I would suggest you take out the cabinet that is to the right of the stove and use it elsewhere in the house -- perhaps in the bathroom or dining room with a hutch above it. Then, I would suggest you have someone install a lazy susan cabinet in the corner between the sink counter and the stove, meaning you would move the stove down a bit and have a small cabinet/counter top to the right of the stove. I would suggest you have the cabinets refinished in white and then paint the walls a pastel you like. If you would prefer white walls, then add white-painted crown molding and paint the ceiling a light neutral blue, such as Sherwin Williams Niagara Falls Blue. Then, I would suggest you choose a favorite accent color and use this sparingly in accessories like towels, pot holders, small vases or floral arrangements, and a valence above the triple windows. For a genuine 1940s look, you might have white ceramic square tiles with a rectangular red border installed as a back splash behind and above the stove. If you are replacing counter tops, I would suggest a light color such as white with a beige or light grey vein or striation for some sort of pattern. You might be able to find the same color and design in floor tile OR opt for a wood floor as another poster suggested.

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone and sorry I didn't explain the polycarbonate a bit better :) This is along the lines of what we'll be using... http://www.psp.co.nz/building-brands/corrugated-sheeting/suntuf-polycarbonate The area is an absolute sun trap and we're hoping to use it as an extension to our living space, especially on rainy days! I've just sent my husband out to get a few pots of different stains for is to try - darkest brown (cedar) and a lighter brown (rustic oak) both by Cabots + the black we already have. Hopefully we can decide between one of those! I probably should have mentioned we will have black aluminium pool fencing running along the top of the second retaining wall - so the real question is do we keep everything black (pool fencing, horizontal fence, retaining walls and pergola) or do we go with a dark (or even light) brown for the pergola and retaining walls.... We just keep going around in circles at the moment. Decisions, decisions! Thanks again :)

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!

If you have a small, dimly lit bathroom, you aren't alone! Often throughout the 60's and 70's it seems as though bathrooms were an after-thought to the general house design, and not considered to be a valuable use of floor space. That view has changed thankfully, and beautiful bathrooms are now one of the best value-adds in a home. As a general rule, investing in bathroom improvements will not only add to the value, but will also enhance your enjoyment of living in the home, and improve saleability should you decide to sell. If you do have a small bathroom, don't despair! There are always options to make better use of the space, introduce additional light, and just add a touch of luxury! The use of glass and light colours can greatly enhance the sense of space, and modern Solatubes can not only introduce excellent natural light where you need it most, but also come in models that provide ventilation, and LED lighting once the sun goes down. If you have mains pressure water, consider adding a rainhead to your shower. The inclusion of a built-in shower niche shelves not only look great but provide a neat spot for all your shower supplies. If you currently have a shower curtain, chances are it has caused you despair at some point or another. A low-profile tiled hob with a glass door will do an excellent job of containing the water (especially ideal if you do want the rainhead!), and you will never have a wet, cold, shower curtain clinging to you again. Some comments from our wonderful clients on this project; "The job is now completed, and we are very happy with the result. We have been enjoying a lovely new shower, bathroom and toilet. I would recommend Wayne and his team, especially if like us, you can’t be bothered with project managing a whole lot of different contractors in order to do a renovation". "...there were no hidden costs, and I think all contingencies had been thought of before the quote was sent, which was great for us that there were “no surprises”. Thank you so much Alex and Chrissy! Before: After: