the front door . The entertaining area ( a bbq and seating ) I'd try to do out the back , but you could do it in that 'downstairs' area to the left of the garages , using darker toned or stained bamboo panels or even laser cut steel or alloy panels mixed in there , maybe even ply painted your blue trim colour mixed with 'natural' bamboo or matchstick type panels . Of course , if you really want private , you could do that area in solid 2.4 mtr tall concrete walls , rendered and painted to match the house , but due to the size and narrowness of the area , i'd personally go for something more casual , more breezy and open , but each to their own .