We got the IKEA shelves that are pictured in the butlers pantry photo I posted when we were on holiday in Melbourne, Australia. We don't have IKEA here in New Zealand! Hubby is going back over in May/June so will get him to get more of that sort of thing when there. We would pay about 4x the price for that sort of thing here in NZ. I need to work out what I will do now where the fridge was and there is the angle change (does that make sense?).

We are in the process of painting every room (3 floors total - UGH). We spent $250 at Lowe's and bought a Graco 0.375-HP Stationary Airless Paint sprayer (model 257025). Worth EVERY stinking penny we paid. Prior to this, we had a Graco HVLP hand-held sprayer that wasn't worth the proverbial "plug nickel". I bought the extension "wand" for our Airless sprayer (we have 9 foot ceilings - otherwise I do NOT recommend it). Bought a smaller tip that sprays 6" wide.... it is MUCH easier for me to control the smaller spray pattern. Maybe by the time I hit floor #3 in painting I'll be using the wider tip that comes with the unit! lol Oh, I use the wide tip NOW when I'm applying the primer - NOT the main colors. Have you every used a paint sprayer? If not, do some research! Most everyone "pro" advises "back-rolling" as you spray (YouTube videos about this too). Blessings to you! Amy

Try the TV where the sofa is now and float the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace where you currently have the big chair. Perhaps the big chair can then go where the TV was for a quiet spot for one. Or even better, pull the loveseat off the wall and put the big chair to its left flanking the fireplace.

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. :)